1
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Hanson KA, Mauland BA, Shastri A, Wisenden BD. Yellowtail damselfish Chrysiptera parasema can associate predation risk with the acoustic call of a heterospecific damselfish following pairing with conspecific alarm cues. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 104:1579-1586. [PMID: 38417911 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The ability to detect and respond to the presence of predation risk is under intense selection, especially for small-bodied fishes. Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) use auditory vocalizations during inter- and intrasexual interactions, but it is not known if they can use vocalizations in the context of predator-prey interactions. Here, we test if yellowtail damselfish, Chrysiptera parasema, can learn to associate the territorial vocalization of heterospecific humbug damselfish Dascyllus aruanus with predation risk. In conditioning trials yellowtail damselfish were presented with the territorial call of humbug damselfish while either blank water (control treatment) or chemical alarm cue derived from damaged skin of conspecific yellowtail damselfish was introduced. In conditioning trials, fish exposed to alarm cue exhibited increased activity and spent more time in the water column relative to fish that received the control treatment. After a single conditioning trial, conditioned fish were exposed again to the territorial call of humbug damselfish. Fish conditioned with the call + alarm cue showed increased activity and spent more time in the water column relative to fish that had been conditioned with the control treatment. These data indicate associative learning of an auditory stimulus with predation risk in a species that regularly uses auditory signalling in other contexts. Recordings of conditioning and test trials failed to detect any acoustic calls produced by test fish in response to the perception of predation risk. Thus, although yellowtail damselfish can associate risk with auditory stimuli, we found no evidence that they produce an alarm call.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Hanson
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brooke A Mauland
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ananda Shastri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brian D Wisenden
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, USA
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2
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Cowan ZL, Andreassen AH, De Bonville J, Green L, Binning SA, Silva-Garay L, Jutfelt F, Sundin J. A novel method for measuring acute thermal tolerance in fish embryos. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad061. [PMID: 37565236 PMCID: PMC10410291 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ectotherms are vulnerable to thermal stress, with embryos predicted to be more sensitive than juveniles and adults. When examining the vulnerability of species and life stages to warming, comparable methodology must be used to obtain robust conclusions. Critical thermal methodology is commonly used to characterize acute thermal tolerances in fishes, with critical thermal maximum (CTmax) referring to the acute upper thermal tolerance limit. At this temperature, fish exhibit loss of controlled locomotion due to a temperature-induced collapse of vital physiological functions. While it is relatively easy to monitor behavioural responses and measure CTmax in larval and adult fish, this is more challenging in embryos, leading to a lack of data on this life stage, or that studies rely on potentially incomparable metrics. Here, we present a novel method for measuring CTmax in fish embryos, defined by the temperature at which embryos stop moving. Additionally, we compare this measurement with the temperature of the embryos' last heartbeat, which has previously been proposed as a method for measuring embryonic CTmax. We found that, like other life stages, late-stage embryos exhibited a period of increased activity, peaking approximately 2-3°C before CTmax. Measurements of CTmax based on last movement are more conservative and easier to record in later developmental stages than measurements based on last heartbeat, and they also work well with large and small embryos. Importantly, CTmax measurements based on last movement in embryos are similar to measurements from larvae and adults based on loss of locomotory control. Using last heartbeat as CTmax in embryos likely overestimates acute thermal tolerance, as the heart is still beating when loss of response/equilibrium is reached in larvae/adults. The last movement technique described here allows for comparisons of acute thermal tolerance of embryos between species and across life stages, and as a response variable to treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zara-Louise Cowan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim, 7491, Norway
| | - Anna H Andreassen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim, 7491, Norway
| | - Jeremy De Bonville
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Av. Théres̀e-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Leon Green
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Center, Fiskebäckskil, 451 78, Sweden
| | - Sandra A Binning
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Av. Théres̀e-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Lorena Silva-Garay
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim, 7491, Norway
| | - Fredrik Jutfelt
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim, 7491, Norway
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Center, Fiskebäckskil, 451 78, Sweden
| | - Josefin Sundin
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, 178 93, Sweden
