Lateral line morphology, sensory perception and collective behaviour in African cichlid fish

Scott, Elliott; Edgley, Duncan E.; Smith, Alan; Joyce, Domino A.; Genner, Martin J.; Ioannou, Christos C.; Hauert, Sabine

Abstract

The lateral line system of fishes provides cues for collective behaviour, such as shoaling, but it remains unclear how anatomical lateral line variation leads to behavioural differences among species. Here we studied associations between lateral line morphology and collective behaviour using two morphologically divergent species and their second-generation hybrids. We identify collective behaviours associated with variation in canal and superficial lateral line morphology, with closer proximities to neighbouring fish associated with larger canal pore sizes and fewer superficial neuromasts. A mechanistic understanding of the observed associations was provided by hydrodynamic modelling of an artificial lateral line sensor, which showed that simulated canal-based neuromasts were less susceptible to saturation during unidirectional movement than simulated superficial neuromasts, while increasing the canal pore size of the simulated lateral line sensor elevated sensitivity to vortices shed by neighbouring fish. Our results propose a mechanism behind lateral line flow sensing during collective behaviour in fishes.

Citation

Scott, E., Edgley, D. E., Smith, A., Joyce, D. A., Genner, M. J., Ioannou, C. C., & Hauert, S. (2023). Lateral line morphology, sensory perception and collective behaviour in African cichlid fish. Royal Society Open Science, 10(1), Article 221478. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221478

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 14, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 25, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2023
• Journal: Royal Society Open Science
• Electronic ISSN: 2054-5703
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 221478
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221478
• Keywords: Bioinspiration; Cichlids; Sensors; Lateral line; Collective behaviour
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4194538
• Publisher URL: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.221478