Abstract
Behavioural plasticity in Actinia equina (L.) was examined in experimental contests using a range of pedal disc colour phenotypes, which characterize 3 known, ecologically distinct morphs. With repeated pairing of individuals in auto-phenotypic encounters, habituation was easily induced in the 2 mid-shore morphs, but was not obvious in the less aggressive, low-shore form. Subsequent pairing with a different partner revealed that anemones remained aggressive towards a novel opponent. Following novel contact, repairing of the dark red pedal phenotype with the original partner provided some evidence of retention of habituation to a previous opponent, and thus of a specific inducible memory.
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Brace, R.C., Santer, S.J. Experimental habituation of aggression in the sea anemone Actinia equina . Hydrobiologia 216, 533–537 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026510
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026510