Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aggressiveness as a function of external stimulation

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The attack readiness of a male cichlid, as measured by the rate of attacks directed at small blinded test fish, falls to a very low level if the animal is isolated from adult conspecifics for several weeks. It recovers again within a few days after repeated exposure to adult conspecifics. This readiness to attack could also be restored by repeated presentation of fish dummies, resembling a territorial conspecific male, over a period of 10 successive days. After being raised by this procedure, the attack readiness returned to its prestimulatory level with a half time of 7 days. Theoretical implications and the ecological significance of this long term process are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Heiligenberg, W.: Ursachen für das Auftreten von Instinktbewegungen bei einem Fische. Z. vergl. Physiol.47, 339–380 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiligenberg, W., Kramer, U., Schulz, V.: The angular orientation of the black eye-bar inHaplochromis burtoni (Cichlidae, Pisces) and its relevance to aggressivity. Z. vergl. Physiol.76, 168–176 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinde, R. A.: The bases of aggression in animals. J. psychosom. Res.13, 213–219 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinde, R. A.: Behavioural habituation. In: Short-term changes in neural activity and behaviour, ed. by G. Horn and R. A. Hinde. p. 3–40. C.U.P. 1970.

  • Leong, C.-Y.: The quantitative effect of releasers on the attack readiness of the fishHaplochromis burtoni (Cichlidae). Z. vergl. Physiol.65, 29–50 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, K. Z.: Das sogenannte Böse. Wien: Borotha Verlag 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasa, O. A. E.: Appetence for aggression in juvenile Damsel fish. Berlin: Paul Parey 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. P.: Man and aggression. Ed. M. F. Ashley-Montague, p. 51–58. New York: Oxford Univ. Press 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. P.: Theoretical issues concerning the origin and causes of fighting. In: The physiology of aggression and defeat. Ed. by B. E. Eleftherious and J. P. Scott. New York: Plenum Press 1971.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Seewiesen

    W. Heiligenberg & U. Kramer

Authors
  1. W. Heiligenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. U. Kramer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft im Rahmen des SFB 50.

We wish to thank R. Fernald and A. and J. Thorson for their kind criticism of our manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heiligenberg, W., Kramer, U. Aggressiveness as a function of external stimulation. J. Comp. Physiol. 77, 332–340 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696433

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696433

Keywords

Search

Navigation