Synopsis
This study tested the hypothesis that visual contact between fish may result in enhanced rates of growth in a schooling fish. Juvenile chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, were held singly and reared in isolation or in visual contact with conspecifics. Fish were fed at either a low (6% body weight d−1) or high (20% body weight d−1) ration for 42d. Specific rates of weight gain were 18% greater at low ration and 38% greater at high ration for fish in visual contract with conspecifics than for those held in isolation. The results demonstrate a selective advantage of visual cues associated with schooling behavior and suggest that the efficacy of growth models for schooling fishes may be enhanced by the consideration of social interactions which may facilitate growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Baird, T.A., C.H. Ryer & B.L. Olla. 1991. Social enhancement of foraging on an ephemeral food source in juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma. Env. Biol. Fish. 31: 307–311.
Brown, M.E. 1946. The growth of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linn.) I. Factors influencing the growth of trout fry. J. Exp. Biol. 22: 118–129.
Cui, Y. & R.J. Wootton. 1989. Grouping fails to affect the growth and energy budget of a cyprinid, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.). J. Fish Biol. 34: 795–798.
Davis, M.W. & B.L. Olla. 1987. Aggression and variation in growth of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) juveniles in seawater: effects of limited rations. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 192–197.
Farr, J.A. & J. Travis. 1989. The effect of ontogenetic experience on variation in growth, maturation, and sexual behavior in the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna (Pisces: Poeciliidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 26: 39–48.
Gröbe, H. 1968. Optische and chemische Einflüsse der Besiedlungsdichte auf das Wachstum von Xiphophorus helleri guentheri (Jordan und Evermann). Zool. Jb. Physiol. 74: 233–245.
Jobling, M. 1985. Physiological and social constraints on growth of fish with special reference to Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L. Aquaculture 44: 83–90.
Jobling, M. & T.G. Reinsnes. 1986. Physiological and social constraints on growth of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L.: an investigation of factors leading to stunting. J. Fish Biol. 28: 379–384.
Kanda, T. & Y. Itazawa. 1978. Group effects on physiological and ecological phenomenon in fish-II group effect on the growth of medaka. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish. 44: 1197–1200.
Koebele, B.P. 1985. Growth and the size hierarchy effect: an experimental assessment of three proposed mechanisms; activity differences, disproportionate food acquisition, physiological stress. Env. Biol. Fish. 12: 181–188.
Magnuson, J.J. 1962. An analysis of aggressive behavior, growth, and competition for food and space in medaka (Oryzias latipes) (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae). Can. J. Zool. 40: 313–363.
Metcalfe, N.B. 1986. Intraspecific variation in competitive ability and food intake in salmonids: consequences for energy budgets and growth rates. J. Fish Biol. 28: 525–531.
Olla, B.L. & C. Samet. 1974. Fish-to-fish attraction and the facilitation of feeding behavior as mediated by visual stimuli in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 31: 1621–1630.
Pitcher, T.J. 1986. Functions of shoaling behaviour in teleosts. pp. 294–337. In: T.J. Pitcher(ed.) The Behaviour of Teleost Fishes, The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Ruzzante, D.E. & R.W. Doyle. 1990. Behavioural and growth responses to the intensity of intraspecific social interaction among medaka, Oryzias latipes (Temminck and Schlegel) (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae). J. Fish Biol. 37: 663–673.
Ryer, C.H. & B.L. Olla. 1991. Information transfer and the facilitation and inhibition of feeding in a schooling fish. Env. Biol. Fish. 30: 317–323.
Sokal, R.R. & F.J. Rohlf. 1969. Biometry, W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco. 776 pp.
Stirling, H.P. 1977. Growth, food utilization and effect of social interaction in the European bass Dicentrarchus labrax. Mar. Biol. 40: 173–184.
Wilson, E.O. 1975. Sociobiology, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge. 98 pp.
Wirtz, P. 1974. The influence of the sight of a conspecific on the growth of Blennius pholis (Pisces Teleostei). J. Comp. Physiol. 91: 161–165.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davis, M.W., Olla, B.L. The role of visual cues in the facilitation of growth in a schooling fish. Environ Biol Fish 34, 421–424 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004746
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004746