Effects of body size, body condition, and breeding state on responses to alarm cues by fathead minnows

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 1351-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Pollock ◽  
R.J. Pollock ◽  
D.P. Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
The Body ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Nonbreeding Season

There is often considerable variation in the intensity of behavioural responses of prey to predation cues. The purpose of the current study was to determine the role of standard length (a correlate of age), body condition (a measure of energy reserves, calculated by mass/(standard length)3), and gonadosomatic index (state of reproduction, calculated by gonad mass / body mass) in the responses of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, 1820) to damage-release alarm cues. Our data indicate that during the nonbreeding season longer/older minnows exhibited significantly increased antipredator responses compared with younger individuals. However, the significance of these correlations ceased during the breeding season. Data from the same trials failed to reveal a significant correlation between the intensity of antipredator behaviour and the body condition before or during the breeding season; the intensity of a minnow’s antipredator response was also not significantly correlated with its gonadosomatic index. These data are important in understanding factors affecting antipredator behaviour of minnows, as well as aiding researchers in determining potential time of year confounds in future studies.

181 CHANGES IN THE BODY CONDITION STATUS OF DONOR MARES THROUGHOUT THE BREEDING SEASON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH REPRODUCTION TRAITS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
P. G. Rodrigues ◽  
C. M. Raymundo ◽  
M. C. M. G. Miranda ◽  
J. B. Bastos ◽  
J. C. DeSouza
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Embryo Recovery ◽  
Follicle Diameter

The objective was to investigate the relationship between changes in body condition on reproductive traits of donor mares in an embryo collection program. Fifty-six non-pregnant mares, 3 to 18 years old, were studied from August 2008 through April 2009. Body condition score (BC; 1-9 scale, thin to obese) was estimated monthly. Body weight and tail and rib s.c. fat depths (SF) were measured monthly. SF was determined by ultrasound. Dominant follicle diameter (DF) was measured daily during the follicular phase. Mares were artificially inseminated and embryo transfers were conducted 6 d after ovulation. Analyses were performed with SAS® (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Age classes were as follows: age 1, 3 to 6.9 (n = 17); age 2, 7 to 12.9 (n = 25), and age 3, ≥13 years (n = 14). Months in experiment were T1 to T6. BC classes were as follows: B1, <6.5; B2, 6.5 to 6.9; B3, 7.0 to 7.5; and B4, >7.5. Embryo recovery rate was compared by chi square. Effects of month and age on BC, weight, and SF were analyzed by a mixed model. Age, BC, and month fixed effects on DF diameter were analyzed by ANOVA with mare within class as the error term. Means were compared by contrasts. BC was higher (P = 0.02) in older mares (6.78 ± 0.2 and 6.93 ± 0.2 in age 1 and age 2 v. 7.25 ± 0.2 in age 3) and increased (P = 0.009) with time (from 6.79 ± 0.20 to 7.42 ± 0.26 for T1 to T6, respectively). Weight (kg) was not associated with age but increased (P = 0.03) throughout the experiment. Tail fat increased with age (P = 0.04) and decreased with increasing months on experiment (P = 0.02). DF diameter increased daily through the follicular phase (P < 0.0001) and was smaller (P < 0.05) in mares with lower body condition (33.80 ± 0.31 in BC1 v. 34.17 ± 0.31 mm in BC4). DF diameter decreased (P < 0.01) with month on study. Embryo recovery rate was not affected by age or BC but was lower (P = 0.003) in mares that ovulated follicles smaller than 40 mm compared to mares ovulating follicles greater than 40 mm. BC above 6.5 was associated with higher embryo recovery rate, which was, in turn, correlated positively with DF diameter. Thus, our results support the use of BC scoring to predict performance in equine embryo transfer programs. Body condition scoring was not a good indicator of SF under the current experimental conditions because SF decreased during the breeding season. BC scoring may indicate lean tissue gain, which may be a better indicator of reproductive efficiency in mares. FAPEMIG, CAPES, Haras El Far.

