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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Multimodal communication is essential in social
interactions in cichlid fish, including conspecifics’ recognition,
agonistic interactions and courtship behaviour.
Computer-manipulated image stimuli and sound playback offer
powerful tools to assess the relative relevance of visual and
acoustic stimuli in fish behavioural studies, but these techniques
require validation for each taxon. The aim of the present
study was to investigate whether Mozambique tilapia
Oreochromis mossambicus responds to computermanipulated
visual stimuli and acoustic playback. Six experiments
were conducted: computer animation playback, video
playback, interaction with a mirror, presentation of a live male
in a jar alone and combined with courting sound playback or
with white noise playback. Individual agonistic interactions
(lateral displays, up and down swimming, butting) and
courting behaviours (tilting leading, digging) were tallied for
each experiment. Our results suggest that non-interactive
computer-manipulated visual stimuli is not a suitable tool in
behavioural research with Mozambique tilapia. In contrast,
interaction with a live male in a jar seems to remain the best
visual research instrument inducing significant strong behavioural
responses. Although none or only a few agonistic
interactions were observed towards video playbacks or computer
animations, such interactions significantly increased towards
a male in jar and were modulated by courtship sound
playback, suggesting the additional relevance of sound playback
as a tool in behavioural research with Mozambique tilapia,
including the study of multimodal signalling.
Description
Keywords
Playback experiments Visual stimuli Acoustic signals Agonistic interactions Courtship behaviour
Citation
Acta ethologica, 20(2), 85-94. Doi: 10.1007/s10211-017-0252-9
Publisher
Springer Verlag