The present study shows that three of four litter leachates induced
oxidative stress, thereby confirming the natural xenobiotic
character of the leachates. However, three of four leachates increased
body size and extended lifespan; furthermore, particularly
the leachates of both studied Picea species significantly increased
the offspring numbers. Increased body size, increased lifespan,
and increased offspring question the assumption that energy is
allocated either to body maintenance and repair (lifespan), growth,
or offspring. This surprising behavior of exposed Moina may be
based on food supplements (e.g., high carbohydrate contents) in
the leachates or on a DAF-16-independent pathway of energy allocation.
Overall, the results suggest that adverse stress effects can
be overruled by either bacterial-growth supporting fractions in
the leachates or an internal, yet to be discovered, compensation
mechanism in the Moina individuals. These strategies are not
mutually exclusive, rather they reinforce each other.