The population ecology and behavior of the cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga (Rafinesque, 1822).

Bradley, J. Gavin

doi:10.18297/etd/3041

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 94 publications

(215 reference statements)

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“…Loss of aggression is observed in other animals that have evolved to live in cave environments, including other cavefish [65] and other cave species, like the whip spider Phrynus longipes [66]. However, some cave animals are aggressive (for example [67]). Thus, ecological factors beyond living in the dark may play a role in the evolution of aggressive behaviors in cave populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Convergence on reduced aggression through shared behavioral traits in multiple populations of Astyanax mexicanus

et al. 2022

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Background Aggression is observed across the animal kingdom, and benefits animals in a number of ways to increase fitness and promote survival. While aggressive behaviors vary widely across populations and can evolve as an adaptation to a particular environment, the complexity of aggressive behaviors presents a challenge to studying the evolution of aggression. The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus exists as an aggressive river-dwelling surface form and multiple populations of a blind cave form, some of which exhibit reduced aggression, providing the opportunity to investigate how evolution shapes aggressive behaviors. Results To define how aggressive behaviors evolve, we performed a high-resolution analysis of multiple social behaviors that occur during aggressive interactions in A. mexicanus. We found that many of the aggression-associated behaviors observed in surface-surface aggressive encounters were reduced or lost in Pachón cavefish. Interestingly, one behavior, circling, was observed more often in cavefish, suggesting evolution of a shift in the types of social behaviors exhibited by cavefish. Further, detailed analysis revealed substantive differences in aggression-related sub-behaviors in independently evolved cavefish populations, suggesting independent evolution of reduced aggression between cave populations. We found that many aggressive behaviors are still present when surface fish fight in the dark, suggesting that these reductions in aggression-associated and escape-associated behaviors in cavefish are likely independent of loss of vision in this species. Further, levels of aggression within populations were largely independent of type of opponent (cave vs. surface) or individual stress levels, measured through quantifying stress-like behaviors, suggesting these behaviors are hardwired and not reflective of population-specific changes in other cave-evolved traits. Conclusion These results reveal that loss of aggression in cavefish evolved through the loss of multiple aggression-associated behaviors and raise the possibility that independent genetic mechanisms underlie changes in each behavior within populations and across populations. Taken together, these findings reveal the complexity of evolution of social behaviors and establish A. mexicanus as a model for investigating the evolutionary and genetic basis of aggressive behavior.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Convergence on reduced aggression through shared behavioral traits in multiple populations of Astyanax mexicanus

et al. 2022

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“…Furthermore, prolonged handling stress produces negative effects on animal health (Allen‐Blevins et al., 2017; Bliley & Woodley, 2012; Caipang et al., 2014; Lunghi et al., 2016). Therefore, photographing salamanders and the post hoc measurement of SVL e facilitates easier measurements, requires shorter handling time with images of sufficient quality (Bradley, 2018; Lunghi et al., 2020), and is a method available to a wide number of operators (Margenau et al., 2018; Miyazaki et al., 2014). Nonetheless, such approach is particularly suitable for aquatic species, as operator can easily take measurements of individuals without removing them from water (Gutierrez, Guess, & Pierce, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The post hoc measurement as a safe and reliable method to age and size plethodontid salamanders

Lunghi

Giachello

Manenti

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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The worldwide biodiversity crisis with the resulting need to increase species protection has led researchers to pursue and select survey methods that guarantee the best quality of data and produce the least negative effects on wild animals. Plethodontids are the most diverse family of salamanders; all species are very sensitive to human handling and noninvasive, but accurate, measurement methods are needed to reduce researchers’ impact. Here, we tested the reliability of a noninvasive post hoc method in estimating the snout–vent length (SVL) from photographs showing salamanders’ dorsal view. The correlation between the estimated snout–vent length (SVL e ) and the conventional SVL was high ( R 2 m = .81), and no significant difference occurred between operators with different experience. Finally, we list the numerous advantages for the use of SVL e in terms of data quality and in reducing the stress caused to wild animals.

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“…Vertebrate animals have also colonized caves, including salamanders and fish (Bradley, 2018 ; Gross, 2012 ). Over the past decade, one particular cavefish species, Astyanax mexicanus , gained a lot of traction as a novel research model to address evolutionary development of sensory systems (Figure 1 ) (Gross, 2012 ; Jeffery & Martasian, 1998 ; Yamamoto & Jeffery, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensing in the dark: Constructive evolution of the lateral line system in blind populations of Astyanax mexicanus

Rodríguez‐Morales

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Cave‐adapted animals evolve a suite of regressive and constructive traits that allow survival in the dark. Most studies aiming at understanding cave animal evolution have focused on the genetics and environmental underpinnings of regressive traits, with special emphasis on vision loss. Possibly as a result of vision loss, other non‐visual sensory systems have expanded and compensated in cave species. For instance, in many cave‐dwelling fish species, including the blind cavefish of the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, a major non‐visual mechanosensory system called the lateral line, compensated for vision loss through morphological expansions. While substantial work has shed light on constructive adaptation of this system, there are still many open questions regarding its developmental origin, synaptic plasticity, and overall adaptive value. This review provides a snapshot of the current state of knowledge of lateral line adaption in A. mexicanus, with an emphasis on anatomy, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Multiple open avenues for future research in this system, and how these can be leveraged as tools for both evolutionary biology and evolutionary medicine, are discussed.

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The population ecology and behavior of the cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga (Rafinesque, 1822).

Cited by 4 publications

References 94 publications

Convergence on reduced aggression through shared behavioral traits in multiple populations of Astyanax mexicanus

Convergence on reduced aggression through shared behavioral traits in multiple populations of Astyanax mexicanus

The post hoc measurement as a safe and reliable method to age and size plethodontid salamanders

Sensing in the dark: Constructive evolution of the lateral line system in blind populations of Astyanax mexicanus

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