Conference Paper
Evolutionary shift towards lateral line dependent prey-capture in the Mexican Cavefish
Lloyd, E., Olive, C., Stahl, B.A., Jaggard, J.B., Amaral, P., Duboué, E.R. and Keene, A.C.
Record Number:
4290
Year:
2019
Journal:
AIM 2019
Pages:
42
Abstract:
Feeding strategies are dependent on multi-modal sensory processing that integrates visual,
chemosensory, and mechanoreceptive cues. In many fish species, local environments and food
availability dramatically influence the evolution of sensory and morphological traits that underlie
feeding. The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, have developed robust changes in sensorydependent
behaviors, but the impact on prey-detection and feeding behavior is not known. In the
absence of eyes, cavefish have evolved enhanced sensitivity of the lateral line, comprised of
mechanosensory organs that sense water flow and detect prey. Here, we identify evolved
differences in prey-capture behavior of larval cavefish that are dependent on lateral line
sensitivity. Under lighted conditions, cavefish strike Artemia prey at a wider angle than surface
fish; however this difference is diminished under dark conditions. In addition, the strike distance
is greater in cavefish than surface fish, revealing an ability to capture, and likely detect, prey at
greater distances. Experimental ablation of the lateral line disrupts prey-capture in cavefish under
both light and dark conditions, while it only impacts surface fish under dark conditions. Together,
these findings identify an evolutionary shift towards a dependence on the lateral line for prey
capture in cavefish, providing a model for investigating how loss of visual cues impacts multimodal
sensory behaviors.
Times Cited:
1
Conference Name:
Astyanax Interrnational Meeting
Relevent Species: