A multi-scale review of the dynamics of collective behaviour: from rapid responses to ontogeny and evolution

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1874)

Published: Feb. 20, 2023

Collective behaviours, such as flocking in birds or decision making by bee colonies, are some of the most intriguing behavioural phenomena animal kingdom. The study collective behaviour focuses on interactions between individuals within groups, which typically occur over close ranges and short timescales, how these drive larger scale properties group size, information transfer groups group-level making. To date, however, studies have focused snapshots, studying timescales up to minutes hours. However, being a biological trait, much longer important behaviour, particularly change their lifetime (the domain developmental biology) from one generation next evolutionary biology). Here, we give an overview across long, illustrating full understanding this animals requires more research attention its biology. Our review forms prologue special issue, addresses pushes forward development evolution encouraging new direction for research. This article is part discussion meeting issue ‘Collective through time’.

Language: Английский

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A pair of cadmium-exposed zebrafish affect social behavior of the un-exposed majority

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 100, P. 104119 - 104119

Published: April 5, 2023

Language: Английский

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The nature and distribution of putative non-functional alleles suggest only two independent events at the origins of Astyanax mexicanus cavefish populations

BMC Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Background Several studies suggested that cavefish populations of Astyanax mexicanus settled during the Late Pleistocene. This implies cavefish’s most conspicuous phenotypic changes, blindness and depigmentation, more cryptic characters important for cave life, evolved rapidly. Results Using published genomes 47 from la Cueva de El Pachón, Sótano Tinaja, La Chica Molino, we searched putative loss-of-function mutations in previously defined sets genes, i.e. , vision, circadian clock pigmentation genes. Putative non-functional alleles four vision genes were identified. Then, genome-wide these populations. Among 512 with segregating are absent surface fish, found an enrichment visual perception populations, different levels shared found. a subset 12 which found, extend analysis pseudogenes to 11 six del Toro population, where extensive hybridization fish occurs, correlation between level eye regression amount alleles. Conclusions We confirm very few present large set accordance recent origin cavefish. Furthermore, indicates vision-related GO-terms, suggesting may be function chiefly impacted by gene losses related shift environment. The geographic distribution newly suggests Sierra Guatemala Abra share common origin, albeit followed independent evolution long period. It also supports Micos area have origin. In Toro, troglomorphic phenotype is maintained despite massive introgression genome.

Language: Английский

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Automated behavioral profiling using neural networks reveals differences in stress-like behavior between cave and surface-dwelling Astyanax mexicanus

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

Abstract Behavioral stress responses allow animals to quickly adapt local environments and are critical for survival. Stress provide an ideal model investigating the evolution of complex behaviors due their conservation across species, role in survival, integration behavioral physiological components. The Mexican cavefish ( Astyanax mexicanus ) has evolved dramatically different compared river-dwelling surface fish morphs, providing a investigate neural evolutionary basis stress-like responses. Surface morphs inhabit predator-rich whereas cave-dwelling occupy predator-free habitats. While these key ecological variables may underlie differences responses, complexity not been thoroughly examined. By leveraging automated pose-tracking machine learning tools, we quantified range associated with stress, including freezing, bottom-dwelling, hyperactivity, during novel tank assay. exhibited heightened characterized by prolonged bottom-dwelling frequent while demonstrated reduced behaviors, marked greater exploration minimal freezing. Analysis F2 hybrids revealed that subset freezing co-segregated, suggesting shared genetic or underpinnings. Our findings illustrate power computational tools high-throughput phenotyping, enabling precise quantification traits revealing factors driving evolution. This study provides framework understanding how integrated evolve, offering broader insights into mechanisms underlying diversification animal behavior natural systems.

Language: Английский

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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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Compensatory sensory mechanisms in naïve blind cavefish navigating novel environments after lateral line ablation

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 111863 - 111863

Published: April 1, 2025

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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The role of vision and lateral line sensing for schooling in giant danios (Devario aequipinnatus)

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(10)

Published: April 29, 2024

ABSTRACT Schooling is a collective behavior that relies on fish's ability to sense and respond the other fish around it. Previous work has identified ‘rules’ of schooling – attraction neighbors are far away, repulsion from too close alignment with at correct distance but we do not understand well how these rules emerge sensory physiology individual fish. In particular, use both vision their lateral lines each other, it unclear much they rely information modalities coordinate behavior. To address this question, studied giant danios (Devario aequipinnatus) changes when unable see or lines. We found were able school without did in darkness. Surprisingly, darkness had same properties as light proximity, indicating could nearby However, attracted more distant fish, suggesting long-distance through important for maintaining cohesive school. These results help us expand our understanding roles line play some species.

Language: Английский

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Trait Loss in Evolution: What Cavefish Have Taught Us about Mechanisms Underlying Eye Regression

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 63(2), P. 393 - 406

Published: May 22, 2023

Synopsis Reduction or complete loss of traits is a common occurrence throughout evolutionary history. In spite this, numerous questions remain about why and how trait has occurred. Cave animals are an excellent system in which these can be answered, as multiple traits, including eyes pigmentation, have been repeatedly reduced lost across populations cave species. This review focuses on the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, used model for examining developmental, genetic, mechanisms that underlie eye regression animals. We focus aspects evolved A. developmental genetic pathways contribute to regression, effects evolution other also forces contributing regression. discuss what known repeated both mexicanus cavefish more generally. Finally, we offer perspectives future further elucidate underlying using tools resources recently become available.

Language: Английский

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Mutations in the albinism gene oca2 alter vision-dependent prey capture behavior in the Mexican tetra

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

Published: June 20, 2024

Abstract Understanding the phenotypic consequences of naturally occurring genetic changes, as well their impact on fitness, is fundamental to understanding how organisms adapt an environment. This critical when variants have pleiotropic effects, determining each phenotype impacted by a gene contributes fitness essential understand and why traits evolved. A striking example contributing trait evolution oca2 gene, coding mutations in which underlie albinism reductions sleep blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus . Here, we characterize effects larval prey capture. We find that conspecific surface fish with engineered allele are hunting, they use cave-like, wide angle strikes capture prey. However, unlike cavefish or dark, rely lateral line mediated mutant vision at from angles. Finally, while do not outcompete pigmented siblings albino light. raises possibility detrimental feeding surface-like lighted environment, but does negative for dark environments. Together, these results demonstrate plays role behavior A. Further, expand our evolution.

Language: Английский

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