Event Title
Determining If Louisiana Populations of Sheepshead Minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) Practice Intra-Species Cleaning Behavior or Lepidophagy and Documenting Behavioral Interactions
Faculty Mentor
Martin T. O’Connell
Location
Farrar Hall, Room 133
Session
Session 5
Start Date
20-4-2012 1:15 PM
End Date
20-4-2012 2:15 PM
Description
Previous research suggested a freshwater fish, the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) practiced cleaning behavior similar to that observed in coral reef fishes (Able 1976). Cleaning behavior was initiated when an individual fish assumed a ‘head-up’ position (Able 1976). I investigated Louisiana populations of C. variegatus to determine if they behaved similarly. I recorded the behavior of 30 males and 30 females of C. variegatus under laboratory conditions, and compared male-male, female-female, and male-female interactions. My results suggest that these fish are not cleaning one another. Their behavior more likely represents either courtship or dominance activity depending upon gender.
Determining If Louisiana Populations of Sheepshead Minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) Practice Intra-Species Cleaning Behavior or Lepidophagy and Documenting Behavioral Interactions
Farrar Hall, Room 133
Previous research suggested a freshwater fish, the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) practiced cleaning behavior similar to that observed in coral reef fishes (Able 1976). Cleaning behavior was initiated when an individual fish assumed a ‘head-up’ position (Able 1976). I investigated Louisiana populations of C. variegatus to determine if they behaved similarly. I recorded the behavior of 30 males and 30 females of C. variegatus under laboratory conditions, and compared male-male, female-female, and male-female interactions. My results suggest that these fish are not cleaning one another. Their behavior more likely represents either courtship or dominance activity depending upon gender.