An evolutionary perspective on the resistance of Daphnia to the epizoic rotifer Brachionus rubens. (24th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pauwels, Kevin; De Meester, Luc; Michels, Helen; Jeppesen, Erik; Decaestecker, Ellen
• Is Part Of: Freshwater biology. Volume 59:Number 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1247
• Page End: 1256
• Publication Date: 2014-02-24
• Subjects: Freshwater biology -- Periodicals; Biologie d'eau douce -- Périodiques; 577.605
• DOI: 10.1111/fwb.12344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0046-5070

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fwb12344-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="fwb12344-list-0001" list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>In considering the evolutionary dynamics of host–parasite interactions, it is usually assumed that host populations are able to evolve rapidly under selection from various parasitic pressures. This has been shown for endoparasites, but for ectoparasites and/or epibionts, in general, less strong effects are expected on their hosts.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We show that the exposure of <italic>Daphnia magna</italic> clones (of a different origin) to lake sediment from the Danish Lake Ring, containing dormant eggs of the epizoic rotifer <italic>Brachionus rubens</italic>, results in infections that are associated with increased mortality in <italic>Daphnia</italic>.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Using a resurrection ecology approach, we reconstructed evolutionary change in the Lake Ring <italic>D. magna</italic> population in response to <italic>B. rubens</italic> infections. We observed interclonal variation in resistance to <italic>B. rubens</italic> in this <italic>Daphnia</italic> population, as well as changes over time in resistance to rotifers.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Both sediment exposure and time period from which Lake Ring clones were isolated affected important life‐history parameters, suggesting that evolution (upon exposure to <italic>Brachionus</italic>) not only affected resistance to <italic>Brachionus</italic>, but also other traits in Lake Ring <italic>Daphnia</italic>.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Additionally, there were complex effects of a joint exposure of <italic>D. magna</italic> to rotifers and the indirect effect of fish predation: exposure to fish kairomones resulted in an increased allocation of energy to early reproduction and <italic>Daphnia</italic> performance. Further, fish kairomones apparently increased <italic>B. rubens</italic> infectivity.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>