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The behaviour and ecology of the zebrafish, Danio rerio
Author(s) -
Spence Rowena,
Gerlach Gabriele,
Lawrence Christian,
Smith Carl
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-185x.2007.00030.x
Subject(s) - danio , zebrafish , shoaling and schooling , ecology , biology , biomedicine , guppy , evolutionary ecology , model organism , foraging , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , biochemistry , genetics , gene , host (biology)
The zebrafish Danio rerio , is an important model organism in developmental genetics, neurophysiology and biomedicine, but little is known about its natural ecology and behaviour. It is a small, shoaling cyprinid, native to the flood‐plains of the Indian subcontinent, where it is found in shallow, slow‐flowing waters. Zebrafish are group spawners and egg scatterers, although females are choosy with respect to sites for oviposition and males defend territories around such sites. Laboratory studies of zebrafish behaviour have encompassed shoaling, foraging, reproduction, sensory perception and learning. These studies are reviewed in relation to the suitability of the zebrafish as a model for studies on cognition and learning, development, behavioural and evolutionary ecology, and behavioural genetics.