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Detection of conspecific alarm cues by juvenile salmonids under neutral and weakly acidic conditions: laboratory and field tests

  • Behavioural Ecology
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Abstract

A variety of fishes possess damage-released chemical alarm cues, which play a critical role in the detection and avoidance of potential predation threats. Recently, we have demonstrated that the ability of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and finescale dace (Phoxinus neogaeus) to detect and respond to conspecific alarm cues is significantly reduced under weakly acidic conditions (pH 6.0). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) possess an analogous alarm cue system. However, it is unknown if the trout alarm cue system is likewise affected by relatively small changes in pH. In addition, previous studies have not verified this phenomenon under natural conditions. We conducted laboratory and field trials to examine the potential effects of acute exposure to weakly acidic (pH 6.0) conditions on the detection and response of conspecific alarm cues by juvenile trout. Our laboratory results demonstrate that while juvenile rainbow trout exhibit significant increases in antipredator behaviour under normal pH conditions (pH 7.0–7.2), they do not respond to the presence of conspecific chemical alarm cues (i.e. response is not different from controls) under weakly acidic conditions. Similarly, a wild strain of brook charr in their natural streams near Sudbury, Ontario, failed to detect conspecific alarm cues in a weakly acidic stream (mean pH 6.11) while they responded to these cues in a neutral stream (mean pH of 6.88). This is the first demonstration that relatively small changes in ambient pH can influence alarm responses under natural conditions. These data suggest significant, sub-lethal effects of acid precipitation on natural waterways.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank John Gunn and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario for their help with the field trials, and Peter Kelly and his family for their help and generosity. All work reported herein was conducted in accordance with Concordia University Animal Care Committee protocol No. AC-2002-BROW. Financial support was provided by NSERC of Canada and Concordia University to G.E.B.

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  1. Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke O., Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada

    Antoine O. H. C. Leduc, Jocelyn M. Kelly & Grant E. Brown

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  1. Antoine O. H. C. Leduc
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  2. Jocelyn M. Kelly
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  3. Grant E. Brown
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Correspondence to Antoine O. H. C. Leduc.

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Leduc, A.O.H.C., Kelly, J.M. & E. Brown, G. Detection of conspecific alarm cues by juvenile salmonids under neutral and weakly acidic conditions: laboratory and field tests. Oecologia 139, 318–324 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1492-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1492-8

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