Blood Cues Induce Antipredator Behavior in Nile Tilapia Conspecifics

Autor(es)

Barreto, Rodrigo Egydio ^[1] ; Miyai, Caio Akira ^[1] ; Carretero Sanches, Fabio Henrique ^[1] ; Giaquinto, Percilia Cardoso ^[1] ; Delicio, Helton Carlos ^[1] ; Volpato, Gilson Luiz ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Fisiol, Inst Biociencias, BR-18618970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 1 JAN 18 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 18

Resumo

In this study, we show that the fish Nile tilapia displays an antipredator response to chemical cues present in the blood of conspecifics. This is the first report of alarm response induced by blood-borne chemical cues in fish. There is a body of evidence showing that chemical cues from epidermal `club' cells elicit an alarm reaction in fish. However, the chemical cues of these `club' cells are restricted to certain species of fish. Thus, as a parsimonious explanation, we assume that an alarm response to blood cues is a generalized response among animals because it occurs in mammals, birds and protostomian animals. Moreover, our results suggest that researchers must use caution when studying chemically induced alarm reactions because it is difficult to separate club cell cues from traces of blood. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/11319-0 - Sinalização química no sistema presa-predador na tilápia-do-Nilo: da ecologia comportamental à aquicultura
• Beneficiário: Rodrigo Egydio Barreto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular