scholarly journals Chemical alarm signals in wild Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E Brown ◽  
Jean-Guy J Godin
Keyword(s):  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Alarm Signals ◽  
Alarm Pheromones ◽  
Chemical Alarm Signals ◽  
High Predation

We investigated the presence and possible function of chemical alarm signals (alarm pheromones) in wild Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) using laboratory, trapping, and direct field observational methods. In laboratory experiments, female guppies from a population exposed to high predation significantly increased their shoaling, dashing, and freezing behaviours and significantly reduced area use when exposed to the skin extract of sympatric female guppies. When exposed to the skin extract of females from a low-predation population, female guppies from a high-predation population exhibited significant, though smaller, increases in antipredator behaviour. No significant differences in antipredator behaviours were noted when females were exposed to swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) skin extract, which lacks any known alarm pheromone. We conducted two field experiments to confirm these laboratory results. In a trapping experiment, significantly more guppies were caught in funnel traps labelled with distilled water than in paired traps labelled with sympatric guppy skin extract. In a final experiment, a realistic model of a natural predator (pike cichlid, Crenicichla alta), paired with either sympatric guppy skin extract or distilled water, was presented to groups of free-ranging guppies in pools of a high-predation river. Significantly fewer guppies were observed within a 50-cm radius of the predator model and significantly fewer guppies inspected the model when it was paired with guppy skin extract versus distilled water. Taken together, our results strongly suggest the presence of a chemical alarm signal (alarm pheromone) in the Trinidadian guppy, establish the validity of laboratory and trapping studies in the investigation of chemical alarm signalling, and demonstrate that alarm pheromones may function to mediate predation risk under natural conditions in the guppy.

Anti-Predator Responses To Conspecific and Heterospecific Skin Extracts By Threespine Sticklebacks: Alarm Pheromones Revisited

Behaviour ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 134 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 1123-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E. Brown ◽  
JEAN-GUY J. Godin
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Alarm Signals ◽  
Alarm Pheromones ◽  
Ostariophysan Fishes ◽  
Exposed Individual ◽  
Chemical Alarm Signals ◽  
Apeltes Quadracus ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks

AbstractUnder laboratory conditions, we investigated the presence of chemical alarm signals in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We exposed individual threespine sticklebacks to skin extract of conspecifics originating from either the same or a different population, fourspine sticklebacks (Apeltes quadracus; a member of the same prey guild as the threespine stickleback) or swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri), a species not known to possess alarm pheromones and which is phylogenetically distant and allopatric from the threespine stickleback. Threespine sticklebacks exhibited significant increases in anti-predator behaviour patterns when presented with skin extract from both populations of conspecifics and from fourspine sticklebacks, but not to swordtail skin extract. These results suggest, contrary to previous reports, that threespine sticklebacks possess chemical alarm signals, which appear to be similar to those of Ostariophysan fishes.

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.

Conspecific skin extracts elicit antipredator responses in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1916-1922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E. Brown ◽  
R. Jan F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Body Extract

We investigated, under laboratory conditions, the presence of chemical alarm signals in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In an initial experiment, we exposed trout to a whole-body extract from conspecifics or a distilled-water control. When exposed to whole-body extract, trout significantly (i) decreased time spent swimming, (ii) increased time taken to resume foraging, and (iii) decreased the number of food items eaten. These data indicate a significant chemically mediated antipredator response. A second experiment was conducted to determine (i) if this is a generalized response to injured fish or a specific response to injured conspecifics, and (ii) if the chemical signal is localized in the skin. We exposed juvenile trout to one of three chemical stimuli: (1) trout skin extract, (2) trout body extract, or (3) swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) skin extract. Significant antipredator responses were observed in trout exposed to conspecific skin extract, but responses of those exposed to conspecific body extract or swordtail skin extract did not differ from those of distilled-water controls. These data strongly suggest that juvenile rainbow trout possess a chemical alarm signal, localized in the skin, that elicits antipredator behaviour when detected.by conspecifics.

scholarly journals Acquired predator recognition in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): conditioning hatchery-reared fish to recognize chemical cues of a predator