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Chi X, Li X, Yang M, Luo J, Zhang T, Huang X, Chang Y, Zhao C. Fitness costs of alarm cues in sea urchins: Fertilization, hatching, and larval size. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 178:105646. [PMID: 35597048 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sea urchins sense alarm cues extracted from crushed conspecifics and perform anti-predation behaviors in exposure to alarm cues. This indicates of the fitness benefits of alarm cues in sea urchins. The present study investigated whether fitness costs of alarm cues exist in fertilization, hatchability, deformity, and larval size of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus. In the present study, we found that fertilization and hatching rates were significantly lower in the group with alarm cues than those in the group without alarm cues, indicating that fitness costs of alarm cues exist in sea urchins. However, there was no significant difference in deformity rate, larval length, stomach length, and stomach width of M. nudus with and without alarm cues. The group with alarm cues showed significantly shorter larval width than the group without alarm cues. This indicates that smaller larvae of sea urchins more probably survive in the environment with alarm cues. The present study reveals that fitness costs of alarm cues exist in sea urchins and sheds light on the ecological roles of alarm cues in kelp bed ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Chi
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Mingfang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jia Luo
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Tongdan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiyuan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yaqing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
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4
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Du WG, Shine R. The behavioural and physiological ecology of embryos: responding to the challenges of life inside an egg. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1272-1286. [PMID: 35166012 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Adaptations of post-hatching animals have attracted far more study than have embryonic responses to environmental challenges, but recent research suggests that we have underestimated the complexity and flexibility of embryos. We advocate a dynamic view of embryos as organisms capable of responding - on both ecological and evolutionary timescales - to their developmental environments. By viewing embryos in this way, rather than assuming an inability of pre-hatching stages to adapt and respond, we can broaden the ontogenetic breadth of evolutionary and ecological research. Both biotic and abiotic factors affect embryogenesis, and embryos exhibit a broad range of behavioural and physiological responses that enable them to deal with changes in their developmental environments in the course of interactions with their parents, with other embryos, with predators, and with the physical environment. Such plasticity may profoundly affect offspring phenotypes and fitness, and in turn influence the temporal and spatial dynamics of populations and communities. Future research in this field could benefit from an integrated framework that combines multiple approaches (field investigations, manipulative experiments, ecological modelling) to clarify the mechanisms and consequences of embryonic adaptations and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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5
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Embryonic antipredator defenses and behavioral carryover effects in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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6
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Shannon H, Kutz D, Persons M. The effects of prenatal predator cue exposure on offspring substrate preferences in the wolf spider Tigrosa helluo. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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7
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Feugere L, Scott VF, Rodriguez-Barucg Q, Beltran-Alvarez P, Wollenberg Valero KC. Thermal stress induces a positive phenotypic and molecular feedback loop in zebrafish embryos. J Therm Biol 2021; 102:103114. [PMID: 34863478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic organisms must cope with both rising and rapidly changing temperatures. These thermal changes can affect numerous traits, from molecular to ecological scales. Biotic stressors are already known to induce the release of chemical cues which trigger behavioural responses in other individuals. In this study, we infer whether fluctuating temperature, as an abiotic stressor, may similarly induce stress-like responses in individuals not directly exposed to the stressor. To test this hypothesis, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed for 24 h to fluctuating thermal stress, to medium in which another embryo was thermally stressed before ("stress medium"), and to a combination of these. Growth, behaviour, expression of molecular markers, and of whole-embryo cortisol were used to characterise the thermal stress response and its propagation between embryos. Both fluctuating high temperature and stress medium significantly accelerated development, by shifting stressed embryos from segmentation to pharyngula stages, and altered embryonic activity. Importantly, we found that the expression of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR), the antioxidant gene SOD1, and of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were significantly altered by stress medium. This study illustrates the existence of positive thermal stress feedback loops in zebrafish embryos where heat stress can induce stress-like responses in conspecifics, but which might operate via different molecular pathways. If similar effects also occur under less severe heat stress regimes, this mechanism may be relevant in natural settings as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauric Feugere
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria F Scott
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom; Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Quentin Rodriguez-Barucg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro Beltran-Alvarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Katharina C Wollenberg Valero
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom.
