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Silveira MM, Donelson JM, McCormick MI, Araujo-Silva H, Luchiari AC. Impact of ocean warming on a coral reef fish learning and memory. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15729. [PMID: 37576501 PMCID: PMC10416774 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical ectotherms are highly sensitive to environmental warming, especially coral reef fishes, which are negatively impacted by an increase of a few degrees in ocean temperature. However, much of our understanding on the thermal sensitivity of reef fish is focused on a few traits (e.g., metabolism, reproduction) and we currently lack knowledge on warming effects on cognition, which may endanger decision-making and survival. Here, we investigated the effects of warming on learning and memory in a damselfish species, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Fish were held at 28-28.5 °C (control group), 30-30.5 °C (moderate warming group) or 31.5-32 °C (high warming group) for 2 weeks, and then trained to associate a blue tag (cue) to the presence of a conspecific (reward). Following 20 training trials (5 days), fish were tested for associative learning (on the following day) and memory storage (after a 5-days interval). The control group A. polyacanthus showed learning of the task and memory retention after five days, but increasing water temperature impaired learning and memory. A thorough understanding of the effects of heat stress, cognition, and fitness is urgently required because cognition may be a key factor determining animals' performance in the predicted scenario of climate changes. Knowing how different species respond to warming can lead to better predictions of future community dynamics, and because it is species specific, it could pinpoint vulnerable/resilience species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara M. Silveira
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jennifer M. Donelson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townville, Australia
| | | | - Heloysa Araujo-Silva
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ana C. Luchiari
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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de Souza JF, Silveira MM, Barcellos HHA, Barcellos LJG, Luchiari AC. Sound stimulus effects on dusky damselfish behavior and cognition. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114111. [PMID: 36113177 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114111] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noises are widespread and affect marine wildlife. Despite the growing knowledge on noise pollution in the marine environment, its effects on fish cognition are scarce. Here, we investigated the effects of sound exposure on anxiety-like behavior and memory retention on dusky damselfish Stegastes fuscus. The animals were trained in a conditioned place aversion task, and exposed to two daily sessions of music at intensities of 60-70 dBA or 90-100 dBA, while the control group was kept at 42-46 dBA (no music) for five days. After that, fish were tested in the novel tank paradigm and tested for the memory of the aversive task. In the novel tank, animals exposed to sound spent more time still and decreased the distance from the bottom of the tank. Animals also spent more time on the aversive side of the conditioning tank. These results suggest that anthropogenic noise applied through high-intensity music can increase anxiety and decrease memory retention in S. fuscus, suggesting the deleterious potential of noise for reef species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F de Souza
- Departmento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Mayara M Silveira
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Meio Ambiente do Rio Grande do Norte (IDEMA - RN), Brazil
| | - Heloisa H A Barcellos
- Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo J G Barcellos
- Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioexperimentação, Escola de Ciências Agrárias, Inovação e Negócios, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana C Luchiari
- Departmento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
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Moreira ALP, Luchiari AC. Effects of oxybenzone on zebrafish behavior and cognition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:152101. [PMID: 34863770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the Earth's surface increased the need for UV filters products. One of the most used is oxybenzone, which is indiscriminately released in the environment. Oxybenzone's ecotoxicological effects on physiology have been investigated because of the bioaccumulation and action as an endocrine disruptor. However, little is known about its effects on behavior or cognition. In this study, we approach the effects of short-term oxybenzone exposure on locomotion, anxiety-like, social behavior, and short-term memory in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult zebrafish were exposed to oxybenzone 10, 100 and 1000 μg L-1 for 15 days and then tested (novel tank, shoal preference, mirror test, and T-maze with novelty). Fish exposed to oxybenzone showed reduced locomotion, decreased anxiety-like behavior, less time near/interacting with the shoal, fewer interactions with the mirror image, and decreased exploration of the novel arm in the T-maze test. These results suggest that oxybenzone affects perception, increases risk-taking, impairs proper aggressive response, and jeopardizes the animals' ability to retain information. These results reinforce the risk posed by products discarded into the aquatic ecosystems, especially those with underestimated toxic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luisa Pires Moreira
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Luchiari
- Department of Physiology and Behavior, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
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Silveira MM, de Souza JF, Araujo-Silva H, Luchiari AC. Agonistic Behavior Is Affected by Memory in the Dusky Damselfish Stegastes fuscus. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:663423. [PMID: 34489653 PMCID: PMC8418090 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.663423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to discriminate familiar from unfamiliar conspecifics has been demonstrated in several species of fish. Agonistic interactions are among the most frequent behaviors exhibited by territorial species and could offer useful information for the individual recognition process. In agonistic situations, memory may modulate the behavioral response and affect social dynamics, but few studies have explored the memory retention acquired during aggressive encounters. The present study investigated the memory retention of an agonistic encounter in the dusky damselfish Stegastes fuscus. The experimental procedure was divided into three parts: (1) Familiarization; (2) Recognition test; and (3) Memory test. During the familiarization phase, the fish were visually exposed to the same conspecific for 5 days (10 min per day) and the behavior was recorded. On the following day (conspecific recognition test), half of the animals were paired with the same conspecific and the other half with a different conspecific for 10 min, and the behavior was recorded. The fish were retested 5, 10, and 15 days after the test to evaluate memory retention. In the memory test, they were exposed to the same conspecific as before or to a different conspecific. We found that the damselfish reduced their agonistic displays when the stimulus fish was familiar, but when it was unfamiliar, the animals were more aggressive and only reduced their mnemonic response after 10 days. These results suggest that the recognition ability of damselfish can be affected by time and that it modulates agonistic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Silveira
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - J F de Souza
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - H Araujo-Silva
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - A C Luchiari
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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High turbidity levels alter coral reef fish movement in a foraging task. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5976. [PMID: 33742061 PMCID: PMC7979735 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84814-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory systems allow animals to detect and respond to stimuli in their environment and underlie all behaviour. However, human induced pollution is increasingly interfering with the functioning of these systems. Increased suspended sediment, or turbidity, in aquatic habitats reduces the reactive distance to visual signals and may therefore alter movement behaviour. Using a foraging task in which fish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) had to find six food sites in an aquarium, we tested the impact of high turbidity (40-68 NTU; 154 mg/L) on foraging efficiency using a detailed and novel analysis of individual movements. High turbidity led to a significant decrease in task efficacy as fish took longer to begin searching and find food, and they travelled further whilst searching. Trajectory analyses revealed that routes were less efficient and that fish in high turbidity conditions were more likely to cover the same ground and search at a slower speed. These results were observed despite the experimental protocol allowing for the use of alternate sensory systems (e.g. olfaction, lateral line). Given that movement underlies fundamental behaviours including foraging, mating, and predator avoidance, a reduction in movement efficiency is likely to have a significant impact on the health and population dynamics of visually-guided fish species.
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Goiran C, Shine R. The ability of damselfish to distinguish between dangerous and harmless sea snakes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1377. [PMID: 31992782 PMCID: PMC6987208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58258-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In defence of their nests or territories, damselfish (Pomacentridae) attack even large and potentially dangerous intruders. The Indo-Pacific region contains many species of sea snakes, some of which eat damselfish whereas others do not. Can the fishes identify which sea snake taxa pose a threat? We recorded responses of damselfishes to natural encounters with five species of snakes in two shallow bays near Noumea, New Caledonia. Attacks by fishes were performed mostly by demersal territorial species of damselfish, and were non-random with respect to the species, size, sex and colouration of the snakes involved. The most common target of attack was Emydocephalus annulatus, a specialist egg-eater that poses no danger to adult fishes. Individuals of a generalist predator (Aipysurus duboisii) that were melanic (and thus resembled E. annulatus in colour) attracted more attacks than did paler individuals. Larger faster-swimming snake species (Aipysurus laevis, Laticauda saintgironsi) were watched but not attacked, or were actively avoided (Hydrophis major), even though only one of these species (A. laevis) eats pomacentrids. Attacks were more common towards female snakes rather than males, likely reflecting slower swimming speeds in females. In summary, damselfishes distinguish between sea snake species using cues such as size, colour and behaviour, but the fishes sometimes make mistakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goiran
- LabEx Corail & ISEA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, 98851, Nouméa cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Sydney, Australia. .,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Sydney, Australia.
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Abstract
In this study we investigated the ability of zebrafish to discriminate visual signs and associate them with a reward in an associative-learning protocol including distractors. Moreover, we studied the effects of caffeine on animal performance in the task. After being trained to associate a specific image pattern with a reward (food) in the presence of other, distractor images, the fish were challenged to locate the exact cue associated with the reward. The distractors were same-colored pattern images similar to the target. Both the target and distractors were continually moved around the tank. Fish were exposed to three caffeine concentrations for 14 days: 0 mg/L (control, n = 12), 10 mg/L (n = 14), and 50 mg/L (n = 14). Zebrafish spent most of the time close to the target (where the reward was offered) under the effects of 0 and 10 mg/L caffeine, and the shortest latency to reach the target was observed for the 10-mg/L caffeine group. Both caffeine treatments (10 and 50 mg/L) increased the average speed and distance traveled when compared to the control group. This study confirms previous results showing that zebrafish demonstrate conditioned learning ability; however, low-dose caffeine exposure seems to favor visual cue discrimination and to increase zebrafish performance in a multicue discrimination task, in which primarily focus and attention are required in order to obtain the reward.
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Moura CDA, Luchiari AC. Time-place learning in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Behav Processes 2016; 128:64-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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