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E Brown ◽  
R Jan F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Juvenile Rainbow Trout ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Area Use

In this study, we exposed predator-naive, hatchery-reared juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to the chemical stimuli from northern pike (Esox lucius) and either trout skin extract (a chemical alarm signal) or a distilled water control to test for acquired recognition of a novel predator. Trout exposed to conspecific skin extract and pike odour significantly increased antipredator behaviour (i.e., decreased foraging and area use and increased shoaling and freezing), while those exposed to distilled water and pike odour did not. Conditioned trout were exposed to pike odour alone (versus a distilled water control) either 4 or 21 days later. When presented with pike odour 4 days postconditioning, trout significantly increased antipredator behaviour (i.e., decreased foraging and area use and increased time under cover and freezing). Trout tested 21 days postconditioning still exhibited a significant increase in antipredator behaviours when presented with pike odour alone (i.e., decreased foraging and increased freezing). These data are the first to demonstrate that hatchery-reared trout can be conditioned to recognize the chemical cues of a predator and suggest that this may serve as a strategy to train hatchery-reared fish to recognize predators prior to stocking into natural waterways.

The effects of reduced pH on chemical alarm signalling in ostariophysan fishes

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 1331-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant E Brown ◽  
James C Adrian, Jr. ◽  
Michael G Lewis ◽  
Jon M Tower
Keyword(s):  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Alarm Pheromones ◽  
Loss Of Response ◽  
Ostariophysan Fishes ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Acidic Conditions ◽  
Ph Conditions

Under laboratory conditions, we examined the effects of acute exposure to weakly acidic conditions (pH 6.0) on the ability of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and finescale dace (Phoxinus neogaeus) to detect and respond to conspecific and artificial alarm pheromones. Initially, minnows and dace exhibited normal antipredator responses when exposed to conspecific alarm pheromones under normal (pH 8.0) conditions. When retested at pH 6.0, we observed no significant antipredator response. However, when returned to normal pH conditions, both exhibited normal antipredator responses. Minnows exposed to the putative ostariophysan alarm pheromone (hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide) exhibited a similar trend in behavioural response. Finally, we manipulated the pH of minnow skin extract and hypoxanthine-3-N-oxide to determine the chemical mechanism responsible for this observed loss of response. Minnows exhibited significant antipredator responses to natural and artificial alarm pheromones at normal pH conditions, but did not respond to either stimulus once they had been buffered to pH 6.0 or acidified and rebuffered to pH 7.5. These data suggest that the ability of minnows and dace to detect and respond to alarm pheromones is impaired under weakly acidic conditions and that this loss of response is due to a nonreversible covalent change to the alarm pheromone molecule itself.

scholarly journals Bank vole alarm pheromone chemistry and effects in the field

Oecologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorbjörn Sievert ◽  
Hannu Ylönen ◽  
James D. Blande ◽  
Amélie Saunier ◽  
Dave van der Hulst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Communication ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Unknown Compound ◽  
Alarm Signals ◽  
Body Odour

AbstractChemical communication plays an important role in mammalian life history decisions. Animals send and receive information based on body odour secretions. Odour cues provide important social information on identity, kinship, sex, group membership or genetic quality. Recent findings show, that rodents alarm their conspecifics with danger-dependent body odours after encountering a predator. In this study, we aim to identify the chemistry of alarm pheromones (AP) in the bank vole, a common boreal rodent. Furthermore, the vole foraging efficiency under perceived fear was measured in a set of field experiments in large outdoor enclosures. During the analysis of bank vole odour by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we identified that 1-octanol, 2-octanone, and one unknown compound as the most likely candidates to function as alarm signals. These compounds were independent of the vole’s sex. In a field experiment, voles were foraging less, i.e. they were more afraid in the AP odour foraging trays during the first day, as the odour was fresh, than in the second day. This verified the short lasting effect of volatile APs. Our results clarified the chemistry of alarming body odour compounds in mammals, and enhanced our understanding of the ecological role of AP and chemical communication in mammals.

