Fish Behaviour Flashcards by Vicki schenk

What does nest building in fish involve?

Complex manipulation of external objects

Associated with parental care and widespread among cichlids and gobies

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many species of fish are known to engage in nest building?

At least 9,000 species

More than mammal species for laying eggs or shelter from predators

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is not clear about nest building in fish?

The extent to which building involves cognition

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the innate motivation in nest building behaviors?

Strong innate motivation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Which fish species are primarily studied for nest building behavior?

Sticklebacks

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many individual identities can guppies remember?

Up to 15 individuals

Reference: Griffiths and Magurran 1997

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How long does it take for guppies to develop familiarity in small shoals?

~12 days

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How long can familiarity in guppies be maintained after isolation?

Up to 5 weeks

Reference: Bhat and Magurran 2006

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do fish prefer when given a choice in shoaling?

Familiar individuals over unfamiliar ones

Reference: Magurran et al. 1994

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What advantage do shoals of familiar individuals have?

Better at avoiding predators

Reference: Chivers et al. 1995

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is social learning in fish?

Occurs when information passes from one individual to another by observation or interaction

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What can hatchery-reared salmon be taught?

To recognize novel live prey

By pairing them with fish that already recognized the prey (Brown and Laland 2002)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is time-place learning in fish?

Associating time of day and location of feeding

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does anticipatory behavior in fish indicate?

They have learnt the task of feeding location

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How long does it typically take for fish to learn feeding locations?

2-4 weeks depending on species

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is cerebral lateralization in fish?

Preference for using one eye or the other in social contexts

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What influences the positions rainbowfish prefer within a school?

The eye they prefer to use to view schoolmates

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the benefits of using one eye over the other in fish?

Faster responses to predators and prey on the periphery of the school

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is a characteristic of territorial fish?

Aggressive defense of feeding area

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What type of fish form schools?

Large, tight groups providing refuge and predator detection

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the flooding effect in schools?

Improved foraging and predator detection

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are shoals in fish?

Small, loose groups that are intermediate between solitary and school

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do the sensory perceptions of fish suggest?

Similar to or better than most mammals

What is significant about fish cognition and sentience?

Important for understanding their behavior to inform management practices

What unique reproductive behavior is observed in cardinal fish?

Mouth brooding of fertilized eggs

What trade-off do male cardinal fish face during mouth brooding?

Starve or risk future reproduction to keep current eggs alive

What unique feeding behavior is observed in discus fish?

Both parents produce mucus to feed their fry

What influences the welfare of captive fish?

Fish health, water quality, stress, behavioral needs, owner’s provision of care

What is the importance of defined protocols for fish welfare evaluation?

Lacking specific guidelines compared to other animals

What do fish use to crush sea urchins?

Rocks

What is the significance of tool use in fish?

Evolved multiple times or is a common behavior

What do cichlids do with their eggs for protection?

Glue them to leaves and small rocks

What is the chemosensory ability of salmonids during migration?

Imprint on the chemical signature of their home stream

What is Schreckstoff?

A chemical substance that triggers a fright response in minnows ## Footnote Named by von Frisch (1941)

What behavioral differences are observed between hatchery fish and wild fish?

Differences in predator avoidance and agonistic behavior

What is the term for the chemical substance that triggers a fright response in fish?

Schreckstoff ## Footnote Schreckstoff, meaning 'fright stuff', is released into the water when a conspecific is harmed.

What role do club cells play in fish?

They hold the alarm substance Schreckstoff ## Footnote Club cells are special skin cells in ostariophysan fishes that release alarm substances.

What happens when a conspecific fish is hurt or killed by a predator?

Alarm substance is released into the water ## Footnote This triggers anti-predator responses in surrounding fish.

What can fish learn through classical conditioning?

Pair the appearance of a predator with an appropriate biological response ## Footnote Responses may include schooling or crypsis.

How many species of fish are there approximately?

~32,000 known species ## Footnote This makes fish more diverse than all other vertebrates combined.

What are the two main sources of fish for human use?

Wild stocks and aquaculture ## Footnote Fish are harvested from wild stocks or grown under intensive aquaculture conditions.

Why has fish welfare received less public concern compared to other animals?

Humans rarely visit fish environments and find it difficult to empathize with them ## Footnote Fish live in complex environments that humans do not fully understand.

What do reviews of fish cognition suggest about fish behavior?

Fish show a rich array of sophisticated behaviors ## Footnote This includes excellent long-term memories and the ability to cooperate.

What is the term for the management tool that helps change fish populations?

Fish stocking ## Footnote Fish stocking cannot sustain a fishery above the productive capability of the environment.

What are the different sizes of fish typically stocked?

* Fry (few days old) * Fingerling (8 to 12 cm) * Catchable (20 to 30 cm) * Adult (mature fish) ## Footnote These sizes are important for effective stocking practices.

What is the difference between 'wild' and 'hatchery' fish?

'Wild' fish are reared in a natural environment; 'hatchery' fish are bred in captivity ## Footnote Hatchery programs often aim to produce fish for harvest or restore declining wild populations.

What percentage of seafood consumed comes from aquaculture?

Over 50% ## Footnote This number continues to increase as aquaculture practices expand.

What type of fish primarily comprise the largest vertebrate class?

Bony fishes (Osteichthyes) ## Footnote There are over 29,000 species within this class.

What is chemosensory ability used for in fish?

* Feeding * Predator recognition * Mate choice * Navigation ## Footnote Chemosensory ability is crucial for various behaviors in fish.

How sensitive is a shark's sense of smell compared to humans?

~10,000 times more sensitive ## Footnote This heightened sensitivity aids in hunting and predator avoidance.

What visual capabilities do some fish possess regarding ultraviolet light?

Some fish use UV for mate choice and species recognition ## Footnote UV detection can vary throughout a fish's life cycle.

Which fish species can see polarized light?

Various fish species ## Footnote Polarized light helps increase contrast when foraging on small prey.

What is the primary purpose of cleaner wrasse in their social behavior?

To recognize individual clients and provide cleaning services ## Footnote Clients perform a 'clean me' stance to signal their need for cleaning.

What happens if a cleaner fish accidentally bites a client?

The client will rapidly swim away ## Footnote Cleaners can engage in reconciliation by chasing after the client and providing a back rub.

What are some characteristics of cleaner fish regarding their clients?

* Selective about who they serve * Classify clients as local or transient * Recognize predatory tendencies ## Footnote This selective behavior helps optimize their cleaning services.