Antipredator phenotype in crucian carp altered by a psychoactive drug

Abstract

Antipredator defenses can be constitutive, that is, always expressed by the host regardless of the prevailing risk of predation. Many prey organisms however confront intermittent and unpredictable predation risk, which may instead favor phenotypically plastic defense traits, that is, the ability to express adaptive phenotypes according to prevailing risk of predation (DeWitt & Scheiner, 2004). In spite of recent progress in our theoretical and empirical understanding of the ecology and evolution of phenotypic plasticity in antipredator traits (e.g.,

Identifying knowledge gaps in understanding the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on fish behaviour

“…Current evidence highlights the ability of these environmental contaminants to cause maladaptive stress responses in fish, as they can also act and impact fish serotonergic system ( Sehonova et al, 2018 ; Burkina et al, 2015 ; Sumpter and Margiotta-Casaluci, 2022 ; Sumpter et al, 2014 ) leading to impairment of diverse behavioural responses such as swimming, aggression, stress, fear responses and consequent fitness reduction ( Sumpter and Margiotta-Casaluci, 2022 ; Salahinejad et al, 2022 ; Vinterstare et al, 2021 ). This is of particular concern since fishes play an ecological key role in aquatic ecosystems and, therefore, any SSRIs-induced behaviour changes can cause top-down effects on lower trophic levels affecting the whole ecosystem ( Sehonova et al, 2018 ; Fernandez-Rubio et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Variations in coping styles are related and partially conditioned by heritable factors due to different gene expression patterns ( Mackenzie et al, 2009 ; Fior et al, 2018a ; Oswald et al, 2012 ), as well as consistent and divergent physiological and neuroendocrine responses to stress ( Ferrari et al, 2020 ; Vinterstare et al, 2021 ; Höglund et al, 2020 ). Proactive fish are bolder, less plastic, more risk-taking, aggressive, territorial, and more predictable than shy fish.…”

“…Proactive fish are bolder, less plastic, more risk-taking, aggressive, territorial, and more predictable than shy fish. They are characterized by actively engaging stressors in a fight-flight strategy, exploring the environment quickly and superficially, with lower hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis reactivity and lower basal cortisol levels and higher sympathetic reactivity compared to reactive fish ( Ferrari et al, 2020 ; Vinterstare et al, 2021 ; Höglund et al, 2020 ; Baker et al, 2018 ; Korte et al, 2005 ; Jolles et al, 2019 ). This behavioural pattern is better suited for predictable and stable environments.…”