Ay. Zhuikov et al., LEARNING OF YOUNG GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS-AUR ATUS) IN STABLE AND FLUCTUATING ENVIRONMENT, Zurnal obsej biologii, 55(4-5), 1994, pp. 633-642
Learning performance in fishes, being variable within a species, affec
ts sufficiently efficiency of their feeding and antipredator behavior.
Hypotheses of the relation between learning estimates obtained during
active avoidance and feeding reinforcement are tested in a number of
experiments on individual screening of the goldfish sibs (24 individua
ls of 2 months old). In the latter case, screening was conducted in bo
th stable and fluctuating environment. Those individuals which success
fully learned active avoidance, less did so in respect of searching un
iformly dispersed food but was faster in searching food patch with cha
nging localization. Two kinds of individuals could be recognized even
among sibs: 1) those who are successful in gaining and using habits in
stable environments, and 2) those who are more successful in the sear
ch/avoidance in fluctuating (unpredictable) environment. These finding
s are discussed from the viewpoint of optimal foraging theory and mode
rn concepts of the animal searching behaviour.