No sibling odor preference in juvenile three-spined sticklebacks

Citation
N. Steck et al., No sibling odor preference in juvenile three-spined sticklebacks, BEH ECOLOGY, 10(5), 1999, pp. 493-497
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
ISSN journal
10452249 → ACNP
Volume
10
Issue
5
Year of publication
1999
Pages
493 - 497
Database
ISI
SICI code
1045-2249(199909/10)10:5<493:NSOPIJ>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Laboratory-bred juvenile three-spined sticklebacks from II sibships did not prefer to shoal with their siblings when they were offered the choice betw een odor from unfamiliar siblings and non-kin in a fluviarium, although the power for finding a significant preference was very high (0.99). The test fish preferred the side where odor from the heavier shoal was supplied; thi s shows that they could appreciate odor cues from conspecifics in our appar atus and should have preferred their siblings if such a preference exists. Our results are compatible with theoretical predictions but are at variance with previous findings by other authors. We used independent replicates in a blind protocol with strict randomization of fish and procedures.