Short-term Captivity Drives Hypothalamic Plasticity and Asymmetry in Wild-Caught Northern Red Bellied Dace (Chrosomus eos).

J Fish Biol. 2020 May 23;:

Authors: Joyce BJ, Brown GE

Abstract

Teleost fish are neuroplastic and are known to alter their brain morphology and behavior in response to environmental change such as an increase in predation pressure. The hypothalamus plays a key role in regulating behavioural responses to predation risk. In our study, wild-caught northern red bellied dace (Chrosomus eos) developed smaller and less symmetric hypothalami when held in captivity for fourteen days; both measures correlated with boldness in a latency to emerge test. Our results highlight the potential impact of short-term holding conditions on brains and behaviour. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 32447778 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]