How does agonistic behaviour differ in albino and pigmented fish?

Slavík, Ondřej; Horký, Pavel; Wackermannová, Marie

doi:10.7717/peerj.1937

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 72 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Their results are also consistent with other findings showing that albinism has pleiotropic effects that are mediated through hormones that can affect both skin pigmentation and aggressive behaviour (Ducrest et al 2008). Loss of pigmentation may not only be linked to aggression in albinos, but also have other pleiotropic effects such as impaired eyesight (Slavík et al 2016).…”

Section: Albino Zebra Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

A laboratory study of host use by the cuckoo catfish Synodontis multipunctatus

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The only known non-avian vertebrate obligate brood parasite is the cuckoo catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus), a Lake Tanganyikan endemic. The cuckoo catfish parasitizes Tanganyikan mouthbrooding cichlids, and under captive conditions, will also parasitize cichlids from other Rift Valley lakes. Here we examine the frequency of parasitism by the cuckoo catfish of Ctenochromis horei from Lake Tanganyika and three species from Lake Malawi and the greater Lake Victorian system in a laboratory setting. C. horei was parasitized significantly less (17%) than the allopatric species Haplochromis latifasciatus, Haplochromis nubilus, and Metriaclima estherae (combined parasitism rate of 28%). The lower rates of parasitism in C. horei may be due to differences in the mating ritual, oviposition (e.g., long periods of pseudospawning before actual oviposition), and behavioral adaptations (e.g., increased aggression towards the cuckoo catfish). The number of catfish eggs per parasitized brood was similar between C. horei, H. latifasciatus, H. nubilus, and M. estherae. Our results are comparable to findings from the field for C. horei parasitism frequency and number of cuckoo catfish per brood.We also analyzed the parasitism rate of the albino morph of Metriaclima zebra, a domestic strain.Parasitism rates and number of catfish per brood were the highest in the albino morphotype suggesting that the higher levels of parasitism may be related to lower aggressive behavior, lower visual acuity, or captive influence. Cuckoo catfish and mouthbrooding cichlids provide a model system for testing brood parasitism in a laboratory setting.

show abstract

Section: Albino Zebra Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

A laboratory study of host use by the cuckoo catfish Synodontis multipunctatus

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Animals, including fish, with a higher level of melanin are more aggressive and dominant (Horth, 2003;Kittilsen et al, 2009) and vice versa; i.e., less pigmented individuals are more sensitive to stress and are often subdominant (Höglund et al, 2000;Kittilsen et al, 2012). In fish, individuals with an albino phenotype show lower aggressiveness, often being ostracized by pigmented conspecifics (Slavík et al, 2015(Slavík et al, , 2016b, and display higher sensitivity to stress (Slavík et al, 2022) than those with the pigmented phenotype. Data on the behavioral response of albino animals to light alterations during the L/D cycle are rare, and specific information about albino fish is not available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stressful Daylight: Differences in Diel Rhythmicity Between Albino and Pigmented Fish

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In laboratory experiments, variously colored strains of animals, including those with albino phenotypes, are commonly used. The melanocortin theory suggests, however, that coloration phenotypes alter animal physiology and behavior. Animals with the albino phenotype show photoreceptor degradation associated with lowered visual accuracy, escape reactions, etc., presumably accompanied by prevailing nocturnal activity and lowered aggressiveness. This assumption was tested in small groups of albino and pigmented European catfish, Silurus glanis, during the diel cycle. The frequency of agonistic interactions was observed during mutual contests for shelters, and subsequently, blood plasma, brain, gill, and liver samples were collected to evaluate stress parameters. In an experimental arena with shelters, the light/dark rhythmicity of locomotor activity and aggressiveness of the two phenotypes were comparable; the peak was observed at night, and a lower peak was observed at dawn. In an experimental stream without shelters, the peak of locomotor activity occurred at night for only the pigmented phenotype. In the evaluation of 4 antioxidants and 1 oxidative stress indicator, representing a total of 15 indices, albino fish showed significant rhythmicity for 8 indices, whereas pigmented catfish showed significant rhythmicity for 5 indices. The production of blood stress parameters with the peak during the day occurred only in albino fish. A complex model was fitted with the aim of evaluating the links between behavioral and biochemical indices. Time periodicity was modeled using a sine wave and confirmed parallel courses of agonistic interactions in the catfish groups; the peak at dawn was associated with a 4.08-fold (conf. int. 3.53–4.7) increase in such interactions. The changes in glucose and superoxide dismutase concentrations varied with phenotype, while the effects of cortisol, lactate and catalase did not. In summary, the rhythmicity of locomotor activity and changes in the aggressiveness of catfish were influenced by shelter availability, and the effect of light-induced stress was more apparent in albino fish than in pigmented conspecific fish. The results suggested that laboratory-raised animals with pigmentation patterns naturally occurring in the wild show more reasonable values during experiments than those with an albino phenotype.

