Variation in Anti-Predator Behavior Among Five Strains of Inbred Guppies, Poecilia reticulata

Abstract

Quantitative genetic studies frequently utilize inbred strains of animals as tools for partitioning the direct and indirect effects of genes from environmental effects in generating an observed phenotype, however, this approach is rarely applied to behavioral studies. Guppies, Poecilia reticulata, perform a set of anti-predator behaviors that may provide an ideal system to study how complex behavioral traits are generated. To assess the utility of ornamental guppies in quantitative genetics studies of behavior, we assayed five morphologically distinct strains of ornamental guppies for response to predator cues and for variation in response among strains. Despite individual variation, all five strains responded to predator cues and differences among strains were found for all assayed behaviors, including measures of boldness and predator avoidance.

The evolution of antipredator behaviour following relaxed and reversed selection in Alaskan threespine stickleback fish

“…The loss or reduction of predation is one of the most common contexts in which the consequences of relaxed selection has been evaluated (Berger, Swenson, & Persson, 2001; Bleakley, Martell, & Brodie, 2006; Blumstein & Daniel, 2002; Blumstein, Daniel, Griffin, & Evans, 2000; Fullard & Ratcliffe, 2006; Fullard, Ratcliffe, & Soutar, 2004; Runemark, Brydegaard, & Svensson, 2014). Variation in predation among prey populations is relatively easy to identify (particularly at the level of presence or absence of predators; but see Reimchen, 1994), as are adaptations whose primary function is to avoid predation.…”

“…Experimental transplants from high- to low-predation sites demonstrate significant evolutionary declines in antipredator behaviour over the course of only a few decades (Magurran, Seghers, Carvalho, & Shaw, 1992). When the behaviour of laboratory-bred (and thus predator-naïve) individuals has been evaluated, some of the differences observed among wild-caught individuals are maintained, indicating a genetic response to relaxed selection (Bleakley et al, 2006), but learning is clearly important as well (Kelley & Magurran, 2003a). …”

Responses of an aquatic isopod and amphipod to chemical alarm cues from damaged conspecifics

“…Alarm cue solutions were then stored on ice until testing, which occurred the same day; the storage of alarm cues on ice immediately after preparation is a common practice for testing the efficacy of these compounds (e.g., Mirza & Chivers 2001;Bleakley et al 2006;Gall & Brodie 2009). The control treatment consisted of deionized water, without the addition of alarm cues.…”

One generation of inbreeding does not affect covering behavior of the sea urchinStrongylocentrotus intermedius

“…Bleakley et al 2006;Mariette et al 2006) and invertebrates (e.g. Nepoux et al 2010;Stone 2012) have been playing an increasingly important role in revealing genetic mechanisms of biological phenomena (Bleakley et al 2006).…”

“…Bleakley et al 2006;Mariette et al 2006) and invertebrates (e.g. Nepoux et al 2010;Stone 2012) have been playing an increasingly important role in revealing genetic mechanisms of biological phenomena (Bleakley et al 2006). Despite a number of publications on inbreeding depression in immune (Coffaro & Hinegardner 1977), morphological, and physiological traits (Harada et al 2008), to our knowledge, no information is available on the effects of inbreeding on behaviors of sea urchins.…”