Post-attack bioluminescence is an aposematic signal in luminin ostracods
- 1University of Cambridge
Abstract
Aposematic signals convey information about prey unpalatability to potential predators. Such signals are defined as advertisements, with prey usually signalling unpalatability before an attack. Overlooked, however, is whether signals presented after an attack can function as aposematic warnings and influence the efficacy of defense. Here, we test if post-attack signals can be aposematic by observing fish predators responding to prey (Ostracoda, Cypridinidae) that produce bioluminescence following an attack. By manipulating potential chemical defenses of prey, and by comparing feeding responses to both bioluminescent and nonluminescent prey, we provide multiple lines of evidence to show bioluminescent prey are unpalatable and use post-attack bioluminescence as an aposematic signal. First, live, bioluminescent prey secrete bioluminescence only after being attacked. Second, predatory fishes rarely consumed bioluminescent prey, especially compared to nonluminescent alternatives. Third, because fishes readily ate bioluminescent prey that had been treated (frozen or boiled), which should remove defenses, bioluminescent species likely possess some unidentified defense over nonluminescent relatives. Finally, over the course of four experimental trials, predators were less likely to consume bioluminescent prey as their cumulative exposure to bioluminescent displays increased, indicative of learning. Post-attack aposematic signals, like bioluminescence, may be as common and effective a defensive strategy as pre-attack signals.
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BibTeX
@misc{hensley2026postattack,
title = {{Post-attack bioluminescence is an aposematic signal in luminin ostracods}},
author = {N. M. Hensley and L. M. Shulman and T. J. Rivers and G. A. Gerrish and J. Herbert-Read and J. G. Morin},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.64898/2026.06.22.733700},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.22.733700v2},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Post-attack bioluminescence is an aposematic signal in luminin ostracods
AU - N. M. Hensley
AU - L. M. Shulman
AU - T. J. Rivers
AU - G. A. Gerrish
AU - J. Herbert-Read
AU - J. G. Morin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/22
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.06.22.733700
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.22.733700v2
AB - Aposematic signals convey information about prey unpalatability to potential predators. Such signals are defined as advertisements, with prey usually signalling unpalatability before an attack. Overlooked, however, is whether signals presented after an attack can function as aposematic warnings and influence the efficacy of defense. Here, we test if post-attack signals can be aposematic by observing fish predators responding to prey (Ostracoda, Cypridinidae) that produce bioluminescence following an attack. By manipulating potential chemical defenses of prey, and by comparing feeding responses to both bioluminescent and nonluminescent prey, we provide multiple lines of evidence to show bioluminescent prey are unpalatable and use post-attack bioluminescence as an aposematic signal. First, live, bioluminescent prey secrete bioluminescence only after being attacked. Second, predatory fishes rarely consumed bioluminescent prey, especially compared to nonluminescent alternatives. Third, because fishes readily ate bioluminescent prey that had been treated (frozen or boiled), which should remove defenses, bioluminescent species likely possess some unidentified defense over nonluminescent relatives. Finally, over the course of four experimental trials, predators were less likely to consume bioluminescent prey as their cumulative exposure to bioluminescent displays increased, indicative of learning. Post-attack aposematic signals, like bioluminescence, may be as common and effective a defensive strategy as pre-attack signals.
ER -