Premium
Social isolation, aggression, and dominance in attacks in juvenile angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare
Author(s) -
GómezLaplaza Luis M.,
Morgan Elfed
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1993)19:3<213::aid-ab2480190306>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - juvenile , aggression , dominance (genetics) , biology , social hierarchy , zoology , dominance hierarchy , psychology , ecology , social psychology , biochemistry , gene
The effects of social isolation on aggressive behavior and rank order have been investigated in small groups of juvenile angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare. An experimental protocol including a “double transfer” of the subjects was used, in which fish were transferred to new aquaria in groups, before subsequent isolation and regrouping. A significant decrease in aggression was observed in the first recording session following both isolation and group transfer, after which the level returned to that recorded in the home tanks. The social hierarchy was also perturbed, but changes generally involed the two highest ranking fish in two out of the three groups, and were found not to be statistically significant. The behavior patterns are interpreted as adaptive responses to environmental change. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.