The importance of stable schooling: do familiar sticklebacks stick together? Export

@article{citeulike:4511244, abstract = {Preferences for rejoining shoals composed of familiar individuals have recently been documented in a variety of small, shallow-water fish species. Such preferences are assumed to be adaptive, since familiar groups have improved anti-predator defences and more stable dominance hierarchies. However, the design of these studies may have created conditions that elevate preferences for familiar individuals. Furthermore, in natural habitats, where significant opportunities for inter-shoal transfer may exist, it is unclear whether shoals stay together long enough for such preferences to develop. Here we present the results of a laboratory study examining whether prior familiarity influences the subsequent shoal composition of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) allowed to re-assort freely in a large arena tank. We show that fish from different familiarity groups associate with familiar conspecifics significantly more than predicted by a model of random assortment, suggesting that even when there is ample opportunity for inter-group transfer, shoal composition can remain stable. We discuss the phenomena that may lead to the formation of familiar groups in natural habitats. In addition, we suggest that familiarity benefits may reduce the relative value of transferring to otherwise more attractive (e.g. larger or more phenotypically matched) groups, and thereby stabilize shoal structure.}, author = {Barber, L. and Ruxton, G. D.}, citeulike-article-id = {4511244}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.0980}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10687820}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=10687820}, day = {22}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2000.0980}, issn = {0962-8452}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society}, keywords = {assortment, familiarity, fish, stickleback}, month = {January}, number = {1439}, pages = {151--155}, posted-at = {2009-05-14 04:03:48}, priority = {2}, title = {The importance of stable schooling: do familiar sticklebacks stick together?}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.0980}, volume = {267}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4511244 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4511244 N2 - Preferences for rejoining shoals composed of familiar individuals have recently been documented in a variety of small, shallow-water fish species. Such preferences are assumed to be adaptive, since familiar groups have improved anti-predator defences and more stable dominance hierarchies. However, the design of these studies may have created conditions that elevate preferences for familiar individuals. Furthermore, in natural habitats, where significant opportunities for inter-shoal transfer may exist, it is unclear whether shoals stay together long enough for such preferences to develop. Here we present the results of a laboratory study examining whether prior familiarity influences the subsequent shoal composition of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) allowed to re-assort freely in a large arena tank. We show that fish from different familiarity groups associate with familiar conspecifics significantly more than predicted by a model of random assortment, suggesting that even when there is ample opportunity for inter-group transfer, shoal composition can remain stable. We discuss the phenomena that may lead to the formation of familiar groups in natural habitats. In addition, we suggest that familiarity benefits may reduce the relative value of transferring to otherwise more attractive (e.g. larger or more phenotypically matched) groups, and thereby stabilize shoal structure. IS - 1439 JF - Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society SN - 0962-8452 EP - 155 TI - The importance of stable schooling: do familiar sticklebacks stick together? VL - 267 SP - 151 KW - assortment KW - familiarity KW - fish KW - stickleback AU - Barber, L AU - Ruxton, GD PY - 2000/01/22/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.0980 ER -