Stress Responses to Conspecific Visual Cues of Predation Risk in Zebrafish

Overview

Journal PeerJ

Specialties Biology
Environmental Health
General Medicine

Date 2017 Sep 12

PMID 28890851

Citations 10

Authors

Thiago Acosta Oliveira

Renan Idalencio

Fabiana Kalichak

Joao Gabriel Dos Santos Rosa

Gessi Koakoski

Murilo Sander de Abreu

Ana Cristina Varrone Giacomini

Darlan Gusso

Denis Brook Rosemberg

Rodrigo Egydio Barreto

Leonardo Jose Gil Barcellos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chemical communication relating to predation risk is a trait common among fish species. Prey fish under threat of predation can signal risk to conspecific fish, which then exhibit defensive responses. Fish also assess predation risk by visual cues and change their behavior accordingly. Here, we explored whether these behavioral changes act as visual alarm signals to conspecific fish that are not initially under risk. We show that shoals of zebrafish () visually exposed to a predator display antipredator behaviors. In addition, these defensive maneuvers trigger antipredator reactions in conspecifics and, concomitantly, stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis, leading to cortisol increase. Thus, we conclude that zebrafish defensive behaviors act as visual alarm cues that induce antipredator and stress response in conspecific fish.

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