| Title: | Common fear molecules induce defensive responses in marine prey across trophic levels |
| Author(s): | Roney SH; Cepeda MR; Belgrad BA; Moore SG; Smee DL; Kubanek J; Weissburg MJ; |
| Address: | "School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, USA. Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, USA. lsmee@disl.edu. School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 36608, USA. lsmee@disl.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00442-023-05438-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1432-1939 (Electronic) 0029-8549 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Predator-prey interactions are a key feature of ecosystems and often chemically mediated, whereby individuals detect molecules in their environment that inform whether they should attack or defend. These molecules are largely unidentified, and their discovery is important for determining their ecological role in complex trophic systems. Homarine and trigonelline are two previously identified blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) urinary metabolites that cause mud crabs (Panopeus herbstii) to seek refuge, but it was unknown whether these molecules influence other species within this oyster reef system. In the current study, homarine, trigonelline, and blue crab urine were tested on juvenile oysters (Crassostrea virginica) to ascertain if the same molecules known to alter mud crab behavior also affect juvenile oyster morphology, thus mediating interactions between a generalist predator, a mesopredator, and a basal prey species. Oyster juveniles strengthened their shells in response to blue crab urine and when exposed to homarine and trigonelline in combination, especially at higher concentrations. This study builds upon previous work to pinpoint specific molecules from a generalist predator's urine that induce defensive responses in two marine prey from different taxa and trophic levels, supporting the hypothesis that common fear molecules exist in ecological systems" |
| Keywords: | Humans *Ecosystem *Fear Nutritional Status Blue crabs Chemical ecology Induced defense Kairomones Oysters; |
| Notes: | "MedlineRoney, Sarah H Cepeda, Marisa R Belgrad, Benjamin A Moore, Samuel G Smee, Delbert L Kubanek, Julia Weissburg, Marc J eng OCE-1948423/National Science Foundation/ OCE-1948441/National Science Foundation/ OCE-1838618/National Science Foundation/ NA18OAR4170084/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ NA18OAR4170080/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ R/SFA-19-PD/Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium/ Germany 2023/08/24 Oecologia. 2023 Aug; 202(4):655-667. doi: 10.1007/s00442-023-05438-2. Epub 2023 Aug 24" |
