Substrate-treated water: a method to enhance fish activity in laboratory experiments

Meuthen, Denis; Baldauf, Sebastian A.; Bakker, Theo C. M.; Thünken, Timo

doi:10.3354/ab00348

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Additionally, the experimental tank was surrounded with white Styrofoam to minimize disturbance. The tank was filled with aged substrate-treated water (23±1°C; see [ 46 ] for details). After each experiment it was cleaned and rinsed with hot water and refilled with aged substrate-treated water.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social deprivation affects cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

et al. 2015

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The social environment individuals are exposed to during ontogeny shapes social skills and social competence in group-living animals. Consequently, social deprivation has serious effects on behaviour and development in animals but little is known about its impact on cooperation. In this study, we examined the effect of social environment on cooperative predator inspection. Predator inspection behaviour is a complex behaviour, which is present in a variety of shoaling fish species. Often, two fish leave the safety of the group and inspect a potentially dangerous predator in order to gather information about the current predation risk. As predator inspection is highly risky, it is prone to conflicts and cheating. However, cooperation among individuals may reduce the individual predation risk. We investigated this complex social behaviour in juveniles of the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus that were reared in two different social environments throughout development. Fish reared in a group inspected more often than isolation-reared fish and were more likely to cooperate, i.e. they conducted conjoint inspection of a predator. By contrast, isolation-reared fish were more likely to perform a single inspection without a companion. These results suggest an impairment of cooperative behaviour in isolation-reared fish most probably due to lack of social experience and resulting in lowered social skills needed in coordinated behaviour.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social deprivation affects cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

et al. 2015

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“…Additionally, the experimental tank was surrounded with white Styrofoam to minimize disturbance. The tank was filled with aged, substrate‐treated tap water (23 ± 1 °C) (for a detailed explanation, see Meuthen et al ., ) to a height of 12 cm. After each experiment, it was cleaned, rinsed with hot water and refilled.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinship reinforces cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

Hesse

Anaya‐Rojas

Frommen

et al. 2015

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Kin selection theory predicts that cooperation is facilitated between genetic relatives, as by cooperating with kin an individual might increase its inclusive fitness. Although numerous theoretical papers support Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory, experimental evidence is still underrepresented, in particular in noncooperative breeders. Cooperative predator inspection is one of the most intriguing antipredator strategies, as it implies high costs on inspectors. During an inspection event, one or more individuals leave the safety of a group and approach a potential predator to gather information about the current predation risk. We investigated the effect of genetic relatedness on cooperative predator inspection in juveniles of the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus, a species in which juveniles live in shoals under natural conditions. We show that relatedness significantly influenced predator inspection behaviour with kin dyads being significantly more cooperative. Thus, our results indicate a higher disposition for cooperative antipredator behaviour among kin as predicted by kin selection theory.

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“…A video camera (QuickCam 9000, Logitech, China) viewing the tanks from the top enabled recording of fish behavior for evaluation. Tanks were filled with substrate-treated water at 24°C 76 ; individual fish were then introduced and acclimatized for 1 h, this period is referred to as the pre-stimulus phase from now on. Experimental stimuli were thereafter temperatureadjusted to tank conditions and introduced at the point of 1 h 15min.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Female P. taeniatus were used exclusively due to their consistent activity levels relative to males 76 . Prior to experiments, fish were kept in mixed-sex 50 × 30 × 30 cm (L × W × H) stock tanks at densities up to 20 individuals and were fed daily with frozen invertebrate larvae ad libitum.…”

Section: Animal Collection and Maintenancementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of alarm cues: a test of the kin selection hypothesis

2014

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Discuss this article AbstractThe evolution of alarm signals has puzzled evolutionary ecologists for decades. This is particularly true for alarm cues ('Schreckstoff') which are present in many fishes. They are passively released through injuries and signal the presence of a predator. Although the benefits for conspecific receivers are obvious (they can adjust their behavior to avoid predation), those for the senders are not which is, however, a necessary requirement for the evolution of alarm signals. Several hypotheses relying on potential direct benefits for the senders have been suggested. Alarm cues might attract secondary predators which in turn might increase the escape probability of the sender. A primary immune enhancing role was suggested as well. An alternative explanation is based on Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory stating that individuals can indirectly increase their fitness by increasing the survival of genetically related individuals ('kin selection theory'). If related individuals preferentially benefit from alarm signals, for instance by being more receptive to kin-alarm cues, senders could increase their inclusive fitness. Here, we investigate whether individuals of the cichlid fish respond differentially to Pelvicachromis taeniatus alarm cues derived from kin and non-kin.possesses alarm cues P. taeniatus and is known to adjust its behavior when exposed to alarm cues. We measured the change in activity after the addition of alarm cues (derived from kin-and non-kin) relative to a control treatment. Reduced activity is a widespread behavioral adaptation to reduce predation risk in prey organisms. Fish of the alarm cue treatments significantly reduced their activity relative to control fish. However, fish did not respond differentially to alarm cues derived from kin and non-kin suggesting that potential inclusive fitness benefits are not mediated by responses specific to individual alarm cues. We discuss alternative mechanisms such as kin shoaling and mating preferences potentially leading to kin-biased alarm cue perception.

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Substrate-treated water: a method to enhance fish activity in laboratory experiments

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

Social deprivation affects cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

Social deprivation affects cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

Kinship reinforces cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish

Evolution of alarm cues: a test of the kin selection hypothesis

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