The role of predator-prey interactions in coadaptation of thermal biology (2010-2013)

The primary objective of the proposed project is to asses the influence of predator-prey interactions on the coadaptation of thermal biology using newt and dragonfly larvae as a model system. Specifically, it involves (1) the evaluation of fundamental and realized thermal niche overlap between predator and prey, (2) tests of the influence of predation risk on the optimization of maternal oviposition preferences, larval thermoregulatory behaviour, and thermal plasticity of larval traits crucial for predator evasion and avoidance. Field, seminatural, and laboratory experiments will be used to find out how the process of coadaptation of thermal biology in prey is shaped by the presence of predator or its chemical cues. These results may contribute to further development of the current theory of both evolutionary thermal biology and community ecology.