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