根田鼠攻击行为模式及其进化稳定对策分析

在捕食和附加食物交互作用条件下 ,测定根田鼠种群攻击水平与种群参数之间的关系 ,应用对策论分析攻击行为的模式。通过观测 1 6 5对实验个体的攻击行为 ,发现体重和繁殖特征决定根田鼠个体的攻击水平。体重较大个体及繁殖个体的攻击频次最高。攻击水平的性别差异显著。Kruskal- Wallis单侧秩方差检验结果表明 ,雄体攻击水平显著高于雌体。攻击水平与种群密度呈负相关关系 ,但不显著。与留居个体比较 ,扩散个体的攻击性弱。高质量的附加食物可降低根田鼠的攻击水平 ,捕食者的存在不直接影响攻击水平。根田鼠的攻击行为属仪式化非伤害行为。ESS的鹰 -鸽对策模型分析结果与实验结果一致 :不同处理种群 ESS集的鹰型对策者比例有显著差异 ,环境条件愈差 ,取胜的价值愈大 ,种群中鹰型对策者比例愈高。有捕食者、无附加食物( P,- F)种群的环境条件最差 ,鹰型对策者比例最高 ,为 0 .4 0 ;次为无捕食者、无附加食物 (- P,- F)种群 ,为 0 .33;有捕食者、有附加食物 ( P, F)种群 ,为 0 .1 8;无捕食者、有附加食物 (- P, F)种群的环境条件最优越 ,鹰型对策者比例最低 ,为0 .1 7。验证了捕食和食物交互效应能改变田鼠类动物攻击行为格局及对策模式的假设     

体色和社会熟悉度对慈鲷选择集群的影响

为了探究体色和社会熟悉度对慈鲷(Cichlidae)选择集群的影响,以体色呈蓝色的蓝阿里(Sciaenochromis fryeri)为研究对象,体色呈白色的雪鲷(Hindongo socolofi)和体色呈黄色的淡黑镊丽鱼(Labidochromis caeruleus)作为刺激鱼群,通过控制鱼群社会熟悉,测试实验鱼是否与优先偏好的颜色表型发生联系,并观察实验鱼是否更喜欢与偏好的颜色表型但并不熟悉的刺激鱼群联系。结果显示,当刺激鱼群的社会熟悉度没有差异时,个体和群体都更倾向于与偏好的颜色表型鱼群联系;而当刺激鱼群社会熟悉度不同时,个体蓝阿里表现出与社会熟悉度更高的群体联系在一起,但群体实验鱼表现出与偏好的颜色表型联系。研究表明,体色对蓝阿里选择集群的影响要比社会熟悉度更大,并且体色可能是慈鲷重要的集群线索,这为研究鱼群内体色的生态影响(如捕食者-猎物之间的相互作用)奠定了基础。     

饥饿对捕食者鱼和猎物鱼快速启动游泳能力及捕食-逃逸行为的影响

快速启动游泳是鱼类的游泳方式之一,与捕食和逃避敌害行为密切相关。为了考察饥饿对捕食者乌鳢(Channa argus)和猎物麦穗鱼(Pseudorasbora parva)快速启动游泳能力的影响及其与捕食-逃逸行为的关联,在水温(25±1)℃条件下,测定不同饥饿程度乌鳢[0、7、14、28、63(饥饿半致死)d]和麦穗鱼[0、7、14(饥饿半致死)d]的快速启动游泳能力并观测二者组成的捕食对的捕食-逃逸行为。结果表明:乌鳢快速启动的最大线速度(Vmax)、120 ms移动距离(S120ms)和最大线加速度(Amax)均显著大于麦穗鱼(P0.05),而二者的反应时滞(R)无显著差异;两种鱼的各快速启动参数均较保守,仅在半致死组(14 d或63 d)表现出Vmax、S120ms的下降和R的延长(P0.05),其中捕食者反应时滞的变化更为明显而猎物速度变化更为明显;14 d饥饿导致乌鳢捕食麦穗鱼的追击活动增加和成功捕食历时缩短;由于食物可获得性和觅食方式的差异,猎物鱼快速启动能力对饥饿的响应更为敏感,且二者在对策上存在差异;从捕食-逃逸的结果评判,同等程度的饥饿对捕食者可能更为有利。     

