Social plasticity in non-territorial male African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni
Social plasticity in non-territorial male African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni
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DOI：
10.1007/s10164-016-0498-0
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发表时间：
2017-01-01
影响因子：
0.9
通讯作者：
Preuss, T.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Fulmer, Andrew G.;Neumeister, H.;Preuss, T.
非洲丽鱼科鱼 Astatotilapia burtoni 由于其社会介导的表型可塑性而成为社会决策研究的一个有价值的模型系统。雄性的社会地位可逆地从生殖主导和领地（DOM）转变为顺从和非领地（SUB）。传统上通过观察评分将男性分为这两种行为表型。然而，有证据表明，这种二分法分类可能无法捕捉个体在 SUB 和 DOM 状态之间转换时所表现出的行为可塑性。为了检验这个概念，我们对鱼类群落中的性内冲突行为进行了集中观察，并结合了对伯托尼鱼通常使用的行为图的修改分析。结果显示，一群雄性接近传统优势指数定义的 SUB 和 DOM 状态之间的交叉点。这些中间雄性表现出最高频率的性内冲突行为、对威胁的独特行为反应以及将其与典型的 SUB 和 DOM 区分开来的身体色素信号显示。因此，我们的结果提供了一种非侵入性行为指标，将雄性 A. burtoni 分为三组，从而进一步捕获该模式生物的复杂社会动态。
The African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni represents a valuable model system for studies of social decision-making due to its socially mediated phenotypic plasticity. The males reversibly transition in social status from reproductively dominant and territorial (DOM) to submissive and non-territorial (SUB). Males are traditionally categorized into these two behavioral phenotypes by observational scoring. There is evidence, however, that this dichotomous categorization might not capture the behavioral plasticity displayed by individuals transitioning between SUB and DOM status. To test this concept, we used focal observations of intrasexual conflict behavior in fish communities combined with a modified analysis of the ethogram typically used in A. burtoni. Results revealed a cluster of males close to the crossover point between SUB and DOM status as defined by the traditional dominance index. These intermediate males showed the highest frequency of intrasexual conflict behaviors, distinct behavioral responses to threats, and body pigment signaling displays that distinguish them from prototypical SUBs and DOMs. As such, our results provide a noninvasive behavioral metric to categorize A. burtoni males into three groups, thus further capturing the complex social dynamic of this model organism.