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Two‐phase exploration of a novel environment in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata
Author(s) -
Mikheev V. N.,
Andreev O. A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1993.tb00340.x
Subject(s) - guppy , poecilia , biology , juvenile , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , ecology , fishery
Swimming speed and percentage of time fish swam along the boundary of an aquarium gradually decreased with the time following release of juvenile guppies into unfamiliar surroundings. When swimming speed was plotted against time on a log scale, two distinct phases were identified. The high activity phase lasted c, 3 h in 30‐day‐old guppies, 6 h in 10‐day‐olds and not less than S h in 3‐day‐olds. Observed trends in swimming in guppies are interpreted as a component of exploratory behaviour. Alternating the surroundings confirmed the exploratory role of such swimming and suggested that a period of general exploration was followed by a period of more detailed investigation of habitat. An interaction between exploratory and avoidance (fear) responses is discussed.