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8
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Horn ME, Chivers DP. Embryonic exposure to predation risk and hatch time variation in fathead minnows. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255961. [PMID: 34383830 PMCID: PMC8360370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms are exposed to a wealth of chemical information during their development. Some of these chemical cues indicate present or future dangers, such as the presence of predators that feed on either the developing embryos or their nearby parents. Organisms may use this information to modify their morphology or life-history, including hatching timing, or may retain information about risk until it gains relevance. Previous research has shown predation-induced alterations in hatching among embryonic minnows that were exposed to mechanical-injury-released alarm cues from conspecific embryos. Here, we test whether minnows likewise hatch early in response to alarm cues from injured adult conspecifics. We know that embryonic minnows can detect adult alarm cues and use them to facilitate learned recognition of predators; however, it is unknown whether these adult alarm cues will also induce a change in hatching time. Early hatching may allow animals to rapidly disperse away from potential predators, but late hatching may allow animals to grow and develop structures that allow them to effectively escape when they do hatch. Here, we found here that unlike embryonic fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to embryonic cues, embryonic minnows exposed to adult alarm cues do not exhibit early hatching. The ability of embryos to recognize adult alarm cues as a future threat, but not a current one, demonstrates sophisticated ontogenetic specificity in the hatching response of embryonic minnows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna E. Horn
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Douglas P. Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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9
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Arvizu B, Allan BJM, Rizzari JR. Indirect predator effects influence behaviour but not morphology of juvenile coral reef Ambon damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:679-683. [PMID: 33733489 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A 6-week laboratory experiment exposed juvenile Ambon damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis to visual and chemical cues of either a predator, a herbivore or a null control (sea water) and found no effect of predator cues on prey morphology (proportion of ocellus to eye diameter, body depth, standard length and fin area). Nonetheless, behaviour was significantly affected by predator presence, with prey less active and taking half as many feeding strikes when exposed to predators compared to fish from the null control. The presence of a herbivore also affected prey behaviour similar to that of the predator, suggesting that the presence of a non-predator may have important effects on development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Arvizu
- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bridie J M Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otāgo, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Justin R Rizzari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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10
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11
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Atherton JA, McCormick MI. Parents know best: transgenerational predator recognition through parental effects. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9340. [PMID: 32596050 PMCID: PMC7306219 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In highly biodiverse systems, such as coral reefs, prey species are faced with predatory threats from numerous species. Recognition of predators can be innate, or learned, and can help increase the chance of survival. Research suggests that parental exposure to increased predatory threats can affect the development, behaviour, and ultimately, success of their offspring. Breeding pairs of damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) were subjected to one of three olfactory and visual treatments (predator, herbivore, or control), and their developing embryos were subsequently exposed to five different chemosensory cues. Offspring of parents assigned to the predator treatment exhibited a mean increase in heart rate two times greater than that of offspring from parents in herbivore or control treatments. This increased reaction to a parentally known predator odour suggests that predator-treated parents passed down relevant threat information to their offspring, via parental effects. This is the first time transgenerational recognition of a specific predator has been confirmed in any species. This phenomenon could influence predator-induced mortality rates and enable populations to adaptively respond to fluctuations in predator composition and environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Atherton
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Abstract
We performed over 19,000 lure-assisted, underwater visual fish census transects at over 140 shallow coastal sampling locations in the mid- eastern Adriatic sea of the Croatian mainland and islands, recording all fish taxa observed, their predatory behavior in response to the lure, and the cover of benthic habitats with which they were associated. We hypothesized that prey habitat preference was a learned or selected response to aggressive behavior by piscivorous mesopredators, and predicted that mobile prey would be spatially segregated from aggressive predators into different benthic habitats within local sampling sites. We found that aggressive piscivores were primarily wait-chase or cruise-chase mesopredators that preferentially foraged along heterogeneous habitat edges within juxtapositions of rock, unconsolidated sediment, macroalgae (Cystoseira spp.) and seagrass (usually Posidonia oceanica). Prey species and less aggressive piscivores avoided these heterogeneous habitats and preferred more homogeneous habitats that the aggressive predators in turn avoided. We found strong and consistent spatial segregation between aggressive predators on the one hand, and less aggressive predators and prey on the other hand. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that aggressive behavior by piscivorous species is the primary organizing force shaping assembly of fish communities at our study sites, driving preference and occupancy of heterogeneous and homogeneous benthic habitats. Management of shallow benthic resources should recognize the value of complementarity in habitats allowing coexistence of predators and prey through contrasting habitat preferences.
