Behavioral coping strategies in a cichlid fish: the role of social status and acute stress response in direct and displaced aggression

Clement, Tricia S.; Parikh, Victoria N.; Schrumpf, Mark A.; Fernald, Russell D.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.11.014

Cited by 67 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…We previously hypothesized that this behavioral state-dependent elevation in baseline cortisol levels would aid the mobilization of energy reserves to support the physiological demands of high calling rates (but see Amorim et al, 2002), consistent with the stimulatory effects of cortisol on fictive calls in the laboratory (Remage-Healey and Bass, 2005;Remage-Healey and Bass, 2006). The results of the current study now suggest an inverted U-shaped function between cortisol levels and calling behavior in toadfish, whereby only mid-range, rather than sub-threshold and elevated levels of cortisol, can facilitate calling [for comparable glucocorticoid effects in other systems see Sapolsky et al (Sapolsky et al, 2000), Breuner and Wingfield (Breuner and Wingfield, 2000) and Clement et al (Clement et al, 2005)]. In addition, the current data emphasize the importance of the auditory environment, together with hormone levels, in determining changes in calling behavior.…”

Section: Stress Hormones and Anti-predatory Behaviorsupporting

confidence: 75%

Dolphin foraging sounds suppress calling and elevate stress hormone levels in a prey species, the Gulf toadfish

Remage‐Healey

Nowacek

Bass

2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

105

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dramatically reduce toadfish calling rates by 50%. Highfrequency dolphin sounds (whistles) and low-frequency snapping shrimp pops (ambient control sounds) each had no effect on toadfish calling rates. Predator sound playbacks also had consequences for circulating stress hormones, as cortisol levels were significantly elevated in male toadfish exposed to dolphin pops compared with snapping shrimp pops. These findings lend strong support to the hypothesis that individuals of a prey species modulate communication behavior in the presence of a predator, and also suggest that short-term glucocorticoid elevation is associated with anti-predator behavior.

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Section: Stress Hormones and Anti-predatory Behaviorsupporting

confidence: 75%

Dolphin foraging sounds suppress calling and elevate stress hormone levels in a prey species, the Gulf toadfish

Remage‐Healey

Nowacek

Bass

2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

105

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“…aggressor (Clement et al 2005). This suggests that fish may have distinct behavioral coping strategies depending both on their own status and that of the aggressor, and that these may be reflected in physiology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some species, there are distinct coping strategies such as displaced aggression that can reduce the stress response (e.g. Houston 1972, Davis & Levine 1982, Clement et al 2005 although the mechanisms of these are unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological consequences of social descent: studies in Astatotilapia burtoni

Parikh¹,

Clement²,

Fernald³

2006

Journal of Endocrinology

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In many species, social interactions regulate reproductive capacity, although the exact mechanisms of such regulation are unclear. Since social stress is often related to reproductive regulation, we measured the physiological signatures of change in reproductive state as they relate to short-term stress and the stress hormone cortisol. We used an African cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, with two distinct, reversible male phenotypes: dominant (territorial, T) males that are larger, more brightly colored, more aggressive, and reproductively competent and non-dominant males (non-territorial, NT) that are smaller, camouflage colored, and have regressed gonads. Male status, and hence reproductive competence, depends on social experience in this system. Specifically, if a T male is placed among larger male fish, it quickly becomes NT in behavior and coloration, but complete regression of its reproductive axis takes ca. 3 weeks (White et al. 2002). Reproduction in all vertebrates is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in which the key signaling molecule from the brain to the pituitary is GnRH1. Here, we subjected T males to territory loss, a social manipulation which results in status descent. We measured the effects of this status change in levels of circulating cortisol and testosterone as well as mRNA levels of GnRH1 and GnRH receptor-1 (GnRH-R1) in the brain and pituitary, respectively. Following short-term social suppression (4 h), no change was observed in plasma cortisol level, GnRH1 mRNA expression, GnRH-R1 mRNA expression, or plasma testosterone level. However, following a somewhat longer social suppression (24 h), cortisol and GnRH1 mRNA levels were significantly increased, and testosterone levels were significantly decreased. These results suggest that in the short run, deposed T males essentially mount a neural 'defense' against loss of status.

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“…Many studies have been evaluating the effect of social status and social stressors on the HPI axis and other related systems (e.g. Munro & Pitcher, 1985;Fox et al, 1997;Pottinger & Carrick, 2001;Clement et al, 2005;Gilmour et al, 2005;Earley et al, 2006;Fernandes-De-Castilho et al, 2008). Social stressors may primarily elicit fear, danger recognition and anticipation of threatening events with concomitant neuroendocrine responses (Chandroo et al, 2004a).…”

Section: Stressor-relatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

<b>Psychological Stress and Welfare in Fish</b>

Galhardo¹,

Oliveira²

2009

Annu Rev Biomed Sci

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Galhardo L, Oliveira RF. Psychological Stress and Welfare in Fish. Annu Rev Biomed Sci 2009;11:1-20. The ability to respond to stress is vital to the survival of any living organism, though sustained reactions can become detrimental to the health and welfare of animals. Stress responses of vertebrates are known through several studies in their physiological, behavioural and psychological components, under acute and chronic contexts. In fish, the physiological and behavioural aspects of stress are considerably well known phenomena and show striking similarities to those of other vertebrates. However, the psychological component is not well known. Some authors deny mental experiences to fish on the basis of their lack of neocortex. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown neuroendocrine, cognitive and emotional processes in fish that are not only equivalent to other vertebrates, but also allow inferring some forms of mental representation. The integration of psychological elements in fish stress physiology is insufficiently studied, but, as discussed in this article, there is already indirect evidence to admit that some form of stimuli appraisal can take place in fish. This fact has profound implications on the regulation of the stress response, as well as on fish welfare and its management.

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Behavioral coping strategies in a cichlid fish: the role of social status and acute stress response in direct and displaced aggression

Cited by 67 publications

References 26 publications

Dolphin foraging sounds suppress calling and elevate stress hormone levels in a prey species, the Gulf toadfish

Dolphin foraging sounds suppress calling and elevate stress hormone levels in a prey species, the Gulf toadfish

Physiological consequences of social descent: studies in Astatotilapia burtoni

<b>Psychological Stress and Welfare in Fish</b>

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