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Influences of Food Availability and Social Context on Behavior and Behavioral Plasticity in Xiphophorus helleri Hybrids

Tucker, Fred D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1565280065733666

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
The role of behavior in the success of invasive species has been widely studied, however the influence of behavioral plasticity on invasive success has not. In the first chapter of this thesis, two morphs of pet-trade hybrid swordtails (X. helleri x maculatus) underwent a treatment regimen consisting of differing levels of food availability to measure the responses of aggression, feeding rate, and boldness behaviors when facing changes in this important environmental factor. There was significant variation across the food availability treatments in feeding rate, as well as differences influenced by sex, which suggests behavioral plasticity for this behavior. The difference by sex is possibly due to differential reproductive strategies involving prioritization of time and resources. Boldness and aggression behaviors were not plastic in response to food availability, and morph and size did not significantly influence any behavioral variation across the treatments. These findings suggest that while plasticity may be present in one of the behavioral traits that are vital to a potential invasive species, it does not appear to be a primary factor influencing the success of this hybrid species. Social context is often not considered in laboratory-based fish behavioral research, although it has been shown to have significant effects on behavior. In the second chapter of this thesis, swordtail hybrids underwent one of two different social housing treatments to determine if socialization influences exploration behavior: half of the hybrids were housed alone, and the other half were housed with conspecifics. All individuals were then tested for exploratory behavior in two tests: the first being a solitary exploration test and the second being a test with conspecifics. Solitarily housed hybrids were significantly more exploratory than those housed with conspecifics in the solitary test environment. Additionally, swordtail hybrids were more exploratory overall when in a group than when alone. These findings suggest that social context of housing and the social context of the testing environment does influence exploratory behavior and should be an important consideration for testing this behavior in the laboratory.
Molly Morris, PhD (Advisor)
Viorel Popescu, PhD (Committee Member)
Susan Williams, PhD (Committee Member)
52 p.
Animal Sciences; Aquatic Sciences; Biology; Conservation; Ecology; Freshwater Ecology
Behavioral Plasticity; behavior; swordtail; swordtail hybrid; invasiveness; food availability; social context; exploration; fish behavior; xiphophorus

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tucker, F. D. (2019). Influences of Food Availability and Social Context on Behavior and Behavioral Plasticity in Xiphophorus helleri Hybrids [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1565280065733666

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tucker, Fred. Influences of Food Availability and Social Context on Behavior and Behavioral Plasticity in Xiphophorus helleri Hybrids. 2019. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1565280065733666.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tucker, Fred. "Influences of Food Availability and Social Context on Behavior and Behavioral Plasticity in Xiphophorus helleri Hybrids." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1565280065733666

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.