Learning to recognize novel predators under weakly acidic conditions: the effects of reduced pH on acquired predator recognition by juvenile rainbow trout |
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Authors: | Antoine?OHC?Leduc Maud?CO?Ferrari Jocelyn?M?Kelly Email author" target="_blank">Grant?E?BrownEmail author |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada |
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Abstract: | Summary. Recent studies have demonstrated that under
weakly acidic conditions (pH 6.0), many prey fishes, including
juvenile rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss), do not
exhibit overt antipredator responses to conspecific chemical
alarm cues. In laboratory trials, we investigated the potential
effects of reduced pH on the ability of hatchery reared, predator
naïve juvenile rainbow trout to acquire the recognition of
a novel predator (yellow perch, Perca flavenscens). Initially,
we exposed trout to the odour of a predatory yellow perch,
buffered to pH 6.0 (weakly acidic) or pH 7.0 (neutral) paired
with conspecific skin extracts (also buffered to pH 6.0 or 7.0)
or a distilled water control. Juvenile trout exhibited significant
increase in antipredator behaviour when exposed to neutral
skin extract (pH 7.0). When retested 48 hours later to perch
odour alone (pH 7.0), only trout initially conditioned with
neutral skin extracts (pairs with either neutral or acidic perch
odour) exhibited a learned recognition of perch odour as a
predator risk. Those initially exposed to weakly acidic skin
extract or the distilled water control did not show a learned
response to predator odour. These results demonstrate that the
ability to acquire the recognition of novel predators is
impaired under weakly acidic conditions, as would occur in
natural waterways affected by acidic precipitation. |
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Keywords: | Chemical alarm cues salmonids acid rain antipredator behaviour acquired predator recognition rainbow trout |
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