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Alarm substance cells in fathead minnows do not affect the feeding preference of rainbow trout

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To test the hypothesis that minnow alarm substance cells contain a predator deterrent, rainbow trout were offered a choice between fathead minnows with alarm substance cells and fatheads which had been treated with androgen to eliminate alarm substance cells. The trout showed no preference. The testing procedure did detect a preference for liver over commercial pellets.

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Author notes

  1. Joan W. Bernstein

    Present address: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, S7N OWO, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, S7N OWO, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Joan W. Bernstein & R. Jan F. Smith

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  1. Joan W. Bernstein
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  2. R. Jan F. Smith
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Bernstein, J.W., Smith, R.J.F. Alarm substance cells in fathead minnows do not affect the feeding preference of rainbow trout. Environ Biol Fish 9, 307–311 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692380

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692380

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