Heritable variation in prey defence provides refuge for subdominant predators

Paul A. Lenhart, Kelly A. Jackson, Jennifer A. White

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Generalist predators with broadly overlapping niches commonly coexist on seemingly identical sets of prey. Here, we provide empirical demonstration that predators can differentially exploit fine-grained niches generated by variable, heritable and selective defences within a single prey species. Some, but not all, clones of the aphid Aphis craccivora are toxic towards the dominant invasive predatory ladybeetle, Harmonia axyridis. However, other less competitive ladybeetle species are not affected by the aphid’s toxic trait. In laboratory and open field experiments, we show: (i) that subdominant ladybeetle species were able to exploit the toxic aphids, benefitting from the suppression of the dominant predator; and (ii) that this narrow-spectrum toxicity can function as an anti-predator defence for the aphid, but depends on enemy community context. Our results demonstrate that niche differentiation among generalist predators may hinge upon previously underappreciated heritable variation in prey defence, which, in turn, may promote diversity and stability of enemy communities invaded by a dominant predator.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20180523
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume285
Issue number1879
DOIs
StatePublished - May 30 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Awards no. 2014-67013-21576 and Hatch no. 0224651, as well as the University of Kentucky.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Anti-predator defence
  • Competition
  • Heritable intraspecific variation
  • Invasive species
  • Niche differentiation
  • Predator–prey interactions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology (all)
  • Environmental Science (all)
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all)

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