Effects of group size on the responsiveness of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton Buchanan), to alanine, a chemical attractant

Previous studies have examined the effects of grouping on the locating (search) phase of foraging and feeding behaviour in fishes. Few studies have examined whether schooling in fishes may facilitate individual foraging by enhancing a group's responsiveness to food odours. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of increasing group size on the responsiveness of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton Buchanan), to L-alanine, an amino acid which is an important constituent of prey odours for many fishes. Based on the results of previous studies, either an increasing or decreasing linear relationship or a unimodal (convex or concave) relationship between responsiveness and group size was expected; the results, however, were bimodal. Groups of four fish were most responsive to alanine, as determined by the mean percentage of occurrences of fish in the area of a behavioural arena (an octagonal fluviarium) into which alanine was infused (at 10⁻³, 10⁻⁴, or 10⁻⁵ M). Groups of two, six and eight fish were significantly less responsive ( P < 0.05) than either groups of four fish or individual fish. The responses of groups of two, six and eight fish were not significantly different from each other.