| Grant number: | 12/06104-0 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| Start date: | August 01, 2012 |
| End date: | July 31, 2016 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior |
| Principal Investigator: | Gilson Luiz Volpato |
| Grantee: | Caroline Marques Maia |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 12/24433-0 - Importance of preference for environmental items for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, BE.EP.DR |
Abstract Preference tests have been used and proposed in the literature to identify comfort conditions for the animals. In such tests, items preferred by the animals are inferred from momentary choices. Moreover, such choice tests are usually investigated in group of animals, but less frequently at the individual level. However, we recently demonstrated (Maia, 2012) that choices are different from preferences (consistent choices over time). We also found in that study an evident intraspecific variability in the choices. The following step is to know whether conditions fish prefer (consistently over days) are consistent with their motivation to get these conditions. We will investigate this question in the fish Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a species that defend territory against intruders. Firstly, we will apply choice tests for 10 consecutive days (based on Maia, 2012) to determine preferred and non-preferred conditions for each individual. In these tests, we will investigate choice for 4 background colors (also based on Maia 2012). Thus, we will apply motivation test to evaluate how the fish efforts to get its preferred condition compared to the non-preferred condition. Such a test consists in the presentation of the choice options (preferred and non-preferred, as detected above) separated from the animals by transparent doors that can be opened only partially, so that the animal cannot reach the goal. The motivation for the tested items will be evaluated from the frequency fish forces the doors. We estimate a minimum of 15 fish. Additionally, we will investigate this same question in other fish species and also in relation to motivation by psychological effort test (go in an aversive open area) to assess the preferred item. Such tests will be conducted during the program BEPE, in the USA, in Dr. Victoria Braithwaite's labs. (AU) | |
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