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Population Differences in Responses of Fathead Minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) to Visual and Chemical Stimuli from Predators
Author(s) -
Mathis Alicia,
Chivers Douglas P.,
Smith R. Jan F.
Publication year - 1993
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.1439-0310.1993.tb00976.x
Subject(s) - pike , esox , sympatric speciation , allopatric speciation , population , pimephales promelas , cyprinidae , predation , biology , sympatry , predator , zoology , ecology , minnow , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology
Fathead minnows (Cyprinidae: Pimephales promelas ) from a population that is sympatric with predatory northern pike (Esocidae: Esox lucius) exhibited a fright reaction to the visual stimulus of a live northern pike significantly more often than minnows from a population that is allopatric with pike. The fright response included increased use of shelter, dashing and freezing. Minnows from the pike‐sympatric population also exhibited a significantly greater fright response, measured as a reduction in activity, following exposure to chemical stimuli from pike (i.e. water from a tank that had contained a pike) than did minnows from the pike‐allopatric population. There was no significant change in activity by minnows from either population following exposure to chemical stimuli from nonpiscivorous peacock gudgeons (Eleotridae: Tateurndina ocellicauda ), suggesting that the difference between the two populations is specific to stimuli from pike rather than a general difference in response to chemical stimuli from heterospecific fishes. Fathead minnows apparently utilize at least a two‐tiered predator recognition system that incorporates both visual and chemical cues.