Locomotory activity is more consistent over trials than thigmotaxis and aggressive behaviour in sea-ranched Baltic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

• In the current study we examined the behavioural consistency over time of activity, boldness and aggressive behaviour in Baltic salmon (Salmo salar L) parr. We performed a combined open field and mirror stimulation test on two test occasions, recording three behavioural variables: duration moving in the whole arena (activity), duration in centre zone (boldness) and distance between nose and mirror (aggression) during the mirror stimulation test. Of these behavioural variables activity proved the most consistent between trials. Moreover, the fish that displayed least aggressive behaviour in the first trial had the largest variance in their behavioural variables compared to highly aggressive fish, which showed more consistent levels of the behavioural variables. Overall, aggression level in the first test was a strong predictor of the other behavioural variables, in addition to significant effects of water temperature and body weight. In conclusion, our results show that juvenile Baltic salmon classified according to aggression level during the first test also differ in other aspects of their behavioural profile, and highly aggressive salmon are less phenotypically plastic compared to low aggressive fish. 

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Etologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Behavioural Sciences Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

aggression

activity

Salmo salar

open field test

mirror stimulation test

phenotypic plasticity

repeated testing

consistency

repeatability

Biology with specialization in Comparative Physiology

Biologi med inriktning mot jämförande fysiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)