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Auditory predator cues decrease herbivore survival and plant damage.

Zachary A Lee1, Caroline B Cohen1, Alex K Baranowski1,2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA.

Ecology
|February 22, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Invertebrate herbivores like caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) can detect predator sounds, altering their behavior. This response to auditory risk cues impacts herbivory and plant biomass, revealing a significant ecological role.

Keywords:
auditory cueherbivorynonconsumptive effectspredation

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Predator-Prey Dynamics

Background:

  • Predation imposes significant fitness costs, driving prey to evolve sensory mechanisms for risk detection.
  • Auditory predator cues are well-studied in vertebrates, but less is known about their impact on invertebrates and food webs.
  • Invertebrate herbivores, such as caterpillars, are vulnerable to aerial predators and may use sound cues for survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavioral and survival responses of invertebrate herbivores (Spodoptera exigua larvae) to auditory predator cues.
  • To determine if caterpillars differentiate between predator and non-predator sounds.
  • To assess the ecological consequences of these responses on herbivory and plant biomass.

Main Methods:

  • Larvae of Spodoptera exigua were exposed to recordings of wasp buzzing (risk cue), mosquito buzzing (non-risk cue), or silence in laboratory and field experiments.
  • Survival rates, time to pupation, and weight at pupation were measured in the laboratory.
  • Caterpillar herbivory and plant biomass were assessed in the field.

Main Results:

  • Wasp buzzing significantly reduced caterpillar survival in the laboratory compared to controls.
  • In field experiments, wasp buzzing led to reduced herbivory and increased plant biomass.
  • Mosquito buzzing had less impact on herbivory and no significant effect on plant biomass, indicating a response to predation risk, not just sound.

Conclusions:

  • Spodoptera exigua larvae can detect and respond to auditory cues of predation risk.
  • These responses have tangible effects on herbivory rates and plant health, suggesting a significant role for auditory cues in terrestrial invertebrate ecology.
  • The findings highlight an underappreciated pathway through which predator-prey interactions influence ecosystem dynamics.