Skeletal muscle contractile function predicts activity and behaviour in zebrafish

Journal of Experimental Biology

Borg

Schlotfeldt

et al. 2016

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Locomotor performance is closely related to fitness. However, in many ecological contexts, animals do not move at their maximal locomotor capacity, but adopt a voluntary speed that is lower than maximal. It is important to understand the mechanisms that underlie voluntary speed, because these determine movement patterns of animals across natural environments. We show that voluntary speed is a stable trait in zebrafish (Danio rerio), but there were pronounced differences between individuals in maximal sustained speed, voluntary speed and metabolic cost of locomotion. We accept the hypothesis that voluntary speed scales positively with maximal sustained swimming performance (U crit ), but only in unfamiliar environments (1st minute in an open-field arena versus 10th minute) at high temperature (30°C). There was no significant effect of metabolic scope on U crit . Contrary to expectation, we rejected the hypothesis that voluntary speed decreases with increasing metabolic cost of movement, except in familiar spatial (after 10 min of exploration) and thermal (24°C but not 18 or 30°C) environments. The implications of these data are that the energetic costs of exploration and dispersal in novel environments are higher than those for movement within familiar home ranges.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energetic cost determines voluntary movement speed only in familiar environments

Journal of Experimental Biology

Borg

Schlotfeldt

et al. 2016

Self Cite

“…For example, exploration and voluntary speed in an open field test were positively related to muscle contractile function and locomotor performance in zebra fish ( Danio rerio ) (Seebacher, Little, & James, )). Critical sustained swimming speed (U crit ) (Brett, ) was also positively correlated to activity in several other fish species (Plaut, , ; Seebacher, Little, & James, ; Swanson, ). Considering that locomotor capacity is influenced by transgenerational effects and acclimation, it is likely that ancestral and offspring environmental temperatures could also modify dispersal which relies on locomotor performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of these behaviours rely at least partially on locomotor physiology. For example, exploration and voluntary speed in an open field test were positively related to muscle contractile function and locomotor performance in zebra fish (Danio rerio) (Seebacher, Little, & James, 2015)). Critical sustained swimming speed (U crit ) (Brett, 1964) was also positively correlated to activity in several other fish species (Plaut, 2000a(Plaut, , 2000b necessarily translate to all ecologically relevant locomotor tasks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…behaviour, citrate synthase, developmental plasticity, lactate dehydrogenase, metabolism, parental effects, swimming capacity, thermal plasticity Little, & James, 2015;Swanson, 1998). Considering that locomotor capacity is influenced by transgenerational effects and acclimation, it is likely that ancestral and offspring environmental temperatures could also modify dispersal which relies on locomotor performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Transgenerational effects and acclimation affect dispersal in guppies

Roy

2018

Functional Ecology

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Evolutionary theory predicts that intergenerational environmental fluctuations lead to transgenerational effects where offspring phenotypes are matched to conditions experienced by previous generations. However, in fluctuating environments, transgenerational effects can be detrimental by causing mismatches between ancestral and offspring environments. Acclimation in offspring could alleviate these negative effects. We determined whether the interaction between transgenerational effects and acclimation affects locomotor performance and dispersal in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). In a fully factorial experiment, we tested the interaction between ancestral (22 or 30°C for six to eight generations), acclimation (22 or 30°C for 4 weeks) and acute test temperatures (two to five temperatures across 18–34°C). We predicted that matching ancestral and acclimation temperatures to acute environmental temperature maximises physiological capacities (swimming performance [Ucrit] and metabolic enzyme activities), and dispersal in an artificial stream. Alternatively, when ancestral and acute temperatures were mismatched, we predicted that thermal acclimation compensates for this mismatch by shifting performance curves. Finally, we hypothesised that physiological capacities are positively related to dispersal. We measured dispersal as a combination of traits characterising the departure and transient phases of dispersal (time taken to leave the introductory pool, voluntary speed against the current, number of dispersal decisions taken) in an 8‐m artificial stream. As hypothesised, Ucrit was greatest when ancestral, acclimation and acute temperatures matched. Cold acclimation reduced the decrement in Ucrit resulting from a mismatch between ancestral and acute test temperatures. In both sexes, the interaction between ancestral and acclimation temperatures determined Ucrit, but not metabolic enzyme activities, and it affected the number of dispersal decisions in males only. Contrary to our hypothesis, physiological capacities did not constrain dispersal. Males were more likely to initiate dispersal when the acute temperatures mismatched their ancestral temperature. After initiating dispersal, males moved at a greater voluntary speed and made more dispersal decisions in environments matching their ancestral environment. Our findings imply that although the interaction between transgenerational effects and acclimation modulates locomotor capacities, these relationships do not necessarily translate to all ecologically relevant locomotor tasks. Instead, sex‐specific life‐history traits such as life span are more likely to influence dispersal, and males in particular may initiate dispersal to escape suboptimal conditions. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13105/suppinfo is available for this article.

“…If the group moves at a speed that exceeds an individual's maximal speed, that individual will not be able to join the group. However, while animals move at maximal speeds during escape behaviour or while hunting prey, under most circumstances, movement occurs at a voluntary speed that is well below maximum [35][36][37][38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological mechanisms underlying animal social behaviour

Krause

2017

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'Physiological determinants of social behaviour in animals'. Many species of animal live in groups, and the group represents the organizational level within which ecological and evolutionary processes occur. Understanding these processes, therefore, relies on knowledge of the mechanisms that permit or constrain group formation. We suggest that physiological capacities and differences in physiology between individuals modify fission -fusion dynamics. Differences between individuals in locomotor capacity and metabolism may lead to fission of groups and sorting of individuals into groups with similar physiological phenotypes. Environmental impacts such as hypoxia can influence maximum group sizes and structure in fish schools by altering access to oxygenated water. The nutritional environment determines group cohesion, and the increase in information collected by the group means that individuals should rely more on social information and form more cohesive groups in uncertain environments. Changing environmental contexts require rapid responses by individuals to maintain group coordination, which are mediated by neuroendocrine signalling systems such as nonapeptides and steroid hormones. Brain processing capacity may constrain social complexity by limiting information processing. Failure to evaluate socially relevant information correctly limits social interactions, which is seen, for example, in autism. Hence, functioning of a group relies to a large extent on the perception and appropriate processing of signals from conspecifics. Many if not all physiological systems are mechanistically linked, and therefore have synergistic effects on social behaviour. A challenge for the future lies in understanding these interactive effects, which will improve understanding of group dynamics, particularly in changing environments.This article is part of the themed issue 'Physiological determinants of social behaviour in animals'.