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<p>Predator-driven phenotypic variation represents a critical survival strategy for prey in variable environments. This study employed a common garden experiment with controlled perch (<i>Perca fluviatilis</i>) exposure to examine body size (head width) and spine morphology (dorsal/lateral abdominal spines) in larvae of five European&#xa0;<i>Leucorrhinia</i>&#xa0;dragonfly species: three fish lake species (<i>L. albifrons</i>,&#xa0;<i>L. caudalis</i>,&#xa0;<i>L. pectoralis</i>) and two fishless lake species (<i>L. dubia</i>,&#xa0;<i>L. rubicunda</i>). Results revealed that fish lake species evolved longer dorsal spines than fishless lake species regardless of treatment, and exhibited larger body size in fish absent conditions. Species-specific plasticity was observed:&#xa0;<i>L. pectoralis</i>&#xa0;elongated lateral spines with fish predators,&#xa0;<i>L. dubia</i>&#xa0;extended both dorsal and lateral spines, and developed additional dorsal spines on posterior abdominal segments under fish exposure, while&#xa0;<i>L. albifrons</i>&#xa0;increased body size in fish absent treatments. No plasticity was detected in&#xa0;<i>L. caudalis</i>&#xa0;or&#xa0;<i>L. rubicunda</i>. These findings demonstrate divergent antipredator strategies among&#xa0;<i>Leucorrhinia</i>&#xa0;species facing shared predation threats, highlighting their utility for studying predator–prey coevolution and phenotypic plasticity trade-offs.</p>

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Predator-induced phenotypic plasticity vs. constitutive defenses: species-specific responses in Leucorrhinia dragonflies

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月14日

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  • Bin Jiang,
  • Shilong Dai,
  • Dirk J. Mikolajewski

摘要

Predator-driven phenotypic variation represents a critical survival strategy for prey in variable environments. This study employed a common garden experiment with controlled perch (Perca fluviatilis) exposure to examine body size (head width) and spine morphology (dorsal/lateral abdominal spines) in larvae of five European Leucorrhinia dragonfly species: three fish lake species (L. albifrons, L. caudalis, L. pectoralis) and two fishless lake species (L. dubia, L. rubicunda). Results revealed that fish lake species evolved longer dorsal spines than fishless lake species regardless of treatment, and exhibited larger body size in fish absent conditions. Species-specific plasticity was observed: L. pectoralis elongated lateral spines with fish predators, L. dubia extended both dorsal and lateral spines, and developed additional dorsal spines on posterior abdominal segments under fish exposure, while L. albifrons increased body size in fish absent treatments. No plasticity was detected in L. caudalis or L. rubicunda. These findings demonstrate divergent antipredator strategies among Leucorrhinia species facing shared predation threats, highlighting their utility for studying predator–prey coevolution and phenotypic plasticity trade-offs.