Habitat-specific chemical cues influence association preferences and shoal cohesion in fish |
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Authors: | M M Webster J Goldsmith A J W Ward P J B Hart |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK;(2) Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;(3) Present address: School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, Bute Medical Building, St. Andrews, KY16 9TS, UK |
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Abstract: | The structure of social animal groups can be dynamic, characterized by high rates of group fission and fusion. Despite this,
group composition is often well ordered by factors such as species, body size and by numerous other phenotypic traits. Research
in shoaling fishes has revealed that individuals refine group membership decisions still further and are capable of assimilating
chemical cues pertaining to recent habitat and prey use by prospective group mates, preferring to associate with others whose
recent resource use history closely matches their own. In this study, we firstly examined the dynamics of the formation and
breakdown of these preferences, revealing that they can be acquired and replaced in a matter of just a few hours. Using such
cues enables individuals to accurately assess the resource use of conspecifics, allowing them to indirectly sample the local
environment while reducing the chances of acquiring outdated information that can precipitate maladaptive behaviors. Secondly,
we found that shoals composed of individuals with shared recent habitat use history were more cohesive compared to those where
the constituent individuals differed in recent habitat use. Increased shoal cohesion may reduce predation risk, and could
enhance the ability of individuals to detect and use social information. |
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Keywords: | Social organization Social information Familiarity Recognition Shoaling |
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