饥饿再投喂对大鳞副泥鳅生长性能、肝脏抗氧化能力和肠道消化酶的影响

为探究周期性饥饿再投喂对大鳞副泥鳅(Paramisgurnus dabryanus)生长性能、抗氧化能力和肠道消化酶活性的影响, 实验将初始重一致的大鳞副泥鳅随机分为4组, 每组3个重复, 饲养于12个水箱中, 每箱20尾。采用周期性饥饿2d再投喂4d(S2F4)、周期性饥饿2d再投喂6d(S2F6)、周期性饥饿2d再投喂8d(S2F8)和持续投喂(对照组)4种投喂模式, 投喂30d, 并于第0、第15和第30天收集样本进行检测。结果表明: (1)不同处理对末体长和特定生长率无显著影响(P>0.05), S2F8处理组末体重和增重率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。(2)周期性饥饿再投喂对肥满度、脏体比和肝体比无显著影响(P>0.05)。(3)随饥饿再投喂处理时间增长, S2F6和S2F8组肝脏SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性显著升高; 在第15天, S2F8组SOD活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05), S2F6和S2F8组肝脏CAT活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05), S2F6和S2F8组肝脏GSH-PX活性均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。在第30天, S2F6和S2F8组SOD活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05), S2F6组CAT活性均显著高于对照组(P<0.05), S2F6和S2F8组中GSH-PX活性显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。(4)对肠道消化酶研究发现, 投喂时间对肠道蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性无显著影响。在第30天时, S2F6和S2F8组肠道脂肪酶显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。综上所述, 周期性饥饿再投喂可激发大鳞副泥鳅补偿生长, 引起肝脏抗氧化酶活性增加, 肠道消化酶活性降低。其中S2F8组补偿生长最显著, 且肠道消化酶活性变化程度较小。因此, 为保证饲养效果, 推荐使用S2F8投喂模式。     

捕食风险对不同饥饿状态下艾虎取食行为的影响

在室内条件下,将大鵟作为艾虎的天敌动物,通过双通道选择实验确定6 只成体艾虎在3 个捕食风险水平和4 种饥饿状态条件下的取食行为,探讨艾虎在取食过程中对饥饿风险与捕食风险的权衡策略。研究结果表明:在无捕食风险存在时,艾虎被剥夺食物0 d 和1 d 后对食物量不同的两个斑块中的取食量和利用频次均无明显不同(P > 0. 05),但对高食物量斑块的利用时间均明显高于低食物量斑块的(P <0.05),而艾虎被剥夺食物2 d和3 d后对高食物量斑块中的取食量和利用时间均明显高于低食物量斑块中的(P < 0.05),但在利用频次上均无明显差异(P > 0.05)。在面临低风险时,艾虎在4 种饥饿状态下均只利用无天敌动物存在的低食物量斑块,而基本不利用有天敌动物存在的高食物量斑块。在面临高风险时,艾虎不得不利用有天敌动物存在的食物斑块,被剥夺食物0 d 时艾虎对无风险、无食物量斑块的利用时间基本相同于对高风险、有食物量斑块的利用时间(P>0.05),而被剥夺食物1d、2 d 和3 d 后艾虎对高风险、有食物量斑块的利用时间明显高于无风险、无食物量斑块的(P< 0. 05)。在相同风险条件下,随着饥饿程度增加,艾虎在斑块中的取食量均明显增加(P< 0.05),而对斑块的利用时间和利用频次明显降低(P<0.05)。在相同的饥饿状态下,不同风险水平时,艾虎在斑块中的取食量无明显的差异(P>0.05),但在低风险和高风险时对斑块的利用时间和频次均明显低于无风险时的(P <0.05)。以上结果说明艾虎能够根据食物摄取率和自身的能量需求在捕食风险和饥饿风险之间做出权衡,当饥饿风险小于捕食风险时,艾虎趋于躲避捕食风险,当饥饿风险大于捕食风险时,艾虎趋于面对捕食风险,所采用的取食策略是减少活动时间和能量消耗,最大程度地提高单位时间内获得的能量。     