Responses of Golden Shiner Minnows to Chemical Cues from Snake Predators

Behaviour ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 135 (8) ◽  
pp. 1213-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renée Godard ◽  
Catherine Wannamaker ◽  
Bonnie Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Nerodia Sipedon ◽  
Golden Shiners ◽  
Response To Water ◽  
Snake Predators

AbstractStudies of a limited number of species of fish in the superorder Ostariophysi have shown they they exhibit strong antipredator behaviour to conserved alarm substance in feces and in other byproducts from predatory fish that have consumed ostariophysans. Our experiments examined the ability of a previously untested ostariophysan to recognize chemical cues from two species of snake predators. In Experiment 1, shoals of golden shiners (Notemigonus chrysoleucas) exhibited strong shelter-seeking responses to water which contained waste byproducts from either a sympatric snake or an allopatric snake which had been fed golden shiners but not to a distilled water control. There was no difference in response to the sympatrie snake predator, northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon), compared to the allopatric snake predator, black-bellied garter snakes (Thamnophis melanogaster). In Experiment 2, individual shiners exhibited vigourous dashing when presented with water which contained waste byproducts from N. sipedon fed golden shiners but exhibited a much weaker response to water which contained waste byproducts from N. sipedon fed green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri, a non-ostariophysan) or to a water control. These results suggest that the alarm substance produced in the epidermis of the golden shiners is conserved in snake waste byproducts. Experiment 3 showed that there was little difference in shelter-seeking behaviour by shoals of shiners when presented with water in which N. sipedon had soaked, water in which T. melanogaster had soaked, or a distilled water control. Thus it appears that secretions from the skin of these predators may not be chemically labelled.

scholarly journals In utero behavioral imprinting to predation risk in pups of the bank vole

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorbjörn Sievert ◽  
Arjane Kerkhoven ◽  
Marko Haapakoski ◽  
Kevin D. Matson ◽  
Olga Ylönen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Predator Odor ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Alarm Pheromones ◽  
Mustela Nivalis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Generational Effects

Abstract In the predator–prey arms race, survival-enhancing adaptive behaviors are essential. Prey can perceive predator presence directly from visual, auditory, or chemical cues. Non-lethal encounters with a predator may trigger prey to produce special body odors, alarm pheromones, informing conspecifics about predation risks. Recent studies suggest that parental exposure to predation risk during reproduction affects offspring behavior cross-generationally. We compared behaviors of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) pups produced by parents exposed to one of three treatments: predator scent from the least weasel (Mustela nivalis nivalis); scent from weasel-exposed voles, i.e., alarm pheromones; or a control treatment without added scents. Parents were treated in semi-natural field enclosures, but pups were born in the lab and assayed in an open-field arena. Before each behavioral test, one of the three scent treatments was spread throughout the test arena. The tests followed a full factorial design (3 parental treatments × 3 area treatments). Regardless of the parents’ treatment, pups exposed to predator odor in the arena moved more. Additionally, pups spend more time in the center of the arena when presented with predator odor or alarm pheromone compared with the control. Pups from predator odor–exposed parents avoided the center of the arena under control conditions, but they spent more time in the center when either predator odor or alarm pheromone was present. Our experiment shows that cross-generational effects are context-sensitive, depending on the perceived risk. Future studies should examine cross-generational behavioral effects in ecologically meaningful environments instead of only neutral ones. Significance statement We exposed bank voles to odors signaling predation risk to assess the effects parental predation exposure on the behavior of their offspring. Besides predator odor, we also assessed the role of a conspecific alarm cue as a novel way of spreading the predation risk information. Pup behaviors were assessed in the open-field arena, a standard way of assessing animal behavior in a wide range of contexts. We found that also alarm pheromone increased the time pups spend in the center of the arena similarly to predator odor. While previous studies suggested that offspring would be more fearful, our results indicate that the cross-generational effects are very context-dependent; i.e., they differ significantly depending on which scent cue is presented in the open-field arena. This shows the need for better tools or measurements to translate laboratory results into ecologically meaningful frameworks.

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