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Learned recognition of novel predator odour by convict cichlid embryos

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Abstract

Predation exerts tremendous selection pressure on all organisms. In this study, we exposed embryos of convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) twice daily to one of the following: (1) chemical alarm cues of damaged conspecifics + odour of a novel predator (Polypterus endlicheri), (2) chemical alarm cues of damaged conspecifics + water or (3) blank water. No chemical cues were presented after the eggs hatched. When the larvae were 9 days old (mean total length = 5.7 mm), they were exposed to either predator odour or water. Those larvae that had been conditioned as embryos on alarm cues + predator odour showed a significant reduction in activity (i.e. anti-predator behavioural response) to predator odour relative to the other treatments. This is the first demonstration of acquired predator recognition by fish embryos.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by faculty research grants to BDW from the College of Social and Natural Sciences, MSUM, and the Dille Fund for Excellence, MSUM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead, MN, 56563, USA

    Andrew B. Nelson, Shireen D. Alemadi & Brian D. Wisenden

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  1. Andrew B. Nelson
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  2. Shireen D. Alemadi
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  3. Brian D. Wisenden
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian D. Wisenden.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Buston

Ethical standards

The experiments described herein comply with the current laws of the USA and were reviewed and approved by the Minnesota State University Moorhead Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee in protocol number 10-R/T-BIOL-010-N-Y-C.

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Nelson, A.B., Alemadi, S.D. & Wisenden, B.D. Learned recognition of novel predator odour by convict cichlid embryos. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 67, 1269–1273 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1554-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1554-1

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