急性捕食风险不能完全限制饥饿 雌性长爪沙鼠的觅食活动

觅食活动是动物生存和繁殖所必需的基本的活动,受个体生理状态（如饥饿）和环境状况（如捕食、食物可利用性）时空变化的影响,能量状态-风险分配假说指出,动物在应对不同风险时会优化觅食和反捕食努力的时间和能量分配。然而,有关啮齿动物觅食决策的能量状态-捕食风险分配假说的研究结论尚不统一。本研究在野外实验室以艾鼬（Mustela eversmannii）气味作为捕食风险刺激源,以非捕食者（马）气味源作为对照,首先通过Y型观测箱检验雌性饥饿长爪沙鼠（Meriones unguiculatus）对捕食者气味的辨别能力（Wilcoxon 秩检验）;在此基础上通过中立场行为观测箱分别测定饥饿雌鼠在“有食物和天敌气味源”与“有食物和非天敌气味源”环境下的觅食活动,采用Mann-Whitney Z检验比较两者间的行为差异,以验证急性捕食风险限制饥饿沙鼠觅食活动的假设,并探讨动物在饥饿风险与捕食风险共存情况下的觅食行为对策。结果显示,（1）长爪沙鼠对天敌气味反应明显,厌恶和回避有较高潜在捕食风险的空间;（2）虽然觅食潜伏期在捕食风险存在时有所增加,但急性捕食风险并未影响饥饿沙鼠的觅食频次,沙鼠通过缩短每次觅食的持续时间来应对捕食风险;与此同时,（3）饥饿沙鼠在急性捕食风险条件下对环境探究的次数明显增加,一定程度上提高反捕食努力,且自我修饰表现显著,以缓释捕食压力的恐惧效应。这些结果表明,急性捕食风险不能完全抑制饥饿沙鼠的觅食努力,在有捕食风险情况下,饥饿的长爪沙鼠会权衡觅食获取能量和避免捕食的收益和代价,优化觅食策略。本研究结果支持能量状态-风险分配假说关于在短期高风险情况下反捕食努力分配更多,但当动物在饥饿风险持续时间比例显著增加时,动物最终也必须在高风险情况下觅食的预测,也反映了长爪沙鼠对食物资源不可预测及捕食风险高的干旱半干旱荒漠环境的行为适应对策。     

饥饿对牙鲆幼鱼补偿生长、生化组成及能量收支的影响

在水温(23.0±1.0)℃条件下,以鲜杂鱼(x)和配合饲料(P)为饵料,采用室内循环流水的试验方法研究饥饿后再投喂对牙鲆幼鱼补偿生长、生化组成及能量收支模式的影响.结果表明:试验组S1F5、S5F25均表现出完全补偿生长现象,且S1F5组主要通过提高摄食率(FR)来实现补偿生长,而S5F25组主要通过提高食物转化率(FCE)来实现补偿生长;经补偿生长后,各试验组鱼体的生化组成与对照组均无显著差异(P>0.05);经饥饿处理后牙鲆幼鱼生长能占摄食能的比例增加,用于排泄和代谢的比重有所下降.     

营养状态和代谢范围对锦鲫幼鱼群体行为的影响

为考察营养状态和代谢范围对鱼类群体行为的影响,研究以锦鲫(Carassius auratus)幼鱼为实验对象,在(25.4±0.2)℃条件下先测定其摄食代谢和能量代谢(标准代谢率, SMR;最大代谢率, MMR)计算代谢范围(AS=MMR–SMR),再测定5个“营养-AS”处理组的锦鲫鱼群体中的个体空间位置、摄食量及个体特征(如个体游泳速度和加速度)和群体特征(如个体游泳速度同步性、个体间距离、最近邻距离和群体极性)。研究发现:营养状态、饥饿、代谢范围、摄食和消化对鱼群中的个体空间位置均无影响。饥饿和消化对锦鲫群体的凝聚力并无影响,但饥饿降低该种鱼群体协调性的现象仅在消化期间存在,即群体中个体食物获取能力导致消化策略并非相同,由此引发个体游泳运动同步性更加紊乱,最终导致群体协调性下降。在正常营养状态的锦鲫群体中,群体前部的空间可赋予个体获得更多食物资源的生态收益,但饥饿消除该群体中个体空间分布生态收益的异质性。对照组摄食量与摄食水平与预测剩余的AS呈负相关,饥饿组摄食量与摄食水平与预测剩余的AS不相关。研究表明:在正常营养状态的锦鲫群体中,群体前部的空间可赋予个体获得更多食物资源的生态...     