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13
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Lucon-Xiccato T, Di Mauro G, Bisazza A, Bertolucci C. Alarm cue-mediated response and learning in zebrafish larvae. Behav Brain Res 2019; 380:112446. [PMID: 31870779 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the behavioural and learning response of zebrafish larvae to chemicals released by injured conspecifics (the alarm cue). Many aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates exhibit an innate antipredator response to alarm cues because in nature, they reliably indicate the presence of predators. Likewise, when an individual simultaneously perceives a novel odour and alarm cue, it learns to recognise the novel odour as a predator odour. Alarm cue-mediated behavioural response and learning have been reported in some fish and amphibians during early ontogeny, but in zebrafish, they have been described only for adults. In this study, we demonstrated that zebrafish at 12 and 24 days post fertilization exhibited reduced activity when exposed to alarm cue obtained by homogenised larvae of the same age, with this response being greater for the older zebrafish. In addition, we showed that 24-dpf zebrafish conditioned with alarm cue plus a novel odour learned to recognise the novel odour as a threat and responded to it with antipredator behaviour. The innate behavioural response and the learned response after conditioning may be used to develop paradigms with which to study anxiety, fear, stress, learning and memory in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Di Mauro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Angelo Bisazza
- Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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14
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Schlenker LS, Welch MJ, Meredith TL, Mager EM, Lari E, Babcock EA, Pyle GG, Munday PL, Grosell M. Damsels in Distress: Oil Exposure Modifies Behavior and Olfaction in Bicolor Damselfish ( Stegastes partitus). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:10993-11001. [PMID: 31449401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In fishes, olfactory cues evoke behavioral responses that are crucial to survival; however, the receptors, olfactory sensory neurons, are directly exposed to the environment and are susceptible to damage from aquatic contaminants. In 2010, 4.9 million barrels of crude oil were released into the northern Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, exposing marine organisms to this environmental contaminant. We examined the ability of bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus), exposed to the water accommodated fraction (WAF) of crude oil, to respond to chemical alarm cue (CAC) using a two-channel flume. Control bicolor damselfish avoided CAC in the flume choice test, whereas WAF-exposed conspecifics did not. This lack of avoidance persisted following 8 days of control water conditions. We then examined the physiological response to CAC, brine shrimp rinse, bile salt, and amino acid cues using the electro-olfactogram (EOG) technique and found that WAF-exposed bicolor damselfish were less likely to detect CAC as an olfactory cue but showed no difference in EOG amplitude or duration compared to controls. These data indicate that a sublethal WAF exposure directly modifies detection and avoidance of CAC beyond the exposure period and may suggest reduced predator avoidance behavior in oil-exposed fish in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lela S Schlenker
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology , University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences , 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami , Florida 33149 , United States
| | - Megan J Welch
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University , Townsville , QLD , Australia 4811
| | - Tricia L Meredith
- Florida Atlantic University , 777 Glades Road , Boca Raton , Florida 33431 , United States
| | - Edward M Mager
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology , University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences , 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami , Florida 33149 , United States
- Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute , University of North Texas , 1511 W. Sycamore Street , Denton , Texas 76203 , United States
| | - Ebrahim Lari
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB T1K 3M4 , Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Babcock
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology , University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences , 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami , Florida 33149 , United States
| | - Greg G Pyle
- Department of Biological Sciences , University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB T1K 3M4 , Canada
| | - Philip L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University , Townsville , QLD , Australia 4811
| | - Martin Grosell
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology , University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences , 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami , Florida 33149 , United States
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15
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Horn ME, Ferrari MCO, Chivers DP. Retention of learned predator recognition in embryonic and juvenile rainbow trout. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Minimizing predation risk, especially for young or naïve individuals, can be achieved by learning to recognize predators. Embryonic learning may optimize survival by allowing for the earliest possible response to predation threats posthatch. However, predatory threats often change over an individual’s lifetime, and using old information can be detrimental if it becomes outdated. Adaptive forgetting allows an individual to discount obsolete information in decision-making and instead emphasize newer, more relevant information when responding to predation threats. Little is known about the extent to which young individuals can learn and forget information about predation threats. Here we demonstrate that rainbow trout 1) are capable of learning from both conspecific and heterospecific alarm cues as embryos, newly hatched larvae, and free-swimming larvae, 2) exhibit adaptive forgetting of predator information at all stages, and 3) display dynamic adaptive forgetting based on the ontogeny of learning. Specifically, fish that learned information as embryos retained the information for longer periods than those that learned the same information as newly hatched alevins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna E Horn
