Effects of predation pressure on the cognitive ability of the poeciliid Brachyraphis episcopi |
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Authors: | Brown Culum; Braithwaite Victoria A |
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Institution: | Institute of Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK |
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Abstract: | Variable levels of predation pressure are known to have significantimpacts on the evolutionary ecology of different populationsand can affect life-history traits, behavior, and morphology.To date, no studies have directly investigated the impact ofpredation pressure on cognitive ability. Here we use a systemof replicate rivers, each with sites of high- and low-predationpressure, to investigate how this ecological variable affectslearning ability in a tropical poeciliid, Brachyraphis episcopi.We used a spatial task to assess the cognitive ability of eightpopulations from four independent streams (four high- and fourlow-predation populations). The fish were required to locatea foraging patch in one of four compartments by utilizing spatialcues. Fish from areas of low-predation pressure had shorterforaging latencies, entered fewer compartments before discoveringthe reward patch and navigated more actively within the maze,than fish from high-predation sites. The difference in performanceis discussed with reference to forage patch predictability,inter- and intraspecific foraging competition, geographic variationin predation pressure, boldnessshyness traits, and brainlateralization. |
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Keywords: | Brachyraphis episcopi cognition evolution poeciliids predators prey |
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