Does evolutionary na?vet? explain the anti-predator response of the Moapa White River Springfish (Crenichthys baileyi moapae)?

Authors: Bridger Scraper, Sekhar A., Cody Anderson, Shawn Goodchild, Brian Wisenden, Craig Stockwell

Year: 2021

Abstract

The evolutionary na?vet? hypothesis has been invoked to explain the impacts of non-native predators on various desert fishes. In a previous study, the endangered Pahrump poolfish, Empetrichthys latos, did not respond to conspecific alarm cues, a finding consistent with the evolutionary na?vet? hypothesis. Here, we present data on conspecific alarm cue responses of the Moapa White River springfish, Crenichthys baileyi moapae, one of the closest living relatives to the Pahrump poolfish. We studied the response of MWR springfish to alarm cue created from the epithelial tissues of conspecifics. Vertical position in the water column was recorded for 5 minutes before (pre-stimulus) and after (post-stimulus) the introduction of either alarm cue or distilled water (control). Springfish did not respond to the control stimulus, but consistently responded to alarm cue by lowering their position to the bottom of the water column. The results suggest that, unlike the endangered Pahrump poolfish, Moapa White River springfish have retained antipredator behavior related to conspecific chemical alarm cues.