Developmental Environment Alters Conditional Aggression in Zebrafish

Abstract

The developmental environment influences a wide variety of phenotypic traits in the adults of many vertebrates (i.e., developmental plasticity). In this study, we test to see if developmental environment (E DEV) interacts with the adult behavioral environment (E BEHAV) in determining behavioral phenotypes. We reared Zebrafish (Danio rerio) from eggs in either continuously hypoxic or normoxic conditions. We then tested aggression and avoidance (i.e., hiding) levels of fish from each developmental treatment in both environments. Developmental environment was a significant source of variation in avoidance behavior while the stimulus environment did not influence avoidance. Without a period of acclimation we found that E BEHAV and an E DEV X E BEHAV interaction were both significant sources of variation. However, when the fish were allowed to physiologically acclimate to the environment for 16 h, aggression level was highest for fish tested in the environment in which they developed. In that case the E DEV X E BEHAV interaction was the only significant source of variation. These results demonstrate that a more complete understanding of phenotypic response can be gained by incorporating environmental conditions across multiple time scales.

Modulation of Fgfr1a Signaling in Zebrafish Reveals a Genetic Basis for the Aggression–Boldness Syndrome

“…9a). Zebrafish aggression levels can be affected by the environmental conditions during development (Marks et al, 2005), and behavioral assays are sensitive to changes in feeding regimen and diet, lighting conditions, pH, time of day, and experimental observer (Wahlsten et al, 2006;Burgess and Granato, 2008). Although we made an effort to maintain similar conditions between laboratories, we cannot rule out the contribution of one (or all) of these variables to the alterations in aggression levels.…”

“…Zebrafish display characteristic agonistic postures, including erection of the fins, biting, tail thrashing, and short bouts of fast swimming (Gerlai et al, 2000). Aggression is exhibited by both sexes (Moretz et al, 2007) and can be influenced by both habitat complexity and rearing conditions (Basquill and Grant, 1997;Marks et al, 2005). Furthermore, different wild-type strains show varying aggression levels suggesting a genetic component to its control (Moretz et al, 2007).…”

Adult zebrafish as a model organism for behavioural genetics

“…Fish use aggression to protect offspring, monopolise resources such as food, territory and mates and establish dominance hierarchies. Aggression can be measured in the laboratory by recording the interaction of two free-swimming fish or by using mirror induced stimulation (MIS)[6,37]. Fish are unable to recognise their own image and so attack as if an intruder is present [38].…”

“…Fish are unable to recognise their own image and so attack as if an intruder is present [38]. Furthermore, MIS provides immediate feedback to the fish's activity and avoids damaging the subjects [37]. Zebrafish display characteristic agonistic postures including erection of the dorsal, caudal, pectoral and anal fins coupled to biting, thrashing of the tail and short bouts of fast swimming directed against the mirror [6].…”

Zebrafish como organismo-modelo para análises de efeitos comportamentais e toxicológicas da cetamina empregando cromatografia em fase gasosa e estatística multivariada

“…A agressividade induzida pelo espelho (em inglês, mirror-induced aggression, MIA) possibilita a rápida identificação e mensuração da atividade agressiva de um animal e evita procedimentos invasivos como o uso de espécies predadoras (BALZARINI, 2014;DE FREITAS;MARIGUELA, 2006;JONES;NORTON, 2015;MARKS et al 2005;PHAM et al, 2012). Como os peixes não reconhecem a própria imagem no espelho, eles interpretam e reconhecem aquela imagem como se fosse um intruso, atacando-a (OLIVEIRA et al 2005).…”