Data from: Diet-dependent induction of life-history changes in Daphnia: 5α-cyprinol sulfate is not the kairomone

Eberhard, Leonie 1 ; Ahlers, Johanna 1 ; Heckmann, Bianca1; von Elert, Eric1

Published Dec 02, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rr4xgxdkq

Data files

Dec 02, 2025 version files 53.24 KB

Abstract

Daphnia responds to chemical cues released by fish with adaptive changes in behavior (DVM), morphology, and life history traits, e. g. a reduction in size at first reproduction (SFR). For cyprinid fish, it has been revealed that DVM and changes in morphology of Daphnia are induced by the bile salt 5α-cyprinolsulfate (CPS), while the substance that induces life-history changes is unknown. Here we show that C₁₈-solid phase extracts from fish incubation water of roach (Rutilus rutilus) that have fed Daphnia (RfD) induce a reduction of SFR in D. magna while similar extracts with chironomid larvae as prey do not. Subsequent fractionation of RfD by HPLC revealed that the major bile salts of cyprinid fish, CPS and taurochenodeoxycholic acid, eluted outside the active fractions, while taurocholic acid (TCA) had its peak within the active fractions. A dose-response experiment revealed that up to 2 µM TCA did not reduce SFR, which excludes TCA as a potential kairomone. In conclusion, we show that all major bile salts of cyprinid fish do not cause the observed reduction in SFR, which points to an unknown kairomone that proves to be negatively charged.

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rr4xgxdkq

Description of the data and file structure

Diet-dependent induction of life-history changes in Daphnia: 5α-cyprinol sulfate is not the kairomone

The Excel dataset 'Diet-dependent induction of life-history changes in Daphnia: 5α-cyprinol sulfate is not the kairomone' contains the full set of raw data. The individual experiments are separated by tabs and named after the figures. Abbreviations are listed within the Excel sheets. Also, unformatted CSV files for each figure are included for the analysis.

Files and variables

Life-history experiments

Figure 1:

Life-history data of the RfD interaction with a C18-cartridge. The table represents measurements of Size at First Reproduction (SFR)—expressed in millimeters—for different experimental treatments that interact with a C18 cartridge. Each treatment was measured across three replicates, and the mean SFR for each replicate is reported.

Figure 2:

Data from the life-history experiments of RfD 'Roach fed with Daphnia' (1–3), as well as the raw data from the life-history experiments with RfL 'Roach fed with larvae'.

Notice: In all tables, 'n.d.' indicates that non-detectable values are present.

Figure 3:

Life-history data of the individual fractions (1–10) of the three different RfD fishwater extracts, and the results of quantifying the three different bile salts (CPS, TCA, and TCDCA) via LC-MS.

Figure 4:

Life-history raw data of the TCA threshold test. The table shows the Size at First Reproduction (SFR)—measured in millimeters—for organisms exposed to different concentrations of TCA (presumably a chemical or test compound). Each concentration was tested in three replicates, and the mean SFR for each replicate is listed.

Figure 5:

Life-history raw data of the RfD interaction with the strong anion exchanger. The table reports the Size at First Reproduction (SFR)—in millimeters—for different treatments interacting with a strong anion exchanger. Each treatment includes four replicates, with the mean SFR shown for each.

Fig. S2:

Life history raw data of RfD fractions after use of the strong anion exchanger. The table presents the Size at First Reproduction (SFR) in millimeters for different fractions obtained after passing Roach-fed-with-Daphnia (RfD) samples through a strong anion exchanger. Each fraction includes three replicates.

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