Performance of cyprinids in non-reversing mirrors versus regular mirrors in tests of aggressiveness
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Performance of cyprinids in non‑reversing mirrors versus regular mirrors in tests of aggressiveness Pavla Hubená1 · Pavel Horký1 · Ondřej Slavík1 Received: 7 February 2020 / Accepted: 5 October 2020 © Japan Ethological Society 2020
Abstract Mirror tests have been used to test aggressiveness because they reduce the variability of the real opponent and allows for repeated measurements. Regular mirrors have also several disadvantages due to the inability to display a head-to-tail position during lateralization. Recently, a method using a non-reversing mirror was developed, which eliminated this disadvantage, but was tested in a single species only. The present study reflects the need for validating the non-reversing mirror test in other species, represented by chub (Squalius cephalus L.) in the present study, due to species-specific manifestations of aggressiveness. The prediction that a non-reversing mirror would lead to more aggressive interactions than a regular mirror in chub was confirmed. The durations of aggressive interactions were longer in fish exposed to the regular mirror test with specific significance in case of the frontal and the lateral displays. The individuals maintained the same level of aggressiveness throughout both tests, suggesting that both tests are valid for testing the aggressiveness. Nevertheless, due to higher number of interactions performed, a non-reversing mirror may offer a stronger stimulus and could represent a real contest better than the regular mirror. Therefore, the non-reversing mirror test should be recommended for use in future studies. Keywords Agonistic behaviour · Fish · Contest · Methods · Lateralization
Introduction Aggressiveness is one of the five behavioural axes with serious consequences for an individual’s reproductive success (Ariyomo and Watt 2012). Wild populations usually contain members with either significantly higher or lower levels of aggressiveness, forming active and passive behavioural strategies (Benus 1988). Laboratory tests have found that individuals with higher aggressiveness up to a certain limit have better mating success (Sih et al. 2014). However, an animal can spend only a specific amount of energy on aggressiveness and can withstand only a certain amount of injury (Briffa and Sneddon 2007; Payne 1998). Therefore, the individuals have to balance benefits and costs of Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-020-00679-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Pavla Hubená [email protected] 1
Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6‑Suchdol, Czech Republic
their aggressiveness level to gain the most from specific situations. The information obtained from behavioural experiment is significantly shaped by the method used (Earley et al. 2000). Several standardized tests of aggressiveness are available with the common aim to represent the conditions of real enviro
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