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Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses
07:59

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Published on: September 19, 2011

Mothers forewarn offspring about predators: a transgenerational maternal effect on behavior.

Jonathan J Storm1, Steven L Lima

  • 1Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809, USA. jstorm@uscupstate.edu

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Female crickets warn offspring about predators through maternal effects. Offspring of exposed mothers show enhanced antipredator behavior and survival, demonstrating a transgenerational defense strategy.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Maternal Effects
  • Transgenerational Inheritance

Background:

  • Predation risk significantly influences animal behavior.
  • Maternal effects can mediate offspring responses to environmental factors.
  • Transgenerational transmission of antipredator behavior is not well-understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if predators influence offspring antipredator behavior via maternal effects.
  • To determine if female fall field crickets transmit predator warnings to offspring.
  • To examine the adaptive significance of such transgenerational effects.

Main Methods:

  • Exposing gravid fall field crickets (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) to wolf spiders (Hogna helluo).
  • Assessing offspring immobility in response to spider chemical cues.
  • Comparing survival rates of 'forewarned' versus 'non-forewarned' offspring.
  • Comparing offspring responsiveness in crickets from predator-present versus predator-absent areas.

Main Results:

  • Offspring of exposed mothers exhibited significantly greater antipredator immobility.
  • 'Forewarned' offspring showed increased survival rates in the presence of predators.
  • Crickets from high-predation areas produced more responsive offspring.

Conclusions:

  • A unique transgenerational maternal effect in antipredator behavior was identified in fall field crickets.
  • Female crickets transmit predator-specific 'warnings' to their offspring.
  • Transgenerational maternal effects may play a more significant role in adaptation than previously recognized.