Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 14(3), С. 233 - 233

Опубликована: Фев. 25, 2025

As an anti-predation behavior, shoaling enhances survival among prey species by reducing individual predation risk through mechanisms like the dilution effect and collective vigilance. Zebrafish—a highly social genetically tractable species—are valuable for studying these behaviors. The present study examined zebrafish’s preferences in a 3-chamber open-tank free-swim task, assessing whether visual cues alone could distinguish between intact alarmed shoal exposed to synthetic alarm substance H3NO. Subjects were allowed freely associate with either while their behaviors recorded analyzed. results reveal significant preference proximity shoal, indicating ability visually discern threat levels. spent nearly twice as much time zone near reduced freezing faster movement velocities compared zone. Males exhibited more behavior than females, consistent sex-specific strategies response. These findings underscore reliance on responding under predatory highlight sex-based differences perception. This research expands understanding of dynamics provides robust framework future exploration neural underlying assessment zebrafish.

Язык: Английский