The correlation between subordinate fish eye colour and received attacks: a negative social feedback mechanism for the reduction of aggression during the formation of dominance hierarchies

Miyai, Caio Akira; Sanches, Fábio Henrique Carretero; Costa, Tânia Márcia; Colpo, Karine Delevati; Volpato, Gilson Luiz; Barreto, Rodrigo Egydio

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2011.07.001

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Previous studies have indicated that the ECP in O. niloticus is altered by social stress (Volpato et al, 2003;Vera Cruz and Brown, 2007;Miyai et al, 2011): pale ECP in dominant fish and dark ECP in subordinate ones. The present study, however, showed that ECP is also altered by non-social stress (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Eye Color Pattern During Isolation Indicates Stress-Coping Style in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

Cruz¹,

Tauli²

2015

IJSRK

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Abstract. It has previously been shown that changes in eye color pattern (ECP) in Oreochromis niloticus is a consequence of a fish's relative position in the social hierarchy. However, it is still an open question if ECP during isolation is correlated to stress coping styles in fish such as ventilation rate (VR). To evaluate this, 94 all-male juvenile O. niloticus of similar size were introduced in a novel environment and were isolated in aquaria for 7 days. The ECP and VR of each fish were recorded daily during the isolation period. Eye color change was observed to be fractional changes of the color of the iris and sclera around the pupil which were transformed into scores ranging from 0 (no darkening) to 8 (total darkening). Results of the study showed that ECP was significantly correlated with VR, both individual daily values (r = 0.48, n = 658, P<0.001) and mean values (r = 0.68, n = 94, P<0.001). Thus, ECP indicates stress coping style in O. niloticus. Based on the trend of ECP values during isolation, fish with ECP values of less than 4 after the isolation period of 7 days may be classified as proactive individuals while those with ECP values of more than 4, as reactive individuals. The ECP is a good, easy and inexpensive tool for assessing both alertness and stress level in the fish.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Eye Color Pattern During Isolation Indicates Stress-Coping Style in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

Cruz¹,

Tauli²

2015

IJSRK

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“…A common type of cue is pigmentation. For instance, in the lizard Anolis carolinensis eye spot darkening signals dominance [3][4][5], and eye darkening signals subordinance in several teleost fish [6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominance and stress signalling of carotenoid pigmentation in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus): Lateralization effects?

Bäckström

Heynen

Brännäs

et al. 2015

Physiology & Behavior

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938414004685 Abstract Social conflicts are usually solved by agonistic interactions where animals use cues to signal dominance or subordinance. Pigmentation change is a common cue used for signalling. In our study, the involvement of carotenoid-based pigmentation in signalling was investigated in juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Size-matched pairs were analysed for pigmentation both before and after being tested for competitive ability. We found that dominant individuals had fewer carotenoid-based spots, both on the right and the left side, as well as lower plasma cortisol levels compared to subordinate individuals. Further, the number of spots on both sides was positively associated with plasma cortisol levels. These results indicate that carotenoid-based pigmentation in Arctic charr signals dominance and stress coping style. Further, it also appears as if carotenoid-based pigmentation is lateralized in Arctic charr, and that the right side signals aggression and dominance whereas the left side signals stress responsiveness.

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“…This is often evident in agonistic interactions where aggression, dominance, and/or subordinance can be signalled with colours. For instance, eye darkening signals dominance in lizards [2,3], whereas eye darkening signals subordinance in several teleost fish [4][5][6][7][8]. Further, melaninbased pigmentation correlates positively with aggression in birds [9][10][11] and mammals [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social stress effects on pigmentation and monoamines in Arctic charr

Bäckström

Heynen

Brännäs

et al. 2015

Behavioural Brain Research

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Pigmentation often signals status and in general melanin-based pigmentation is indicative of aggression and stress resilience in vertebrates. This is evident in the salmonids Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) where more melanin spotted individuals are more stress resilient. However, in the salmonid Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) it seems as if it is carotenoid-based pigmentation that signals aggression and stress resilience. In our study, social stress effects on carotenoid-based spots, and behavioural and physiological stress responses were investigated. Socially stressed individuals have more spots, and behavioural stress responses were associated with spots. Some of the results concerning physiological stress responses, such as plasma cortisol levels and monoaminergic activity, are associated with spottiness. Further, the earlier proposed lateralization of spots, with left side connected to stress responsiveness and right side to aggression, is to some extent validated although not conclusively. In conclusion, this study provides further evidence that more stressed charr have more carotenoid spots, and for the first time monoaminergic activity is shown to be connected with carotenoid pigmentation.

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The correlation between subordinate fish eye colour and received attacks: a negative social feedback mechanism for the reduction of aggression during the formation of dominance hierarchies

Cited by 32 publications

References 52 publications

Eye Color Pattern During Isolation Indicates Stress-Coping Style in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

Eye Color Pattern During Isolation Indicates Stress-Coping Style in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

Dominance and stress signalling of carotenoid pigmentation in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus): Lateralization effects?

Social stress effects on pigmentation and monoamines in Arctic charr

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