Stress responses to conspecific visual cues of predation risk in zebrafish

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T15:45:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-09-04 Universidade de Passo Fundo Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Chemical communication relating to predation risk is a trait common among fish species. Prey fish under threat of predation can signal risk to conspecific fish, which then exhibit defensive responses. Fish also assess predation risk by visual cues and change their behavior accordingly. Here, we explored whether these behavioral changes act as visual alarm signals to conspecific fish that are not initially under risk. We show that shoals of zebrafish (Danio rerio) visually exposed to a predator display antipredator behaviors. In addition, these defensive maneuvers trigger antipredator reactions in conspecifics and, concomitantly, stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis, leading to cortisol increase. Thus, we conclude that zebrafish defensive behaviors act as visual alarm cues that induce antipredator and stress response in conspecific fish. Univ Fed Santa Maria, Programa Posgrad Farmacol, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Univ Passo Fundo, Biosci Inst, Passo Fundo, Brazil Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Biol Sci, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biosci, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Passo Fundo, Programa Posgrad Bioexpt, Passo Fundo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biosci, Botucatu, SP, Brazil CNPq: 470260/2013 CNPq: 301992/2014-2