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Douglas P Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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16
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Ituarte RB, Vázquez MG, Bas CC. Chemically induced plasticity in early life history of Palaemon argentinus: are chemical alarm cues conserved within palaemonid shrimps? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.199984. [PMID: 31171603 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.199984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most aquatic animals use infochemicals from both conspecifics and heterospecifics to assess local predation risks and enhance predator detection. Released substances from injured conspecifics and other species (chemical alarm cues) are reliable cues to indicate an imminent danger in a specific habitat and often mediate the development of inducible defenses. Amphibian and fish embryos have been shown to acquire this information while at the embryonic stage of development, in relation to the developing nervous system and sensory development. With the exception of Daphnia, there is no information on chemically mediated responses to alarm cues in embryos of any crustacean groups. Therefore, we tested whether embryo exposure to chemical cues simulating predation on conspecifics or heterospecifics (closely related, non-coexisting species), or a mixture of both, alters embryonic developmental time, size and morphology of the first larval instar in Palaemon argentinus (Crustacea: Decapoda). Embryonic exposure to chemical alarm cues from conspecifics shortened the embryonic developmental time and elicited larger larvae with a longer rostrum. Rostrum length of the first larval instar changed independently of their size, thus elongated rostra can be considered a defensive feature. Embryonic developmental time was not altered by chemical alarm cues from either heterospecifics or the mixed cues treatment; however, exposure to these cues resulted in larger larvae compared with the control group. Chemically induced morphological plasticity in larvae in response to alarm cues from con- and heterospecifics suggests that such cues are conserved in palaemonids shrimps, providing embryos with an innate recognition of heterospecific alarm cues as predicted by the phylogenetic relatedness hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina B Ituarte
- Grupo Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina .,Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - María G Vázquez
- Grupo Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Claudia C Bas
- Grupo Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
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17
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Fakan EP, McCormick MI. Boat noise affects the early life history of two damselfishes. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 141:493-500. [PMID: 30955760 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise can have a negative effect on the physiology and survival of marine fishes. Most research has focused on later life-stages, and few studies have investigated the effects of human-induced noise on embryogenesis. The current study investigated whether playback of motorboat noise affected the embryogenesis of the coral reef damselfishes, Amphiprion melanopus and Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Embryos reared under the playback of boat noise had faster heart rates compared to the ambient reef controls. The effects of noise on morphological development differed between species and the fundamental interrelationships between early life history characteristics changed dramatically under boat noise for Ac. polyacanthus. Noise treatments did not alter the survival rates of embryos under laboratory conditions. Although species specific, our findings suggest that anthropogenic noise causes physiological responses in fishes during embryogenesis and these changes have direct impacts on their development and these alterations may have carry-over effects to later life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - M I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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18
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Levell ST, Travis J. Activity Level and Predation Risk in the Least Killifish, Heterandria formosa. COPEIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-17-703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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19
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Lucon-Xiccato T, Ferrari MC, Chivers DP, Bisazza A. Odour recognition learning of multiple predators by amphibian larvae. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Xia J, Elvidge CK, Cooke SJ. Niche separation, ontogeny, and heterospecific alarm responses in centrarchid sunfish. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jigang Xia
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chris K Elvidge
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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21
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Jain-Schlaepfer S, Fakan E, Rummer JL, Simpson SD, McCormick MI. Impact of motorboats on fish embryos depends on engine type. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy014. [PMID: 29593871 PMCID: PMC5865524 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Human generated noise is changing the natural underwater soundscapes worldwide. The most pervasive sources of underwater anthropogenic noise are motorboats, which have been found to negatively affect several aspects of fish biology. However, few studies have examined the effects of noise on early life stages, especially the embryonic stage, despite embryo health being critical to larval survival and recruitment. Here, we used a novel setup to monitor heart rates of embryos from the staghorn damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon curacao) in shallow reef conditions, allowing us to examine the effects of in situ boat noise in context with real-world exposure. We found that the heart rate of embryos increased in the presence of boat noise, which can be associated with the stress response. Additionally, we found 2-stroke outboard-powered boats had more than twice the effect on embryo heart rates than did 4-stroke powered boats, showing an increase in mean individual heart rate of 1.9% and 4.6%, respectively. To our knowledge this is the first evidence suggesting boat noise elicits a stress response in fish embryo and highlights the need to explore the ecological ramifications of boat noise stress during the embryo stage. Also, knowing the response of marine organisms caused by the sound emissions of particular engine types provides an important tool for reef managers to mitigate noise pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Eric Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Stephen D Simpson
