The mere presence of a predator can cause enough stress to kill a dragonfly, even when that predator can’t actually get at the prey.
The finding is the latest in a number of studies to have drawn a link between stressful conditions and a higher risk of death within a range of organisms. These stresses can come from many sources, including natural or human-caused disruptions to habitat or, as mentioned, the presence of a predator.
Researchers believe the new findings could apply to all organisms facing any amount of stress and that the experiment could be used as a model for future studies on the lethal effects of stress.
Read more at University of Toronto