Laboratory Class Project: Using a Cichlid Fish Display Tank to Teach Students about Complex Behavioral Systems

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Ichthyology

Background:

• Laboratory activities are crucial for undergraduate science education.
• Behavioral observations can illuminate neuronal-level changes in neuroscience.
• Understanding social hierarchies in fish provides insights into dominance and growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence of a social hierarchy in a tank of cichlid fish.
• To determine if fish dominance rank correlates with body size, as predicted by prior research.
• To assess the utility of behavioral observations in undergraduate neuroscience labs.

Main Methods:

• Focal sampling and behavior sampling were used to record aggressive acts among the four largest cichlid fish.
• Data were collected to establish a rank order based on observed social interactions.
• The study design aimed to link social position to physical growth and size.

Main Results:

• A potential social dominance hierarchy was identified, with a rank order of Fish A > Fish B > Fish D > Fish C.
• The largest fish (Fish A) appeared to be at the top of the hierarchy.
• Contrary to predictions, a larger fish (Fish C) was ranked lower than a smaller fish (Fish D).

Conclusions:

• The data suggest a social dominance hierarchy influences fish interactions and potentially growth.
• The observed hierarchy did not perfectly align with fish size, indicating complexity in dominance dynamics.
• The laboratory exercise was successful, providing valuable learning experiences and suggestions for future improvements.