Skip to main content
Log in

The response of a bumblebee goby, Brachygobius sabanus, to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

Brachygobius sabanus move less often and spend less time swimming when they detect chemicals released from injured conspecifics. This resembles the alarm response found in ostariophysan fishes, darters, and at least one other gobiid. Chemicals from injured Poecilia reticulata do not induce an alarm response in B. sabanus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References cited

  • Frisch, K. von. 1938. Zur Psychologie des Fisch-Schwarmes. Naturwissenschaften 26: 601–606.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, B.J. & R.J.F. Smith. 1989. The behavioral response of solitary fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, to alarm substance. J. Chem. Ecol. 15: 209–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J.S. 1984. Fishes of the World. 2nd edition. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 523 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, W. 1977. The distribution of fright reaction and alarm substance cells in fishes. Copeia 1977: 653–665.

  • Pfeiffer, W. 1982. Chemical signals in communication. pp. 306–326. In: T.J. Hara (ed.) Chemoreception in Fishes, Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radabaugh, D.C. 1989. Seasonal colour changes and shifting antipredator tactics in darters. J. Fish Biol. 34: 679–685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahel, F.J. & R.A. Stein. 1988. Complex predator-prey interactions and predator intimidation among crayfish, piscivorous fish, and small benthic fish. Oecologia (Berlin) 75: 94–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratner, S.C. 1967. Comparative aspects of hypnosis. pp. 550–587. In: J.E. Gordon (ed.) Handbook of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehnberg, B.G., R.J.F. Smith & B.D. Sloley. 1987. The reaction of pearl dace (Pisces, Cyprinidae) to alarm substance: time-course of behavior, brain amines, and stress physiology. Can. J. Zool. 65: 2916–2921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, S. 1956. Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York. 312 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. 1979. Alarm reaction of Iowa and johnny darters (Etheostoma, Percidae, Pisces) to chemicals from injured conspecifics. Can. J. Zool. 57: 1278–1282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. 1981. Effect of food deprivation on the reaction of Iowa darters (Etheostoma exile) to skin extract. Can. J. Zool. 59: 558–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. 1982. Reaction of Percina nigrofasciata, Ammocrypta beani, and Etheostoma swaini (Percidae, Pisces) to conspecific and intergeneric skin extracts. Can. J. Zool. 60: 1067–1072.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. 1986. The evolution of chemical alarm signals in fishes. pp. 99–115. In: D. Duvall, D. Müller-Schwarze & R.M. Silverstein (ed.) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 4, Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. 1989. The response of Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis (Pisces, Gobiidae) to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics, an alarm response in gobies. Ethology 81: 279–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.J.F. & M.J. Smith. 1989. Predator-recognition behaviour in two species of gobies, Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis. Ethology 83: 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jan, R., Smith, F. & Lawrence, B.J. The response of a bumblebee goby, Brachygobius sabanus, to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics. Environ Biol Fish 34, 103–108 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004789

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004789

Key words

Navigation