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2010 Summer NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium
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Session Time :
8/5/10 1:00 PM - 8/5/10 4:00 PM
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Content Area : Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Program (IMSD)
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Lead Student Presenters : Simona Dereje
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Abstract Title : Selection on Open Field Behavior Affects Feeding Behavior in Observer Orientation in Zebrafish
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Abstract :
The Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a widely-used model species in biomedical research. This experiment uses this model for behavioral comparisons across stressful and non-stressful conditions and includes comparisons across lines, sexes and conditions. These lines include two that were selectively bred for differences in anxiety-related behavior (Proactive and Reactive) and an established laboratory line (AB). Two groups of behavioral measures were used for these comparisons, behavior in response to an observer and latency to feed at the water surface. We found that proactive fish were more likely than reactive fish to be close to the front of the tank (and observer), while orientation to the water surface was not different across lines. Feeding latency was measured under two conditions: with and without disturbance. The disturbance method involves lifting the tank lid three centimeters and dropping it. Disturbance creates a potentially threatening environment and test responses to that across sexes and lines of the fish. We hypothesized that reactive fish would show greater feeding latencies than proactive fish and that the latencies for both groups would increase with disturbance. We found that without disturbance, proactive fish were not different from the reactive and AB fish. However, with disturbance, reactive fish took longer to feed than proactive or AB and females took longer than males regardless of line. Interestingly, latencies decreased with repeated trials, suggesting habituation. These findings support the existence of distinct coping styles and use of zebrafish for identifying genetic and neurobiological contributions to anxiety-related behavior.
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Mentor and/or Co-Author : John R. Godwin
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