show abstract

“…This disability is associated not only with red irises and light skin coloring (oculocutaneous albinism, OCA; [11]) but also with physiological, behavioral and social alterations. For example, compared to pigmented conspecifics, albinos are less active and aggressive [12][13][14] and albinos are socially ostracized [15], which can explain why they are presented as losers in competition for resources [16]. Hence, for detecting the stress-induced status of an albino individual accompanying its social interactions, it is not possible to use the methods based on variability in pigmentation and/or eye darkening reported for salmons [17], tropical cichlids and cyprinids [18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These relationships have yet to be investigated in fish. The aims of our study were I) to test if there is a relationship between PSV and cortisol levels in pigmented as well as albino fish under a standardized acute stress exposure [40,41] in a methodological experiment and II) to test the application of the PSV methodology under more complex socially induced stress [42][43][44] in albinos that have several physiological, behavioral and social alterations when compared to pigmented conspecifics [11][12][13][14][15][16]. In experiment II, we used the winner-loser test in which the previous winning experience of an individual strengthens its will to contest and increases the probability of its subsequent victory [45][46][47].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pupil size variation as a response to stress in European catfish and its application for social stress detection in albino conspecifics

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hormonal changes such as increased cortisol level in blood plasma in response to stress and social environmental stimuli are common among vertebrates including humans and typically accompanied by other physiological processes, such as changes in body pigmentation and/or pupil dilatation. The role of pupil size variation (PSV) as a response to stress have yet to be investigated in fish. We exposed albino and pigmented European catfish to short-term stress and measured changes in pupil size and cortisol level. Albinos showed lower pupil dilatation and higher cortisol levels than did pigmented conspecifics. A clear positive relationship between pupil dilatation and cortisol concentrations was observed for both pigmented and albino specimens, suggesting that PSV can be used as a stress indicator in fish, irrespective of albino’s inability to express social communication by coloring. During the follow-up, we investigated whether a penultimate contest between albino individuals would impact contestants’ social stress during subsequent contact. We observed PSV during the contact of unfamiliar albino catfish with different penultimate experiences (winner (W) and/or loser (L)). Then, the following treatment combinations were tested: WW, WL and LL. Twenty-four-hour contact of two unfamiliar catfish resulted in higher pupil dilatation among individuals with previous winner experience. Among treatment combinations, a WL contest displayed the highest pupil dilatation for winners. PSV reflected socially induced stress in individuals that was accompanied by the “winner” experience and dominancy in albinos. To conclude, the present study validates pupil dilatation as a non-invasive method to evaluate stress level in pigmented as well as albino fish in various contexts.

show abstract

How does agonistic behaviour differ in albino and pigmented fish?

Cited by 17 publications

References 72 publications

A laboratory study of host use by the cuckoo catfish Synodontis multipunctatus

A laboratory study of host use by the cuckoo catfish Synodontis multipunctatus

Stressful Daylight: Differences in Diel Rhythmicity Between Albino and Pigmented Fish

Pupil size variation as a response to stress in European catfish and its application for social stress detection in albino conspecifics

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About