The behavioural effects of predator- induced stress responses in the cricket (Gryllus texensis): the upside of the stress response
Presented by Tara Filsuf, Spring 2014 Why study a crickets stress response? Understand ecological relationships Understand physiological process of stress Interesting experiment to watch VS Background In insects, the stress response begins with the release of octopamine. Costs and benefits + evade predator and live to reproduce reduced reproduction, energetically costly, reduced disease resistance
Our questions How do crickets respond to stress?
Does octopamine help crickets evade predators? Experiment 1: The Maze Cricket groups: 1. Model predator exposed 2. Sham exposed 3. Octopamine injected 4. Sham injected 5. Control Measurements: 1. How long crickets were motionless 2. How much time they were in motion 3. How much time they were covered Experiment 2: The Cage Match Measurements: 1. First cricket to be eaten 2. First cricket to enter shelter
Gryllus texensis Pogona vitticeps Results The Maze The Cage Match Conclusions Cricket stress response is a hierarchy Freeze in low-moderate stress to avoid detection Flee during imminent attack Stress response is a continuum Sham controls had intermediate responses Octopamine injection and mock predator exposure increased behavioral styles in maze and increased predator survival in cage. Octopamine does cause stress response. Final Opinions Strengths: Detailed behavioral observations Good statistical methods Two experiments confirm each others results Weaknesses: Explained WHAT happens and WHY but not HOW Works Cited Information: -The behavioural effects of predator-induced stress responses in the cricket (Gryllus texensis): the upside of the stress response. Adamo SA, Kovalko I, Mosher B. J Exp Biol. 2013 Dec 15;216(Pt 24):4608-14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopamine Images: http://miracleofnature.org/guides/our-insect-musicians/crickets/southeastern-field- cricket http://beardeddragoncages.org/learn-how-to-choose-bearded-dragon-cages http://www.piranhagear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525 d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/5/35-1-622-rd-e-m.jpg http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/zhu-zhu-pets.jpeg https://www.songbirdgarden.com/store/ProdImages/SingleCricket.jpg http://www.beardeddragonblog.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/10/beardeddragondiet1.jpg http://i1.wp.com/pgoaamericanprofile2.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/what-is-a- bearded-dragon.jpg?crop=144px,0px,1243px,749px