Do fish cooperate to inspect predators?

合作是生命的一个基本过程，从细菌相互作用到人类国家。合作可以采取多种形式，包括觅食、繁殖和防御。在后者中，被捕食动物对捕食者的检查是合作的一个引人注目的例子。总是逃避可能会付出高昂的代价。因此，被捕食的动物应该检查潜在的捕食者，以确定它们是否构成威胁。捕食者检查虽然有益，但本质上是有风险的。通过与同伴合作接近，如果捕食者发起攻击，检查员可以降低个体被捕食的风险。这已经在鱼类中得到了充分的研究。距离捕食者最近的鱼比其尾随的伙伴面临更高的捕获风险。由于成本可能不平等，鱼类需要确保合作，只有在伙伴留在身边的情况下才继续接近。由于这些早期研究，鱼类捕食者检查已被作为互惠合作的教科书示例提出。然而，这些研究引起了很多批评。有人认为，明显的合作性捕食者检查可以用自私行为来解释，即伙伴平衡对捕食者的方向和对同伴的社会吸引力。批评者认为，看似合作的东西只是互利共生的副产品，是存在危险时浅滩的偶然效应。幸运的是，最近的创新产生了新颖的实验和统计方法，可能会解决这场长达 30 年的争​​论。首先，为了区分互惠和共生，考生将量化独鱼和成对鱼在接近真正的捕食者、非捕食性刺激和对照时的运动。统计模型将允许推断信息流并量化对彼此运动的社会影响。如果发生合作的话，与捕食者成对出现时，预计会发生偶然的移动和领先的转换。其次，将结合高分辨率运动跟踪来开发动画计算机控制模型同种动物，以向鱼类展示合作或背叛的伙伴，以确定合作检查中的或有投资，这是互惠的基础。在执行这两个部分时，将对有和没有捕食者的种群中的鱼类以及实验室培育的 F1 后代进行比较，使候选人能够量化遗传和经验的影响。该项目将阐明一个重要的悖论：为什么个体会合作。尽管已经进行了数十年的研究来解释合作为何存在，但我们仍然不了解其广泛存在和实现稳定合作的机制，其中一种解决方案可能是互惠。展示鱼类的互惠性将挑战人们普遍认为互惠性仅限于人类的观点。请列出任何商定的培训要求：没有具体要求。候选人将通过大学的研究生技能计划和选择适当的 EastBio 课程接受标准培训。这将涵盖但不限于统计培训、项目管理和提供有效的演示。候选人已经接受过鱼类福利、处理和批准的 S1K 技术方面的培训。候选人预计（并且已经开始）向本科生展示和辅导，并将接受持续的培训和支持。我们将鼓励候选人参加相关或可转移的外部课程和项目。例如，这些可能包括定量技能、编程或外展方面的研讨会。

Cooperation is a fundamental process of life, ranging from bacterial interactions to human nations. Cooperation can take various forms, including foraging, reproduction and defence. In the latter, inspection of predators by prey animals presents a striking example of cooperation. Always fleeing can be costly. Hence, prey animals should inspect potential predators to determine whether they pose a threat. While beneficial, predator inspection is inherently risky. By cooperatively approaching with a companion, inspectors can dilute their individual risk of capture, should the predator attack.This has been well studied in fishes. The fish closest to the predator is at higher risk of capture than their trailing partner. Since the costs can be unequal, fish need to ensure cooperation by only continuing their approach if their partner remains alongside them. Because of those early studies, predator inspection in fish had been presented as a textbook example of reciprocal cooperation. However, those studies have attracted much criticism. It has been argued that apparent cooperative predator inspections can be explained by selfish behaviour, i.e. partners balancing orientation towards the predator and social attraction to their companion. What looks like cooperation, critics suggest, is just by-product mutualism, an incidental effect of shoaling in presence of danger.Fortunately, recent innovations have produced novel experimental and statistical methods that might resolve this 30-year-old debate. First, to distinguish between reciprocity and mutualism the candidate will quantify the movement of lone fish and pairs when approaching real predators, non-predatory stimuli and a control. Statistical models will allow information flow to be inferred and social effects on one another's movement to be quantified. Contingent movements and lead switching are expected in pairs presented with predators, if cooperation is occurring. Second, animated computer-controlled model conspecifics will be developed in conjunction with high-resolution motion tracking to present fish with cooperating or defecting partners to identify contingent investment in cooperative inspection, the basis of reciprocity. In carrying out both parts, fish from populations with and without predators, and laboratory bred F1 offspring will be compared, allowing the candidate to quantify the influence of genetics and experience.This project will elucidate an important paradox: why individuals cooperate. Although research has been conducted over decades to explain why cooperation exists, we still do not understand its widespread occurrence and mechanisms enabling stable cooperation, of which one solution might be reciprocity. Demonstrating reciprocity in fish will challenge the widespread belief that reciprocity is limited to humans.Please list any agreed training requirements:Nothing specific. The candidate will receive standard training through the University's grad skills programme and through selection of appropriate EastBio courses. This will cover but is not limited to statistical training, project management and delivering effective presentations. The candidate has already been trained in fish welfare, handling and approved S1K techniques. The candidate is expected to (and has already commenced) demonstrating to and tutoring undergraduates and will receive ongoing training and support. The candidate will be encouraged to take part in external courses and programmes that are relevant or transferrable as these arise. These may include workshops in quantitative skills, programming or outreach for example.