小鼠T型迷宫空间学习模型的建立和教学拓展研究

通过拓展性实验研究,建立小鼠T型迷宫空间学习模型。采用T型迷宫,分别进行食物(A臂)和电(B臂)刺激,观察小鼠进入A臂和B臂的次数百分比以研究小鼠空间学习模型,并采用问卷调查方法评估教学质量。电刺激后随着时间推移小鼠进入A臂次数的百分比逐渐增高,第5天小鼠进入A臂的次数百分比为95%,明显高于第1天(45%)。通过问卷调查,实验满意度为98.11%。通过拓展性实验研究,成功建立小鼠空间学习模型,取得较好的教学效果。     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷群体景观多样性

根据1998年7月到2000年6月闽南-台湾浅滩渔场开展二长棘鲷资源的专项调查资料,以各个渔区CPUE(Catch Per Unit Effort)及其到渔场重心距离为参数,构建基于渔场重心动能的景观要素,运用景观多样性,并结合因子分析,分析了二长棘鲷群体景观多样性的空间格局及其与海洋环境因子之间的关系,探究了种群空间分布格局与生态过程之间的相互作用关系,旨在揭示闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷的生态境况及空间变异特征,为从生态水平上合理综合利用二长棘鲷渔业资源提供新的依据。结果表明:(1)不同月份鱼群的分布特征差别明显,8月鱼群分布范围最广,11月鱼群分布最为均匀,2月和12月鱼群分布最集中,而9月鱼群占据渔场空间能力最强;(2)不同群体之间具有不同分布特征,生殖群体分布范围最小,且最集中,其占据渔场空间能力最弱,幼鱼群体分布范围小,且相对均匀,其占据渔场空间能力强,索饵群体分布范围最广,且较均匀,鱼群分散索饵,其占据渔场空间能力最强,而9—11月群体平均分布范围较广,且最均匀,其占据渔场空间能力较弱;(3)鱼群综合景观指数是具空间结构的CPUE指数,从生态水平上反映了鱼群CPUE,其排名依次为8月、6月、7月、9月、10月、11月、5月、1月、4月、3月、2月、12月;(4)多样性指数、均匀度指数和优势度指数指示的生态学意义分别为鱼群的分布范围、均匀程度和鱼群空间竞争能力,其中多样性指数和均匀度指数呈正相关;(5)水温是影响鱼群景观均匀度的主要因子,索饵是增加鱼群景观多样性和优势度的主要因子,而生殖因子则降低鱼群景观多样性和优势度,水温、索饵和生殖是二长棘鲷群体景观格局变化的主要驱动因素。     

Effects of fasting on collective movement and fission–fusion dynamics in both homogeneous and heterogeneous shoals of a group-living cyprinid fish species

The present study aimed to reveal the effect of fasting (21 days) on collective movement and interaction dynamics in both homogeneous (eight members fed a commercial diet or deprived of food) and heterogeneous (four fed + four starved members) shoals of juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis). The authors of this study measured the shoaling behaviour in both a commonly used rectangular open arena with no spatial complexity and a radial arm maze. When measured in the open arena, the starved shoals had a faster swimming speed and acceleration rate and a longer interindividual distance than the fed shoals, possibly because of the elevated foraging motivation. Nonetheless, the values of the heterogeneous groups were similar to those of the fed groups. Furthermore, in contrast to the fish in homogeneous shoals, the starved fish in heterogeneous shoals showed a slower acceleration rate and speed than fed members in heterogeneous shoals. These results, combined with the relationships of variables at the among- and within-shoal levels, suggested that starved fish limited their motion in heterogeneous shoals to maintain group cohesion but that the fed fish contributed more to maintaining shoal structure, possibly because of the higher energy expenditure required for movement changes. When monitored in a radial arm maze, starved shoals showed more fission–fusion episodes without sacrificing group cohesion, as they adaptively adjusted the frequency and duration of each majority choice. The among-shoal variation revealed that the heterogeneous groups showed less variation in the open arena but more variation in the radius maze than did the homogeneous groups. This difference might arise because dominant members have opposite effects on shoal behaviour and consensus decisions. In conclusion, the present study showed opposite effects of feeding states on collective behaviour between homogeneous and heterogeneous shoals, possibly because of the complicated interactions among members with different energy storage levels and foraging motivations. Furthermore, the heterogeneous groups showed a difference between shoal behaviour in the open area and exploration in the radial arm maze. Future studies manipulating the personality composition of starved and fed members of heterogeneous groups might yield interesting results.     