Winter corticosterone and body condition predict breeding investment in a nonmigratory bird

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1642-1652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Montreuil-Spencer ◽  
Kelsey Schoenemann ◽  
Ádám Z Lendvai ◽  
Frances Bonier
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Residual Body ◽  
Life History Stage ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Fat Score

Abstract Reproduction is an energetically demanding life history stage that requires costly physiological and behavioral changes, yet some individuals will invest more into reproduction and breed more successfully than others. To understand variation in reproductive investment, previous studies have evaluated factors during breeding, but conditions outside of this life history stage may also play a role. Using a free-ranging population of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), we assessed the repeatability of plastic traits relating to energetic condition (circulating initial corticosterone concentrations and body condition) during the nonbreeding season and evaluated whether these traits predicted reproductive investment in the subsequent breeding season. We found that initial corticosterone concentrations and an index of body condition, but not fat score, were moderately repeatable over a 1-week period in winter. This trait repeatability supports the interpretation that among-individual variation in these phenotypic traits could reflect an intrinsic strategy to cope with challenging conditions across life history stages. We found that females with larger fat reserves during winter laid eggs sooner and tended to spend more time incubating their eggs and feeding their offspring. In contrast, we found that females with higher residual body mass delayed breeding, after controlling for the relationship between fat score and timing of breeding. Additionally, females with higher initial corticosterone in winter laid lighter eggs. Our findings suggest that conditions experienced outside of the breeding season may be important factors explaining variation in reproductive investment.

Does habitat complexity influence the ability of fathead minnows to learn heterospecific chemical alarm cues?

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 923-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Pollock ◽  
D P Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Chemical Alarm Cues

Numerous aquatic animals release chemical cues when attacked by a predator. These cues "warn" other individuals of danger and have been termed alarm cues. Cross-species responses to alarm cues are common and in some cases result from learned recognition. However, little is known about the ecological factors that could influence this learned recognition. The current study focuses on the role of habitat complexity in the learning of heterospecific alarm cues. We introduced brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) into outdoor pools containing fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) naïve to stickleback. The pools all contained a predatory fish (northern pike, Esox lucius) but varied in habitat characteristics. Pools representing high-complexity habitats had a large amount of structure to obscure the visual environment, while pools representing low-complexity habitats had minimal structure. After 8 days, fish were removed from the pools and behavioural assays were conducted in the laboratory. We tested the minnows for a response to either stickleback skin extract (experimental) or swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) skin extract (control) and found that minnows conditioned in pools with little structure had learned to recognize stickleback alarm cues, while those from pools with complex structure did not recognize stickleback alarm cues.

scholarly journals Fathead minnows learn to recognize predator odour when exposed to concentrations of artificial alarm pheromone below their behavioural-response threshold

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 2239-2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E Brown ◽  
James C Adrian, Jr. ◽  
Todd Patton ◽  
Douglas P Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Response Threshold ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Ostariophysan Fishes

Hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide (H3NO) has been identified as the putative alarm pheromone of ostariophysan fishes. Previously we demonstrated a population-specific minimum behavioural-response threshold in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to a H3NO concentration of approximately 0.4 nM. Minnows may, however, perceive low concentrations of H3NO as a predation threat, even though they do not exhibit an overt behavioural response. We conducted a series of laboratory trials to test the hypothesis that minnows can detect the alarm pheromone at concentrations below the minimum behavioural-response threshold. We exposed predator-naïve fathead minnows to H3NO at concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 0.05 nM paired with the odour of a novel predator (yellow perch, Perca flavescens) or distilled water paired with perch odour. We observed significant increases in antipredator behaviour (increased shoal cohesion, movement towards the substrate, a reduction in feeding, and an increase in the occurrence of dashing and freezing behaviour) in shoals of minnows exposed to a combined cue of 0.4 nM H3NO and perch odour (compared with a distilled-water control), but not by shoals exposed to lower concentrations of H3NO paired with perch odour or those exposed to distilled water paired with perch odour. When exposed to perch odour alone 4 days later, minnows initially conditioned to H3NO at concentrations of 0.4–0.1 nM exhibited significant increases in antipredator behaviour. These data demonstrate that minnows attend to the alarm pheromone at concentrations below the minimum behavioural-response threshold and are able to acquire the ability to recognize a novel predator even though they do not exhibit an overt behavioural response.

Individual and seasonal differences in antipredatory behaviour of root voles—a field experiment

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 1520-1525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Borowski
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Root Vole ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Mustela Nivalis ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Predator Risk ◽  
Nonlethal Effects

The response of root vole (Microtus oeconomus) to least weasel (Mustela nivalis) odours during breeding (August) and nonbreeding seasons (November) was studied in the root voles' natural habitat. The aim of this study was to determine if antipredator behaviour of the root vole changed between breeding and nonbreeding seasons and if this change was closely related to individual environmental cues, e.g., weasel odours. It was found that when bait and weasel odour was used, trappability was greater in breeding season than in nonbreeding season. Moreover, in the breeding season, heavier (i.e., older) voles were more frequently captured than lighter (i.e., younger) ones. Results show that voles' antipredator behaviour of weasel avoidance changes seasonally and that during the breeding season voles display a trade-off conflict between predator risk and foraging, if predator risk is high. It is possible that older voles are driven to reproduce in the current breeding season and thus display less weasel avoidance than do younger voles, which have higher probability of surviving to the next breeding season. Results indicate that indirect (nonlethal) effects of mammalian predators on voles' behaviour strongly depend on age, sexual activity, and season.

