Abstract
Water fleas of the family Daphniidae are keystone species in many lentic ecosystems and, as most abundant filter feeders, link the primary production to higher trophic levels. As a response to the high predatory pressures, water fleas have evolved a range of defenses, including inducible defenses against animal predators. Here we show in Ceriodaphnia dubia a first example of such defenses induced by the presence of a coexisting plant predator, i.e. the carnivorous southern bladderwort (Utricularia australis, Lentibulariaceae), which possesses ultrafast underwater suction traps. When the bladderwort is present, C. dubia shows changes in morphology, life-history and behavior. While the morphological and behavioral adaptations improve C. dubia’s survival rate in the presence of this predator, the life-history parameters likely reflect trade-offs for the defense. Our study demonstrates plant-induced animal defenses, implying their potential relevance in freshwater ecosystems and contributing to an overall yet underestimated biodiversity of inducible defenses.
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Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.