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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22
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Robison AL, Chapman T, Bidwell JR. Predation cues influence metabolic rate and sensitivity to other chemical stressors in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Daphnia pulex. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2018; 27:55-68. [PMID: 29101637 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-017-1870-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The response of aquatic species to contaminants is often context dependent as illustrated by the influence that predation cues can have on the toxicity of some chemicals. We sought to gain additional insight into this interaction by examining how predation cues (alarm cue and fish kairomone) influence metabolic rate and the acute toxicity of sodium chloride and cadmium to fathead minnow larvae (Pimephales promelas) and sodium chloride to Daphnia pulex neonates. Consistent with a "flight or fight" response, the metabolic rate of fish larvae was elevated in the presence of alarm cue and growth of the minnows was also significantly reduced when exposed to alarm cue. The average 48-h LC50 for fathead minnows exposed to sodium chloride was significantly lower in the presence of alarm cue and kairomone combined as compared to tests with the salt alone. Analysis of the dose and survival response indicated alarm cue increased sensitivity of the fish to mid-range salt concentrations in particular. These results suggest an energetic cost of exposure to predation cues that resulted in enhanced toxicity of NaCl. Exposure to kairomone alone had no significant effect on salt toxicity to the minnows, which could be related to a lack of previous exposure to that cue. The acute toxicity of cadmium to the fish larvae was also not affected by the presence of predation cues which could be due to a metal-induced sensory system dysfunction or reduced bioavailability of the metal due to organic exudates from the predation cues. In contrast to the fathead minnow results, the metabolic rate of D. pulex and toxicity of NaCl to the daphnids were reduced in the presence of certain predator kairomones. This suggests an anti-predator response that enhanced tolerance to the salt. This study illustrates that the effect of predation cues on toxicity of aquatic contaminants can vary significantly based on the prey species, type of cue, and chemical stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amie L Robison
- Robison Wildlife Solutions, LLC, 9401S. Harrah Rd, Newalla, OK, 74857, USA
- Prior address: Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Trevor Chapman
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Joseph R Bidwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA.
- Prior address: Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
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23
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Goatley CHR, Bellwood DR. Body size and mortality rates in coral reef fishes: a three-phase relationship. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.1858. [PMID: 27798308 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Body size is closely linked to mortality rates in many animals, although the overarching patterns in this relationship have rarely been considered for multiple species. A meta-analysis of published size-specific mortality rates for coral reef fishes revealed an exponential decline in mortality rate with increasing body size, however, within this broad relationship there are three distinct phases. Phase one is characterized by naive fishes recruiting to reefs, which suffer extremely high mortality rates. In this well-studied phase, fishes must learn quickly to survive the many predation risks. After just a few days, the surviving fishes enter phase two, in which small increases in body size result in pronounced increases in lifespan (estimated 11 d mm-1). Remarkably, approximately 50% of reef fish individuals remain in phase two throughout their lives. Once fishes reach a size threshold of about 43 mm total length (TL) they enter phase three, where mortality rates are relatively low and the pressure to grow is presumably, significantly reduced. These phases provide a clearer understanding of the impact of body size on mortality rates in coral reef fishes and begin to reveal critical insights into the energetic and trophic dynamics of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Harry Robert Goatley
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - David Roy Bellwood
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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24
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Xia J, Cheng M, Cai R, Fu S, Cooke SJ, Elvidge CK. Ontogenetic changes in chemical alarm cue recognition and fast-start performance in guppies (Poecilia reticulata
). Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jigang Xia
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology; College of Life Sciences; Chongqing Normal University; Chongqing China
| | - Meiling Cheng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology; College of Life Sciences; Chongqing Normal University; Chongqing China
| | - Ruiyu Cai
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology; College of Life Sciences; Chongqing Normal University; Chongqing China
| | - Shijian Fu
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology; College of Life Sciences; Chongqing Normal University; Chongqing China
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory; Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science; Carleton University; Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Chris K. Elvidge
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory; Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science; Carleton University; Ottawa ON Canada
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25
