Oliveira Thiago Acosta, Idalencio Renan, Kalichak Fabiana, Dos Santos Rosa João Gabriel, Koakoski Gessi, de Abreu Murilo Sander, Giacomini Ana Cristina Varrone, Gusso Darlan, Rosemberg Denis Brook, Barreto Rodrigo Egydio, Barcellos Leonardo José Gil
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
Bioscience Institute, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.
PeerJ. 2017 Sep 4;5:e3739. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3739. eCollection 2017.
Chemical communication relating to predation risk is a trait common among fish species. Prey fish under threat of predation can signal risk to conspecific fish, which then exhibit defensive responses. Fish also assess predation risk by visual cues and change their behavior accordingly. Here, we explored whether these behavioral changes act as visual alarm signals to conspecific fish that are not initially under risk. We show that shoals of zebrafish () visually exposed to a predator display antipredator behaviors. In addition, these defensive maneuvers trigger antipredator reactions in conspecifics and, concomitantly, stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis, leading to cortisol increase. Thus, we conclude that zebrafish defensive behaviors act as visual alarm cues that induce antipredator and stress response in conspecific fish.
与捕食风险相关的化学通讯是鱼类物种中常见的一种特征。处于被捕食威胁下的猎物鱼可以向同种鱼类发出风险信号，随后这些同种鱼类会表现出防御反应。鱼类也会通过视觉线索评估捕食风险，并相应地改变它们的行为。在此，我们探究了这些行为变化是否会作为视觉警报信号传递给最初未处于风险中的同种鱼类。我们发现，视觉上暴露于捕食者的斑马鱼群体会表现出反捕食行为。此外，这些防御动作会引发同种鱼类的反捕食反应，同时刺激下丘脑 - 垂体 - 肾间轴，导致皮质醇增加。因此，我们得出结论，斑马鱼的防御行为充当视觉警报线索，可诱导同种鱼类产生反捕食和应激反应。
