Abstract:

The antipredator responses of adult and larval fathead minnows Pimephales promelas to chemical alarm cues prepared throughout ontogeny were tested using various behavioural assays. Larval epidermis was also examined during ontogeny using standard haematoxylin and eosin staining techniques. Adults elicited an antipredator response to chemical alarm cue made from larvae as young as 8201317 days post-hatch. Interestingly, larvae did not possess visible club cells until 28201337 days post-hatch and did not respond to conspecific chemical alarm cue until 48201357 days post-hatch. These results suggest that chemical alarm cue may not be contained within club cells and that the components of larval and adult chemical alarm cue may be similar throughout ontogeny.

Notes:

<p>10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02092.x</p>

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