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Transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects

Data for research demonstrating transgenerational recognition of a specific predator in a coral reef damselfish.

Abstract [Related Publication]: 1. In highly biodiverse systems, such as coral reefs, prey species are faced with predatory threats from numerous species. Recognition of predators can be innate, or learned, and can help increase the chance of survival. 

2. Research suggests that parental exposure to increased predatory threats can affect the development, behaviour, and ultimately, success of their offspring. 

3. Breeding pairs of damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) were subjected to one of three olfactory and visual treatments (predator, herbivore, or control), and their developing embryos were subsequently exposed to five different chemosensory cues. 

4. Analyses of embryonic heart rates showed that predator-treated parents passed down relevant threat information to their offspring, through parental effects. 

5. This is the first time transgenerational recognition of a specific predator has been confirmed in any species. This phenomenon could influence predator-induced mortality rates and enable populations to adaptively respond to fluctuations in predator composition and environmental changes. 

The full methodology is available in the Open Access publication from the Related Publications link below
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    Data Record Details
    Data record related to this publication Transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects
    Data Publication title Transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects
  • Description

    Data for research demonstrating transgenerational recognition of a specific predator in a coral reef damselfish.

    Abstract [Related Publication]: 1. In highly biodiverse systems, such as coral reefs, prey species are faced with predatory threats from numerous species. Recognition of predators can be innate, or learned, and can help increase the chance of survival. 

    2. Research suggests that parental exposure to increased predatory threats can affect the development, behaviour, and ultimately, success of their offspring. 

    3. Breeding pairs of damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) were subjected to one of three olfactory and visual treatments (predator, herbivore, or control), and their developing embryos were subsequently exposed to five different chemosensory cues. 

    4. Analyses of embryonic heart rates showed that predator-treated parents passed down relevant threat information to their offspring, through parental effects. 

    5. This is the first time transgenerational recognition of a specific predator has been confirmed in any species. This phenomenon could influence predator-induced mortality rates and enable populations to adaptively respond to fluctuations in predator composition and environmental changes. 

    The full methodology is available in the Open Access publication from the Related Publications link below

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  • Other Descriptors
    • Descriptor

      This dataset is available as a spreadsheet in both MS Excel (.xlsx) and Open Document (.ods) formats.

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      Descriptor type Note
    • Data type dataset
  • Keywords
    • antipredator behaviour
    • damselfish
    • embryos
    • olfaction
    • parental effects
    • predator recognition
    • alarm odours
    • ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
  • Funding source
  • Research grant(s)/Scheme name(s)
    • Research themes
    Tropical Ecosystems, Conservation and Climate Change
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  • Start Date
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  • Locations
    • Experiments conducted at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Data
    Data Locations

    Type Location Notes
    Attachment Data.xlsx
    The Data Manager is: Jennifer Atherton
    College or Centre
    Access conditions Open: free access under license
  • Alternative access conditions
    • Data record size 2 files: 101 KB
- Related resources
  • Related publications
      Name Atherton, Jennifer A., and McCormick, Mark (2020) Parents know best: transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects. PeerJ, 8.
    • URL http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9340
    • Notes Open Access
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- Citation
    Citation Atherton, Jennifer (2019): Transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects. James Cook University. https://doi.org/10.25903/5caebe17a0ddc