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Reaction to Alarm Substance in Cave Populations of Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae, Pisces) 1
Author(s) -
Fricke Diethard
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1987.tb00691.x
Subject(s) - characidae , epigeal , cave , zoology , alarm , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , fishery , materials science , composite material
The effect of species‐specific skin‐extract containing alarm substance has been studied in two epigean and three hypogean populations of the Mexican‐tetra Astyanax fasciatus. In all populations tested the feeding rate at the water surface decreased significantly after introducing the alarm substance and the fish avoided this surface area. Additionally epigean fish and some individuals from the Chica cave showed zigzag movements, rapid swimming and hiding. The fish did not respond to a skinextract of a species without alarm substance.