15When different genotypes choose different habitats to better match their phenotypes, adaptive 16 differentiation within a population may be promoted. Mating within those habitats may 17 subsequently contribute to reproductive isolation. In cichlid fish, visual adaptation to alternative 18 visual environments is hypothesised to contribute to speciation. Here, we investigated whether 19 variation in visual sensitivity causes different visual habitat preferences, using two closely related 20 cichlid species that occur at different but overlapping water depths in Lake Victoria and that differ 21 in visual perception (Pundamilia sp.). In addition to species differences, we explored potential 22 effects of visual plasticity, by rearing fish in two different light conditions: broad-spectrum 23 (mimicking shallow water) or red-shifted (mimicking deeper waters). Contrary to expectations, fish 24 did not prefer the light environment that mimicked their typical natural habitat. Instead, we found 2 25 an overall preference for the broad-spectrum environment. We also found a transient influence of 26 the rearing condition, indicating that assessment of microhabitat preference requires repeated testing 27 to control for familiarity effects. Together, our results show that cichlid fish exert visual habitat 28 preference, but do not support straightforward visual habitat matching. 29
When different genotypes choose different habitats to better match their phenotypes, genetic differentiation within a population may be promoted. Mating within those habitats may subsequently contribute to reproductive isolation. In cichlid fish, visual adaptation to alternative visual environments is hypothesized to contribute to speciation. Here, we investigated whether variation in visual sensitivity causes different visual habitat preferences, using two closely related cichlid species that occur at different but overlapping water depths in Lake Victoria and that differ in visual perception ( Pundamilia spp.). In addition to species differences, we explored potential effects of visual plasticity, by rearing fish in two different light conditions: broad-spectrum (mimicking shallow water) and red-shifted (mimicking deeper waters). Contrary to expectations, fish did not prefer the light environment that mimicked their typical natural habitat. Instead, we found an overall preference for the broad-spectrum environment. We also found a transient influence of the rearing condition, indicating that the assessment of microhabitat preference requires repeated testing to control for familiarity effects. Together, our results show that cichlid fish exert visual habitat preference but do not support straightforward visual habitat matching.
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