Do fish cooperate to inspect predators?

合作是生命的一个基本过程，从细菌的相互作用到人类国家。合作可以采取各种形式，包括觅食、繁殖和防御。在后一种情况下，被捕食动物对捕食者的检查是合作的一个突出例子。逃跑总是要付出代价的。因此，被捕食的动物应该检查潜在的捕食者，以确定他们是否构成威胁。虽然有好处，但捕食者检查本身就有风险。通过与同伴合作接近，如果捕食者攻击，检查员可以降低他们被捕获的风险。最接近捕食者的鱼比它们的尾随伙伴有更高的捕获风险。由于成本可能是不平等的，鱼类需要确保合作，只有在伙伴与它们在一起的情况下才能继续它们的做法。由于这些早期的研究，鱼类捕食者检查已被作为互惠合作的教科书范例。然而，这些研究招致了许多批评。有人认为，明显的合作捕食者检查可以解释为自私的行为，即合作伙伴平衡对捕食者的取向和对同伴的社会吸引力。批评者认为，看似合作的东西，不过是互利共生的副产品，是在危险面前变浅的一种附带效果。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，为了区分互惠和互利的候选人将量化的运动时，接近真实的捕食者，非捕食刺激和控制的孤独的鱼和对。统计模型将允许推断信息流，并量化对彼此流动的社会影响。特遣队的运动和铅开关预计在与捕食者成对提出，如果合作正在发生。第二，将结合高分辨率运动跟踪开发计算机控制的动画模型同类，向合作或叛逃伙伴展示鱼类，以确定在合作检查中的应急投资，这是互惠的基础。在这两个部分中，来自有和没有捕食者的种群的鱼，以及实验室培育的F1后代将被比较，允许候选人量化遗传和经验的影响。这个项目将阐明一个重要的悖论：为什么个体合作。虽然几十年来一直在研究为什么存在合作，但我们仍然不了解合作的广泛发生和能够实现稳定合作的机制，其中一个解决办法可能是互惠。在鱼类中展示互惠性将挑战互惠性仅限于人类的普遍信念。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格拉德技能计划和通过选择适当的EastBio课程接受标准培训。这将包括但不限于统计培训、项目管理和提供有效的介绍。候选人已经接受了鱼类福利，处理和批准的S1K技术的培训。候选人预计（并已开始）演示和辅导本科生，并将接受持续的培训和支持。将鼓励候选人参加相关或可转移的外部课程和计划。这些可能包括例如定量技能、方案编制或外联方面的讲习班。

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.