Do fish cooperate to inspect predators?

合作是生命的基本过程，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。在后者中，被捕食的动物对捕食者的检查是合作的一个显著例子。总是逃离可能代价高昂。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。虽然有益，但对捕食者的检查本身就有风险。通过与同伴合作接近，检查员可以在捕食者攻击时冲淡他们个人捕获的风险。这已经在鱼类中得到了很好的研究。与捕食者距离最近的鱼比它们的拖尾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，只有在它们的伴侣留在他们身边的情况下才能继续他们的方法。由于这些早期研究，鱼类中的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。有人争辩说，明显的合作捕食者检查可以用自私行为来解释，即伴侣平衡对捕食者的定向和对其同伴的社会吸引力。批评人士认为，合作看起来只是副产品互惠互利，是在危险面前浅水化的附带效应。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，为了区分互惠和互惠，候选人将量化独鱼和成对鱼在接近真正的捕食者、非捕食性刺激和控制物时的运动。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。如果正在进行合作，预计会与捕食者成对地出现应急移动和导联切换。其次，将结合高分辨率运动跟踪开发计算机控制的动画模型特定内容，向合作或叛逃的合作伙伴展示鱼类，以确定合作检查的或有投资，这是互惠的基础。在执行这两个部分时，将比较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，使候选人能够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。尽管几十年来已经进行了研究来解释为什么存在合作，但我们仍然不清楚合作的广泛存在以及实现稳定合作的机制，其中一种解决方案可能是互惠。在鱼身上展示互惠将挑战普遍认为互惠仅限于人类的信念。请列出任何商定的培训要求：没有具体的要求。应聘者将通过大学的研究生技能方案和选择适当的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。应聘者已经接受了鱼类福利、操作和经批准的S1K技术方面的培训。应聘者预计(并且已经开始)向本科生进行示范和辅导，并将接受持续的培训和支持。应聘者将被鼓励参加相关或可调任的外部课程和方案。例如，这些可能包括量化技能、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.