Acoustic and visual adaptations to predation risk: a predator affects communication in vocal female fish  

作　　者：Isabelle Pia MAIDITSCH Friedrich LADICH 

机构地区：[1]Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology,University of Vienna,AlthanstraBe 14,Vienna 1090,Austria

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2022年第2期149-157,共9页动物学报（英文版）

基　　金：This study was funded by the Austrian Science Fund[FWF Grant No.P31045 to F.L.].

摘　　要：Predation is an important ecological constraint that influences communication in animals.Fish respond to predators by adjusting their visual signaling behavior,but the responses in calling behavior in the presence of a visually detected predator are largely unknown.We hypothesize that fish will reduce visual and acoustic signaling including sound levels and avoid escalating fights in the presence of a predator.To test this we investigated dyadic contests in female croaking gouramis(Trichopsis vittata,Osphronemidae)in the presence and absence of a predator(Astronotus ocella-tus,Cichlidae)in an adjoining tank.Agonistic behavior in T.vittata consists of lateral(visual)displays,antiparallel circling,and production of croaking sounds and may escalate to frontal displays.We analyzed the number and duration of lateral display bouts,the number,duration,sound pressure level,and dominant frequency of croaking sounds as well as contest outcomes.The number and duration of lateral displays decreased significantly in predator when compared with nopredator trials.Total number of sounds per contest dropped in parallel but no significant changes were observed in sound characteristics.In the presence of a predator,dyadic contests were decided or terminated during lateral displays and never escalated to frontal displays.The gouramis showed approaching behavior toward the predator between lateral displays.This is the first study supporting the hypothesis that predators reduce visual and acoustic signaling in a vocal fish.Sound properties,in contrast,did not change.Decreased signaling and the lack of escalating contests reduce the fish's conspicuousness and thus predation threat.

关 键 词：agonistic interactions antipredator behavior croaking gouramis predator inspection signaling behavior 

分 类 号：Q958[生物学—动物学]