Consumption of grass endophytes alters the ultraviolet spectrum of vole urine |
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Authors: | Otso Huitu Marjo Helander Päivi Lehtonen Kari Saikkonen |
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Institution: | (1) Suonenjoki Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Juntintie 154, 77600 Suonenjoki, Finland;(2) Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland;(3) Present address: Plant Production Research, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Jokioinen, Finland;(4) Plant Production Research, Plant Production, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Mikkeli, Finland;(5) Present address: Kevo Subarctic Research Institute, University of Turku, Turku, Finland |
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Abstract: | Fungal endophytes of grasses are known to benefit their hosts directly by increasing resistance to herbivores through mycotoxins.
We propose and test assumptions of a novel hypothesis according to which fungal endophytes of grasses may benefit their hosts
also indirectly by increasing the conspicuousness of a mammalian herbivore, the field vole (Microtus agrestis), to its avian predators by enhancing the ultraviolet visibility of vole urine. We found that field voles feeding on endophyte-infected
meadow ryegrass (Lolium pratense) lost body mass, while voles feeding on non-infected meadow ryegrass gained mass. More interestingly, the maximum peak intensity
of ultraviolet fluorescence in the urine of voles feeding on endophyte-infected grass shifted from over 380 nm to circa 370 nm,
which is the suggested maximum sensitivity of the ultraviolet pigments in the eyes of vole-eating raptors. Therefore, grazing
on endophyte-infected grass alters the ultraviolet spectrum of vole urine, thus potentially enhancing its visibility to avian
predators. |
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Keywords: | Fluorescence Lolium pratense Microtus agrestis Predation Reflectance |
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