Behavioral Consequences of Artificial Introduction of Guppies

Schooling Behavior

Inspection Behavior

Populations Tested

Allowed 15 min to explore the tank, before a model predator was placed in the tank, 14 cm long, which looked similar to the pike cichlid ( C. alta)

Observed how the test individual interacted with the predator. Whether it was watching the predator the whole time, or trying to avoid it.

Inspection Behavior also used one plastic bottle with a school of 6 guppies in it.

Results

Schooling Behavior was measured using 2 plastic bottles. One with a school of about 6 guppies, and the other empty.

The individual was allowed 15 min to explore the tank

This was tested for each sex and population with a max of 24 times

Results

Broken down into three groups: Predation Régime, present-day drainage,and drainage of origin

Guanapo, Lower and Upper Aripo, Quare, Turure (Valencia Rd) and (Cumaca Rd), and Oropuchc

Seven Guppy populations were tested

The River Aripo and River Turure both schooled less, being upstream with low predationm verusus the downstream high predation relatives

Oropuche had lower schooling tenancies, with the Quare females, when looking at other populations with high predation

Schooling behavior varied among populations.

The behavior was also tested to see if the guppy was on the same side as the school of fish

The Aripo and Turure who are normally found downstream, stayed on the same side as the school of guppies. As opposed to the upstream relatives who spent most of the time on the other side of the tank

The Quare and Oropuche guppies remained mostly on the school side, versus the other guppies from high predation populations

Inspection behavior varied among populations as well.

In all populations, all females where more apprehensive than the males to approach the predator.