Mechanisms of social behaviour in the anti-social blind cavefish ( Astyanax mexicanus )

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2043)

Published: March 1, 2025

The evolution of social behaviour in Astyanax mexicanus , which exists as a sighted, surface-dwelling morph and blind, cave-dwelling morph, provides model for understanding how environmental pressures shape behaviours. We compared the shoaling blind surface A. to that zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), examined effects nutritional state neuropeptides isotocin (IT) arginine vasotocin (AVT) on their behaviour. Blind cavefish not only fail form shoals, but actively avoid conspecifics, with hunger further diminishing cohesion. Administration low doses AVT an IT antagonist partially restored cavefish, reducing distances between individuals, whereas fish exhibited minimal or opposite responses these hormonal manipulations. Our findings suggest loss is consequence visual impairment alone, they remain capable detecting responding others. Instead, this probably reflects adaptive response resource-poor, predator-free cave environment, where may be disadvantageous. differing nonapeptides morphs indicate have lost motivation shoal rather than ability, highlighting ecological can

Language: Английский

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Sensing in the dark: Constructive evolution of the lateral line system in blind populations of Astyanax mexicanus

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Cave‐adapted animals evolve a suite of regressive and constructive traits that allow survival in the dark. Most studies aiming at understanding cave animal evolution have focused on genetics environmental underpinnings traits, with special emphasis vision loss. Possibly as result loss, other non‐visual sensory systems expanded compensated species. For instance, many cave‐dwelling fish species, including blind cavefish Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus , major mechanosensory system called lateral line, for loss through morphological expansions. While substantial work has shed light adaptation this system, there are still open questions regarding its developmental origin, synaptic plasticity, overall adaptive value. This review provides snapshot current state knowledge line adaption A. an anatomy, behavior. Multiple avenues future research how these can be leveraged tools both evolutionary biology medicine, discussed.

Language: Английский

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Mechanisms of Social Behavior in the Anti-Social Blind Cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

The evolution of social behavior in Astyanax mexicanus, which exists as a sighted, surface-dwelling morph and blind, cave-dwelling morph, provides model for understanding how environmental pressures shape behaviors. We compared the shoaling blind surface A. mexicanus to that zebrafish (Danio rerio), examined effects nutritional state neuropeptides isotocin (IT) arginine vasotocin (AVT) on their behavior. Blind cavefish not only fail form shoals, but actively avoid conspecifics, with hunger further diminishing cohesion. Administration low doses AVT an IT antagonist partially restored cavefish, reducing distances between individuals, whereas fish exhibited minimal or opposite responses these hormonal manipulations. Our findings suggest loss schooling is consequence visual impairment alone, they remain capable detecting responding others. Instead, this likely reflects adaptive response resource-poor, predator- free cave environment, where may be disadvantageous. differing hormones morphs indicate have lost motivation shoal rather than ability, highlighting ecological can

Language: Английский

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