McROBERT SP, Bradner J
Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University
Anim Behav. 1998 Sep;56(3):611-615. doi: 10.1006/anbe.1998.0846.
Shoaling behaviour provides antipredator benefits that rely, to some extent, on a high degree of phenotypic homogeneity between individuals within the shoal. Therefore, fish should have the ability to discriminate between potential shoalmates, choosing to associate with individuals of similar appearance to themselves. We studied the effects of a single phenotypic character, body coloration, on association choices made by black and white mollies (Poecilia latipinna). When given a choice between a group of mollies of similar coloration and an empty compartment, individual test fish (black or white) spent significantly more time near the fish group. When given a choice between a group of black mollies and a group of white mollies, individual fish (black or white) spent significantly more time near the group of mollies of similar coloration to their own. When given a choice between a group of mollies of dissimilar coloration and an empty compartment, black and white mollies reacted differently. Black mollies spent significantly more time on the side of the central compartment closest to the white mollies, while there was no significant difference between the time spent by white mollies on either side of the test tank. Our results indicate that fish can use visual cues to discriminate actively between potential shoalmates on the basis of body coloration. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
集群行为具有反捕食的益处，这在一定程度上依赖于鱼群内个体之间高度的表型同质性。因此，鱼类应该有能力区分潜在的同伴，选择与外表与自己相似的个体结伴。我们研究了单一表型特征——体色，对黑白帆鳉（Poecilia latipinna）结伴选择的影响。当在一群体色相似的帆鳉和一个空隔间之间做出选择时，单个受试鱼（黑色或白色）在鱼群附近停留的时间显著更长。当在一群黑色帆鳉和一群白色帆鳉之间做出选择时，单个鱼（黑色或白色）在与自己体色相似的帆鳉群附近停留的时间显著更长。当在一群体色不同的帆鳉和一个空隔间之间做出选择时，黑白帆鳉的反应不同。黑色帆鳉在中央隔间最靠近白色帆鳉的一侧停留的时间显著更长，而白色帆鳉在测试水箱两侧停留的时间没有显著差异。我们的结果表明，鱼类可以利用视觉线索，根据体色在潜在同伴之间进行主动区分。版权所有1998年动物行为研究协会。