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Ayon RE, Putman BJ, Clark RW. Recent encounters with rattlesnakes enhance ground squirrel responsiveness to predator cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2378-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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26
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Sundin J, Amcoff M, Mateos-González F, Raby GD, Jutfelt F, Clark TD. Long-term exposure to elevated carbon dioxide does not alter activity levels of a coral reef fish in response to predator chemical cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017; 71:108. [PMID: 28736477 PMCID: PMC5498585 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2337-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Levels of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) projected to occur in the world’s oceans in the near future have been reported to increase swimming activity and impair predator recognition in coral reef fishes. These behavioral alterations would be expected to have dramatic effects on survival and community dynamics in marine ecosystems in the future. To investigate the universality and replicability of these observations, we used juvenile spiny chromis damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to examine the effects of long-term CO2 exposure on routine activity and the behavioral response to the chemical cues of a predator (Cephalopholis urodeta). Commencing at ~3–20 days post-hatch, juvenile damselfish were exposed to present-day CO2 levels (~420 μatm) or to levels forecasted for the year 2100 (~1000 μatm) for 3 months of their development. Thereafter, we assessed routine activity before and after injections of seawater (sham injection, control) or seawater-containing predator chemical cues. There was no effect of CO2 treatment on routine activity levels before or after the injections. All fish decreased their swimming activity following the predator cue injection but not following the sham injection, regardless of CO2 treatment. Our results corroborate findings from a growing number of studies reporting limited or no behavioral responses of fishes to elevated CO2. Significance statement Alarmingly, it has been reported that levels of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) forecasted for the year 2100 cause coral reef fishes to be attracted to the chemical cues of predators. However, most studies have exposed the fish to CO2 for very short periods before behavioral testing. Using long-term acclimation to elevated CO2 and automated tracking software, we found that fish exposed to elevated CO2 showed the same behavioral patterns as control fish exposed to present-day CO2 levels. Specifically, activity levels were the same between groups, and fish acclimated to elevated CO2 decreased their swimming activity to the same degree as control fish when presented with cues from a predator. These findings indicate that behavioral impacts of elevated CO2 levels are not universal in coral reef fishes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00265-017-2337-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefin Sundin
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mirjam Amcoff
- Department of Zoology/Functional Zoomorphology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA
| | - Fernando Mateos-González
- Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA.,Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Graham D Raby
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland Australia.,Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario Canada
| | - Fredrik Jutfelt
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Timothy D Clark
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland Australia.,University of Tasmania and CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Hobart, Tasmania Australia
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27
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Garcia TS, Urbina JC, Bredeweg EM, Ferrari MCO. Embryonic learning and developmental carry-over effects in an invasive anuran. Oecologia 2017; 184:623-631. [PMID: 28669002 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3905-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Carry-over effects influence trait responses in later life stages as a result of early experience with environmental cues. Predation risk is an influential stressor and selection exists for early recognition of threats. In particular, invasive species may benefit from carry-over effects by preemptively recognizing and responding to novel predators via latent developmental changes and embryonic learning. In a factorial experiment, we conditioned invasive American bullfrog embryos (Lithobates catesbeianus) to the odor of a novel fish predator, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) alone or in combination with injured conspecific cues. We quantified developmental carryover in the larval life stage and found that individuals conditioned to the highest risk (fish and injured conspecific cues) grew into longer bodied larvae relative to larvae from lower risk treatments. We also assessed embryonic learning, a behavioral carry-over effect, and found an interaction between embryonic conditioning and larval exposure. Behavioral responses were only found in scenarios when predation risk varied in intensity across life history stages, thus requiring a more flexible antipredator strategy. This indicates a potential trade-off between the two strategies in larval growth and development rates, and time until metamorphosis. Our results suggest that early predator exposure and carry-over effects have significant impacts on life history trajectories for American bullfrogs. This research contributes to our understanding of a potentially important invasion mechanism in an anuran species of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany S Garcia
- 104 Nash Hall, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Jenny C Urbina
- Environmental Science Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Evan M Bredeweg
- 104 Nash Hall, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, SK, Canada
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ann Atherton
- College of Science and Engineering, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook Univ.; Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - Mark Ian McCormick
- College of Science and Engineering, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook Univ.; Townsville, 4811 Australia
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