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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
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Behavioral Evidence for a Chemical Disturbance Cue in Bat Rays (Myliobatis californica).

Joshua Bowman1,2,3, Jamie M Cornelius4, Alexandra Schoen5

  • 1Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology
|June 11, 2026
PubMed
Summary

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Bat rays (Myliobatis californica) increase activity when exposed to waterborne cues from distressed conspecifics, indicating a predator-avoidance response. This study reveals a new communication method in elasmobranchs, enhancing understanding of marine predator behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Ethology
  • Chemical Ecology

Background:

  • Waterborne chemical cues are vital for anti-predator strategies in teleost fish.
  • Elasmobranchs' use of such cues for predation risk communication remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate behavioral and physiological responses of Bat rays (Myliobatis californica) to simulated predation disturbance cues.
  • To determine if Bat rays detect and react to waterborne signals from distressed conspecifics.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental manipulation of an upstream conspecific Bat ray simulating a non-injurious predation disturbance.
  • Monitoring activity levels (velocity, swimming behavior) and physiological stress markers (glucose, lactate, etc.) in receiving Bat rays.
  • Comparison of behavioral and physiological data between experimental and control groups.
Keywords:
alarm cueanti‐predator behaviorchemical signalingdisturbance cueelasmobranchflight response

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Main Results:

  • Receiving Bat rays significantly increased velocity (~21%) and shifted towards active swimming behaviors.
  • Control rays showed no significant changes in activity levels.
  • No significant differences were observed in physiological stress markers between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Bat rays exhibit a flight-type response to waterborne disturbance cues from conspecifics, suggesting a novel anti-predator communication mechanism in elasmobranchs.
  • This finding expands our understanding of elasmobranch behavior and sensory ecology.