Threat-sensitive antipredation behavior in phytoseiid mites
Abstract
The threat-sensitive predator avoidance hypothesis predicts that prey are able to assess the magnitude of predator threat and adjust their behavior accordingly. This hypothesis has been tested in classical predator-prey interactions between trophic levels but not in predator-predator interactions within a trophic level such as intraguild predation (IGP). IGP is defined as predation between potential competitors. Numerous recent studies revealed that IGP is common among plant-inhabiting predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae. Most studies on IGP among phytoseiid mites focused on the predator's part whereas information on the prey's part, i.e. detection and avoidance of IG predators, is scarce. We propose to test the threat sensitive predator avoidance hypothesis in a phytoseiid guild, consisting of the diet-specialist Phytoseiulus persimilis and the diet-generalists Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius andersoni. All three species are predators of herbivorous spider mites and important biological control agents. Based on current knowledge we tentatively rank these species P. persimilis<N. californicus<A. andersoni regarding their strength in IGP. We hypothesize that these three species are able to assess the threat posed by a given IG predator and alter their behavior accordingly. In phytoseiid IGP interactions the larva is the preferred prey stage, whereas adult females and protonymphs are the most pronounced IG predators. Larval predation risk may be reduced via maternal investment in prey patch selection, oviposition behavior and/or predator elimination and/or by larval antipredation behavior. Almost any antipredation behavior is linked with costs in time and/or energy at the expense of other fitness-related activities. Thus, phytoseiid mites should be able to flexibly adjust IG predator avoidance behavior depending on the degree of predation risk and display antipredation behavior only at high risk. The current proposal aims at (1) elucidating potential strategies of ovipositing females to minimize offspring IG predation risk via prey patch selection, egg retention, predator elimination, egg positioning and/or sex allocation and (2) analyzing antipredation behavior of larvae confronted with IG predators.
keywords antipredation behavior predatory mites biological control intraguild predation
Publikationen
Phenotypic plasticity in developmental time and body size induced by food limitation in three phytoseiid mite species.
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2008
Chapter in collected volumes
Species- and sex-specific effects of developmental stress on developmental time and size at maturity in predatory mites.
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2008
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Non-consumptive effects of predatory mites on thrips and its host plant
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Threat-sensitive predator avoidance within a guild of acarine biological control agents.
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2008
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Risiko-sensitives Anti-Prädationsverhalten bei Thripsen und Raubmilben: Ovipositionsstrategien bei niedrigem und hohem Prädationsdruck.
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Oviposition behavior of Phytoseiulus persimilis facing the risk of intraguild predation
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Predator cues induce behavioral shifts in alternative prey: consequences for prey life history traits and its host plant
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Wenn ein Räuber zum Opfer wird: risikosensitives Anti-Prädationsverhalten innerhalb einer Räubergilde
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2010
Journal articles
When a predator becomes a prey: threat-sensitive predator species recognition by prey in an acarine guild
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2010
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Threat-sensitive anti-intraguild predation behaviour: maternal strategies to reduce offspring predation risk in mites
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P Jahr: 2011
Journal articles
Antipredation strategies of Phytoseiulus persimilis larvae depend on the level of intraguild predation risk
Autoren: Walzer, A. and Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2011
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
The significance of direct predator cues and experience in intraguild predator recognition by ovipositing Phytoseiulus persimilis
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2012
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Antipredation strategies of Phytoseiulus persimilis larvae depend on the level of intraguild predation risk
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P Jahr: 2013
Journal articles
Learning by predatory mites in foraging contexts: implications for biological control
Autoren: Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2013
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Andreas Walzer
Mag. Dr. Andreas Walzer
andreas.walzer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95308
Project Staff
01.08.2007 - 31.12.2010