Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity.
Semi-aquatic snakes integrate visual and chemical stimuli, and prey detection and capture success are therefore linked to the display of visual predatory behavior. The snake Thamnophis melanogaster responds preferentially to individuals of the fish Xenotoca variata with a greater number of bright, c...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2015-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129429 |
| _version_ | 1819141311958089728 |
|---|---|
| author | Javier Manjarrez Eric Rivas-González Crystian S Venegas-Barrera Alejandro Moyaho |
| author_facet | Javier Manjarrez Eric Rivas-González Crystian S Venegas-Barrera Alejandro Moyaho |
| author_sort | Javier Manjarrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Semi-aquatic snakes integrate visual and chemical stimuli, and prey detection and capture success are therefore linked to the display of visual predatory behavior. The snake Thamnophis melanogaster responds preferentially to individuals of the fish Xenotoca variata with a greater number of bright, colorful spots (lateral speckles) compared with those with a smaller number; however, water turbidity can reduce underwater visibility and effect the vulnerability of fish. In this study, we tested whether the presence of iridescent speckles on the flanks of male X. variata interacted with water turbidity to modify the predatory behavior displayed by the snake T. melanogaster. We predicted that in an experimental laboratory test, the snakes would increase the frequency of their predatory behavior to the extent that the water turbidity decreases. The snakes were tested at six different levels of water turbidity, in combination with three categories of male fish (with few, a median number of, or many speckles). The results showed that in a pool with high or zero turbidity, the number of speckles is not a determining factor in the deployment of the predatory behavior of the snake T. melanogaster toward X. variata. Our findings suggest that snakes can view the fish at intermediate percentages of turbidity, but the number of speckles in male X. variata is irrelevant as an interspecific visual signal in environments with insufficient luminosity. The successful capture of aquatic prey is influenced by integration between chemical and visual signals, according to environmental factors that may influence the recognition of individual traits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:52:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99654668ce33417d965a2778c6c29daf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:52:27Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-99654668ce33417d965a2778c6c29daf2022-12-21T18:26:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01106e012942910.1371/journal.pone.0129429Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity.Javier ManjarrezEric Rivas-GonzálezCrystian S Venegas-BarreraAlejandro MoyahoSemi-aquatic snakes integrate visual and chemical stimuli, and prey detection and capture success are therefore linked to the display of visual predatory behavior. The snake Thamnophis melanogaster responds preferentially to individuals of the fish Xenotoca variata with a greater number of bright, colorful spots (lateral speckles) compared with those with a smaller number; however, water turbidity can reduce underwater visibility and effect the vulnerability of fish. In this study, we tested whether the presence of iridescent speckles on the flanks of male X. variata interacted with water turbidity to modify the predatory behavior displayed by the snake T. melanogaster. We predicted that in an experimental laboratory test, the snakes would increase the frequency of their predatory behavior to the extent that the water turbidity decreases. The snakes were tested at six different levels of water turbidity, in combination with three categories of male fish (with few, a median number of, or many speckles). The results showed that in a pool with high or zero turbidity, the number of speckles is not a determining factor in the deployment of the predatory behavior of the snake T. melanogaster toward X. variata. Our findings suggest that snakes can view the fish at intermediate percentages of turbidity, but the number of speckles in male X. variata is irrelevant as an interspecific visual signal in environments with insufficient luminosity. The successful capture of aquatic prey is influenced by integration between chemical and visual signals, according to environmental factors that may influence the recognition of individual traits.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129429 |
| spellingShingle | Javier Manjarrez Eric Rivas-González Crystian S Venegas-Barrera Alejandro Moyaho Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. PLoS ONE |
| title | Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. |
| title_full | Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. |
| title_fullStr | Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. |
| title_short | Visual Detection of Speckles in the Fish Xenotoca variata by the Predatory Snake Thamnophis melanogaster in Water of Different Turbidity. |
| title_sort | visual detection of speckles in the fish xenotoca variata by the predatory snake thamnophis melanogaster in water of different turbidity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129429 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT javiermanjarrez visualdetectionofspecklesinthefishxenotocavariatabythepredatorysnakethamnophismelanogasterinwaterofdifferentturbidity AT ericrivasgonzalez visualdetectionofspecklesinthefishxenotocavariatabythepredatorysnakethamnophismelanogasterinwaterofdifferentturbidity AT crystiansvenegasbarrera visualdetectionofspecklesinthefishxenotocavariatabythepredatorysnakethamnophismelanogasterinwaterofdifferentturbidity AT alejandromoyaho visualdetectionofspecklesinthefishxenotocavariatabythepredatorysnakethamnophismelanogasterinwaterofdifferentturbidity |