Visual sex discrimination in goldfish: seasonal, sexual, and androgenic influences

Thompson, Ronald G.; George, Kirsten; Dempsey, J.; Walton, James C.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.06.008

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This initial behavioral effect of subjects could be related to circulating androgen levels. In male teleosts, circulating androgen levels, especially 11-KT, are associated with reproductive and aggressive behaviors [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44]. In A. burtoni , physical suppression by large dominant males and a loss of territorial status result in decreased circulating androgen levels in plasma [22], [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual Information Alone Changes Behavior and Physiology during Social Interactions in a Cichlid Fish (Astatotilapia burtoni)

Chen

Fernald

2011

PLoS ONE

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Social behavior can influence physiological systems dramatically yet the sensory cues responsible are not well understood. Behavior of male African cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, in their natural habitat suggests that visual cues from conspecifics contribute significantly to regulation of social behavior. Using a novel paradigm, we asked whether visual cues alone from a larger conspecific male could influence behavior, reproductive physiology and the physiological stress response of a smaller male. Here we show that just seeing a larger, threatening male through a clear barrier can suppress dominant behavior of a smaller male for up to 7 days. Smaller dominant males being “attacked” visually by larger dominant males through a clear barrier also showed physiological changes for up to 3 days, including up-regulation of reproductive- and stress-related gene expression levels and lowered plasma 11-ketotestesterone concentrations as compared to control animals. The smaller males modified their appearance to match that of non-dominant males when exposed to a larger male but they maintained a physiological phenotype similar to that of a dominant male. After 7 days, reproductive- and stress- related gene expression, circulating hormone levels, and gonad size in the smaller males showed no difference from the control group suggesting that the smaller male habituated to the visual intruder. However, the smaller male continued to display subordinate behaviors and assumed the appearance of a subordinate male for a full week despite his dominant male physiology. These data suggest that seeing a larger male alone can regulate the behavior of a smaller male but that ongoing reproductive inhibition depends on additional sensory cues. Perhaps, while experiencing visual social stressors, the smaller male uses an opportunistic strategy, acting like a subordinate male while maintaining the physiology of a dominant male.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual Information Alone Changes Behavior and Physiology during Social Interactions in a Cichlid Fish (Astatotilapia burtoni)

Chen

Fernald

2011

PLoS ONE

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“…Although similar in structure to 3kPZS and released at the onset of spermiation by males (Yun et al 2003), 3kACA did not appear to function as a redundant compound in mate search. In other pheromone communication systems individual compounds elicit responses only in the presence of accessory components or nonolfactory stimuli (Rybak et al 2002;McLennan 2003;Thompson et al 2004;Shine 2005;Papke et al 2007). 3kACA may function as a primer pheromone to synchronize female maturation with male availability (Li 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The efficacy of two synthesized sea lamprey sex pheromone components as a trap lure when placed in direct competition with natural male odors

Luehring

Wagner

2010

Biol Invasions

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The female sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a devastating invasive fish of the Laurentian Great Lakes, locates potential mates by tracking a sex pheromone emitted by nesting males. We tested whether combinations of two putative components of the sex pheromone, 3-keto-petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS) and 3-keto-allocholic acid (3kACA), were sufficiently attractive to function as a trap-bait when placed in direct competition with male odors. Ovulating females successfully located point sources of 3kPZS both in the presence and absence of a competing odor emitted by mature males placed upstream. However, 3kPZS was not able to retain females in the vicinity of a trap longer than two minutes, and retention time was reduced by 57% when competing male odors were present. 3kACA failed to elicit a response on its own and did not improve attraction to, or retention near, a source of 3kPZS. Application of an incomplete pheromone in trapping-for-control scenarios will require devices configured to minimize the effort necessary to enter a trap, features to offset the probable decrease in trap retention, and deployment into favorable habitats where competition with spawning males is minimal.

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“…Furthermore, visual and olfactory input may be processed independently by the central nervous system, at least in the context of courtship. During the spawning season, male goldfish are able to discriminate between male and female conspecifics using visual stimuli alone (Thompson et al, 2004). They do not, however, display any courtship behaviour towards the females unless they are in the same tank (i.e.…”

Section: Behavioural Responses Of Anosmic and Sham-operated Malesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Olfactory discrimination of female reproductive status by male tilapia(Oreochromis mossambicus)

Miranda

Almeida

Hubbard

et al. 2005

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The current study investigated whether discrimination of sexual status of female tilapia by males is mediated by olfaction. Size-matched groups of female tilapia were assigned as pre- or post-ovulatory according to the time since their last ovulation (15-19 days pre-ovulatory, N=7; 1-3 days post-ovulatory, N=8). Female-conditioned water and body fluids(urine, bile, faeces and plasma) were assessed for olfactory potency in males by recording the electro-olfactogram (EOG). Water extracts, urine and faeces from pre-ovulatory females all evoked significantly larger amplitude EOGs in male fish (N=6), with correspondingly lower thresholds of detection,than those from post-ovulatory females. Plasma and bile evoked very large amplitude EOGs in males but with no differences between the two groups of females. Anosmic males (N=6) did not behave differently towards pre-or post-ovulatory females, while sham-operated males (N=6) showed a marked increase in urination rate towards pre-ovulatory females. We conclude that the ability of male tilapia to discriminate between females of differing reproductive status is mediated by odorants released into the water, probably via the urine and faeces, by pre-ovulatory females.

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Visual sex discrimination in goldfish: seasonal, sexual, and androgenic influences

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Visual Information Alone Changes Behavior and Physiology during Social Interactions in a Cichlid Fish (Astatotilapia burtoni)

Visual Information Alone Changes Behavior and Physiology during Social Interactions in a Cichlid Fish (Astatotilapia burtoni)

The efficacy of two synthesized sea lamprey sex pheromone components as a trap lure when placed in direct competition with natural male odors

Olfactory discrimination of female reproductive status by male tilapia(Oreochromis mossambicus)

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