Variation in anti-predator behavior among five strains of inbred guppies, Poecilia reticulata.

Behav Genet

Department of Biology and the Center for the Integrative Study of Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

Published: September 2006

Quantitative genetic studies frequently utilize inbred strains of animals as tools for partitioning the direct and indirect effects of genes from environmental effects in generating an observed phenotype, however, this approach is rarely applied to behavioral studies. Guppies, Poecilia reticulata, perform a set of anti-predator behaviors that may provide an ideal system to study how complex behavioral traits are generated. To assess the utility of ornamental guppies in quantitative genetics studies of behavior, we assayed five morphologically distinct strains of ornamental guppies for response to predator cues and for variation in response among strains. Despite individual variation, all five strains responded to predator cues and differences among strains were found for all assayed behaviors, including measures of boldness and predator avoidance.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-005-9044-5DOI Listing

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