Inspection behaviour and inter-individual cooperation in juvenile qingbo: the effects of prior predator exposure and food deprivation

The predation pressure and food availability to which individuals are exposed during their life histories shape inspection behaviour in animals. In this study, we aimed to test whether such behaviours varied with prior experience (predation, starvation or both treatments) or measurement condition (with or without the presence of a predator; here, the snakehead fish, Channa argus) in the fish species Spinibarbus sinensis, known as qingbo. Unexpectedly, prior predator experience showed no significant effect on inspection behaviour as demonstrated by either the frequency or the duration of each activity outside shelter or on cooperation as demonstrated by the inter-individual distance or synchronization of speed. This may have been due to the different adjustments in behaviour among individuals (more shelter use vs. more inspection), the predator treatment used in the present study (exposure to caged predator rather than direct predation) and/or a species-specific strategy in the qingbo. The starved fish displayed shorter inspection latency, increased inspection behaviour and greater cooperation when measured without the predator; however, when measured in the presence of the predator, the starved fish showed increased inspection frequency but shorter inspection duration, possibly due to the compromise between energy needs and predation risk. Similar to those of the predation group, the fish from the double-treated group showed no difference in inspection behaviour compared to the control group under the predator-absent condition, while the high-frequency, short-duration inspection behaviours remained the same as in the starved group. These findings suggested that the adjustment of inspection behaviour and related cooperation are rather complicated according to either predator experience or food deprivation, partially due to the inter-individual differences in behavioural adjustment and/or different environmental conditions.     

The effect of hunger, shoal size and the presence of a predator on shoal cohesiveness in bluntnose minnows, Pimephales notatus Rafinesque

Shoals of fish vary in their degree of cohesiveness as certain conditions such as hunger, predation risk and shoal size vary: this study relates this variation to the benefits of shoaling. Shoals of bluntnose minnows, Pimephales notatus Rafinesque, consisting of different numbers of individuals were starved for 5, 24 or 72 h and allowed to forage in the presence or absence of a predator. Cohesiveness was measured as the dispersion offish within the shoal (the radius of the longest axis of the shoal corrected for the number of fish in the shoal), straggle frequency (the number of movements by individuals of at least 5 body lengths away from the shoal) and aggressive interactions between shoal members. Cohesiveness increased as shoal size and the benefits per individual increased. Cohesiveness also increased in the presence of a predator, as did the importance of shoaling as a means of reducing predation risk. Cohesivenes decreased as hunger level increased, possibly as a result of increased competition for food among shoal members.     

The effect of hunger and cestode parasitism on the shoaling decisions of small freshwater fish

Individual minnows Phoxinus phoxinus and three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus were provided with a mutually exclusive choice between joining a shoal of conspecifics and foraging alone in a maze. The shoaling decisions and foraging behaviour of individual fish were studied when the fish were satiated and after 24- and 48-h periods of food deprivation. Hunger level was found to have a significant effect on shoaling behaviour. When satiated, fish of both species spent a greater proportion of time within one body length of the shoal and spent less time out of visual contact with the shoal than after periods of food deprivation. The effect of the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus on the shoaling behaviour of stickleback hosts was complex. When satiated, infected fish spent less time than uninfected fish within one body length of the shoal, preferring to remain outside the shoal, yet within visual contact, although when food deprived there was no difference in the proportion of time spent by infected and uninfected fish close to the shoal. The possible ecological significance of this change in behaviour is discussed with reference to the manipulation hypothesis of host-parasite interactions.     

Turbidity amplifies the non‐lethal effects of predation and affects the foraging success of characid fish shoals

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Prey or predator: 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the trade-off between food and shelter

The 0+ cohort of perch can split into a slow-growing planktivorous and a fast-growing piscivorous cohort during their first months of life. Both cohorts are, however, vulnerable to predation by piscivorous fish. Laboratory experiments were performed to test the behavior of 0+ perch as a predator of cyprinids, and in the trade-off between food and shelter from the threat of predators. In the foraging trials, 0+ perch attacked bream faster than they did carp, and vegetation hampered the aggression against bream. In the second experiment, the habitat selection of two size classes of 0+ perch under the threat of predation was monitored. Overall, vegetation structures were preferred by both size classes of 0+ perch. When small fish were offered to the 0+ perch as food, the open water becomes more attractive. The results of the habitat use trials further show that the two size cohorts of 0+ perch may also differ in their behavior, in that the availability of fish as food becomes more important than the shelter of vegetation structures for the larger perch.     