The interaction between antipredator behaviour and antipredator morphology: experiments with fathead minnows and brook sticklebacks

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2209-2215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark V. Abrahams
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Behavioural Modification ◽  
Reactive Distance ◽  
Habitat Avoidance ◽  
Morphological Defenses

Prey species have two fundamental strategies for reducing their probability of being killed by a predator: behavioural modification and morphological defenses. It is hypothesized that prey species which possess morphological defenses should exhibit less behavioural modification in response to predation risk than species lacking such defenses. Experiments were conducted to examine behavioural modification by armoured (brook sticklebacks, Culea inconstans) and unarmoured (fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas) prey species foraging in the presence of a predator (yellow perch, Perca flavescens). Two experiments measured habitat avoidance and reactive distance to an approaching predator. The results of these experiments were consistent with the hypothesis. Compared with fathead minnows, brook sticklebacks exhibited relatively little behavioural modification in response to the presence of a predator, both in terms of avoiding dangerous areas and in their reactive distance to an approaching predator. Sticklebacks, however, graded their reactive distance to an approaching predator in relation to both their body size and group size. These data suggest that the morphology of brook sticklebacks and their behavioural sensitivity to predation risk may allow them to efficiently exploit habitats that contain predators.

Male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Rafinesque) retain their fright reaction to alarm substance during the breeding season

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2230-2231 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Fright Reaction ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells

In laboratory and field tests, breeding male fathead minnows respond to conspecific skin extract with a fright reaction despite their own seasonal loss of alarm substance cells. Their fright reaction is facilitated by the presence of other fatheads.

scholarly journals Effect of body condition score and live weight of fertility of merino sheep after induction of oestrus in the out-of-breeding season

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-243
Author(s):  
P. Slavova ◽  
S. Laleva ◽  
Y. Popova
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Score Method ◽  
Concentrate Mixture

?bject of the study were merino sheep raised in the farm of the Agricultural institute - Stara Zagora. The experiment was conducted with a group of 68 animals of different ages, lambing after treated with hormonal preparation according to adopted scheme during the out-of-breeding season - in May. In the experimental group were included ewes which lambed earlier without making a selection in respect to their productivity. Animals were kept under the same conditions (stall-pasture) and fed the same rations with the concentrate mixture, rough, succulent feed and grazing in quantity and composition according to their physiological status and season from the fertilization until lambing. Hormonal pattern: setting pads for sheep type Sincro-part (30mg), removing pads after 12 days and giving ewes a PMSG injection at a dose of 500 UI, applying artificial insemination at the 50-55th hour. Body condition score and live weight of the animals were determined in 4 separate periods: 1st period (after mating), 2nd period (during pregnancy), 3rd period (after lambing), 4th period (before next mating service). Improving fertility in merino sheep is significantly influenced by the preparation of ewes for the mating by reaching the respective physiological status which is expressed by score over 2.5 according to the Body condition score method and live weight over 60 kg. Animals scored 2.75-3.50 before mating have a share of 91.18% from all the sheep in the flock and have the biggest number of lambs.

scholarly journals Familiarity and shoal cohesion in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): implications for antipredator behaviour

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 955-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas P. Chivers ◽  
Grant E. Brown ◽  
R. Jan F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Northern Pike ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Fish Predator ◽  
Antipredator Response ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Chemical Stimuli ◽  
Model Fish

We exposed groups of four fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) that were familiar to each other and had been taken from naturally occurring shoals, and groups of four fish unfamiliar to each other, taken from four separate shoals, to either chemical stimuli from pike or a model fish predator (northern pike, Esox lucius). In response to both chemical stimuli from pike and the pike model, minnows from familiar groups showed greater shoal cohesion than those from unfamiliar groups. Tighter shoal cohesion should result in a higher probability of surviving an encounter with a predator. Fish in familiar shoals also exhibited more dashing, a known antipredator response, than those in unfamiliar groups. In addition, groups of familiar fish showed less freezing behaviour than unfamiliar groups. In response to the model fish predator, familiar shoals exhibited a greater number of predator inspections, and the number of inspectors per inspection visit was greater, than those in unfamiliar groups. These results suggest that preferential shoaling with familiar conspecifics leads to an increase in cooperative antipredator behaviour and may thereby lower a minnow's risk of predation.

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