Conspecific and heterospecific alarm substances induce behavioral responses in juvenile catfish Rhamdia quelen

Abstract

The recognition of chemical information indicating the presence of a predator is very important for prey survival. In this study we tested antipredator behavioral response of juvenile silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) against predator odor released by two different potential predators, Hoplias malabaricus and the snake Helicops infrataeniatus, and alarm cues and disturbance cues released by conspecifics and by non-predator species, Megaleporinus obtusidens and Astyanax lacustris. We used juvenile catfish that were naive to predators. The trials consisted of a 10-min prestimulus and a 10-min post-stimulus observation period. The behavioral response displayed by silver catfish exposed to alarm cues comprised a decrease in shelter use and an increase in locomotion, and also a longer latency period before feeding. Our results showed that juvenile silver catfish can perceive chemical cues released by predators, heterospecifics and conspecifics.Keywords: Alarm cues, Anti-predator behavior, Disturbance cues, Predator odor, Skin extract.O reconhecimento das informações químicas indicando a presença de predadores é muito importante para a sobrevivência da presa. Neste estudo foi testada a resposta comportamental anti-predação de juvenis de jundiás (Rhamdia quelen) a substâncias liberadas por dois predadores potenciais, Hoplias malabaricus e a cobra Helicops infrataeniatus, e substâncias de alarme liberadas por conspecíficos e pelas espécies não predadoras Megaleporinus obtusidens e Astyanax lacustris. Foram usados juvenis de jundiá que não possuíam nenhum contato prévio com predadores. Os testes consistiram em observações de períodos de 10 minutos pré estímulo e 10 minutos pós estímulo. As respostas comportamentais apresentadas pelos jundiás expostos às substâncias de alarme consistiram em diminuição no uso do abrigo, aumento na locomoção e também um longo período de latência antes de ingerir o alimento. Os resultados demonstram que juvenis de jundiá percebem substâncias químicas liberadas por predadores, heterospecíficos e conspecíficos. Palavras-chave:Comportamento anti-predador, Extrato de pele, Odor do predador, Sinais de alarme, Sinais de perturbação.

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Antipredator tactics: a kin‐selection benefit for defensive spines in coral catfish?

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