Context-dependent group size choice in fish

The costs and benefits of group membership vary with the size of groups, and individuals are expected to modify their choice of groups in response to ecological factors such as food availability and predation risk. We experimentally examined context-dependent group size choice in a shoaling fish, the banded killifish, Fundulus diaphanus, by using nondirectional odour cues to simulate a food source or a successful attack by a predator (food or alarm treatments) in the laboratory. Group sizes were significantly smaller in the food treatment and larger in the alarm treatment than in control trials. When presented with food and alarm cues together, fish formed groups that were larger than control groups but smaller than those seen with alarm cues alone. These results are consistent with theoretical predictions based on the known benefits and costs of grouping and with previous laboratory work examining the individual shoal choice behaviour of single fish. To examine possible mechanisms of group formation, we developed an individual-based model of shoaling behaviour in which simulated fish were allowed to modify the area over which they interacted with neighbouring individuals. Group size distributions produced by the model were a good approximation of our experimental data. We suggest that local behavioural interaction rules of this type are a potential mechanism by which fish may individually adjust grouping behaviour without requiring extensive information on the position and movement of all possible shoalmates.     

Effects of nutritional state on the shoaling tendency of banded killifish, Fundulus diaphanus, in the field

Although group living can confer benefits to individuals in terms of reduced predation risk and enhanced foraging success, it may also be associated with costs, such as increased competition for food. The nutritional state of an individual could therefore affect its readiness to join or remain in groups. We investigated the shoaling behaviour of banded killifish by following marked individuals, whose nutritional state had been experimentally manipulated, and recording their shoaling behaviour in a field enclosure containing unmarked conspecifics. Overall, food-deprived fish spent more time alone, and therefore less time shoaling, than well-fed individuals. When shoaling, however, food-deprived fish were not found in smaller shoals than well-fed conspecifics. Furthermore, they did not show a greater latency to shoal initially. Having joined a shoal, however, food-deprived fish left shoals more frequently to be alone than fed fish. Rates of change in the membership size of shoals occupied by either well-fed or food-deprived fish did not differ. We conclude that nutritional state seems to affect an individual's decision to continue shoaling once an association has been made. This study is the first to investigate experimentally state-dependent changes in the size of social groups in fish under field conditions. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.      

Influence of black spot disease on shoaling behaviour in female western mosquitofish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gambusia affinis</Emphasis> (Poeciliidae,Teleostei)

Parasites can fundamentally alter the cost–benefit ratio of living in a group, e.g. if infected individuals increase the predation risk of shoal mates. Here, the effect of an infection with a trematode, Uvulifer sp. (Diplostomatidae) on the shoaling behaviour of female western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, was investigated. The parasite examined causes a direct phenotypical change of the host by forming black spots on its body surface. When given a choice between a stimulus shoal and no shoal, we found shoaling tendencies to be significantly reduced in infected focal fish. In another experiment, we tested for association preferences relative to the infection status of the stimulus fish. Given the choice between an infected and a healthy stimulus fish, both infected and healthy focal fish preferred to associate with non-infected stimulus fish. Our results suggest that (1) the cost–benefit ratio of shoaling might be different for infected and non-infected individuals. Infected fish may be more affected by competition for food within a shoal. (2) Associating with infected conspecifics appears to be costly for female mosquitofish, maybe due to increased predation risk.     

Microhabitat use by a post-settlement stage estuarine fish: evidence from relative abundance and predation among habitats

Seagrass beds provide food and shelter for many fish species. However, the manner in which fishes use seagrass bed habitats often varies with life stage. Juvenile fishes can be especially dependent on seagrass beds because seagrass and associated habitats (drift macroalgae) may provide an effective tradeoff between shelter from predation and availability of prey. This study addressed aspects of habitat use by post-settlement pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides (Linneaus), an abundant and trophically important species in seagrass beds in the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Abundance of post-settlement fish in seagrass beds was positively related to volume of drift macroalgae, but not to percent cover of seagrass, indicating a possible shelter advantage of the spatially complex algae. Tethering experiments indicated higher rates of predation in seagrass without drift macroalgae than in seagrass with drift macroalgae. Aquarium experiments showed lower predation with higher habitat complexity, but differences were only significant for the most extreme cases (unvegetated bottom, highest macrophyte cover). Levels of dissolved oxygen did not differ between vegetated and unvegetated habitats, indicating no physiological advantage for any habitat. Seagrass beds with drift macroalgae provide the most advantageous tradeoff between foraging and protection from predation for post-settlement L. rhomboides. The complex three-dimensional shelter of drift macroalgae provides an effective shelter that is embedded in the foraging habitat provided by seagrass. Drift macroalgae in seagrass beds is a beneficial habitat for post-settlement L. rhomboides by reducing the risk of predation, and by providing post-settlement habitat within the mosaic (seagrass beds) of adult habitat, thus reducing risks associated with ontogenetic habitat shifts.