Fear and warming in California: How do heat waves and predation risk impact the survival-reproduction tradeoff in female crickets?
Poster Number
7B
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Stahlschmidt
Faculty Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Artist Statement
The effects of climate change are ever-expanding as human populations continue to impact our planet’s ecosystems. Extreme changes in temperature due to climate change are no longer isolated events, as demonstrated by the growing prevalence of heat waves globally. Heat waves often place organisms in vulnerable situations, forcing them to find the means to regulate body temperature, conserve energy, and find resources to fuel reproduction. In addition to heat wave exposure, animals regularly encounter threats from other organisms in their environments, such as predation risk. The combination of these two factors introduces a survival-reproduction tradeoff – food is required to withstand a heat wave and invest in reproduction, but foraging in the presence of predators increases the threat of mortality. Thus, we used the variable field cricket (Gryllus lineaticeps) to investigate the effects of heat waves in conjunction with predation risk (exposed food and water sources, as well as exposure to scent from from black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus) on foraging (water and food consumption) and investment into reproduction. Based on previous work, we expect that increased temperatures will promote reproductive investment in female crickets. When exposed to heat waves and predation risk, we will test opposing predictions; predation risk will (1) increase reproduction because the fear of imminent death causes a spike in resource intake and reproductive investment, or (2) decrease reproduction as females will forgo eating and reduce reproduction to prioritize their safety. Our results will inform us of the tradeoff between reproductive investment and survival displayed by the female crickets. Our study will be the first to integrate the effects of heat waves and predation risk, and it will help us understand how multiple, covarying stressors alter important behavioral decisions in a changing world.
Location
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
Start Date
29-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2023 1:00 PM
Fear and warming in California: How do heat waves and predation risk impact the survival-reproduction tradeoff in female crickets?
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
The effects of climate change are ever-expanding as human populations continue to impact our planet’s ecosystems. Extreme changes in temperature due to climate change are no longer isolated events, as demonstrated by the growing prevalence of heat waves globally. Heat waves often place organisms in vulnerable situations, forcing them to find the means to regulate body temperature, conserve energy, and find resources to fuel reproduction. In addition to heat wave exposure, animals regularly encounter threats from other organisms in their environments, such as predation risk. The combination of these two factors introduces a survival-reproduction tradeoff – food is required to withstand a heat wave and invest in reproduction, but foraging in the presence of predators increases the threat of mortality. Thus, we used the variable field cricket (Gryllus lineaticeps) to investigate the effects of heat waves in conjunction with predation risk (exposed food and water sources, as well as exposure to scent from from black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus) on foraging (water and food consumption) and investment into reproduction. Based on previous work, we expect that increased temperatures will promote reproductive investment in female crickets. When exposed to heat waves and predation risk, we will test opposing predictions; predation risk will (1) increase reproduction because the fear of imminent death causes a spike in resource intake and reproductive investment, or (2) decrease reproduction as females will forgo eating and reduce reproduction to prioritize their safety. Our results will inform us of the tradeoff between reproductive investment and survival displayed by the female crickets. Our study will be the first to integrate the effects of heat waves and predation risk, and it will help us understand how multiple, covarying stressors alter important behavioral decisions in a changing world.