Abstract
ABSTRACTMany animals live in groups because of the potential benefits associated with defense and foraging. Group living may also induce a ‘calming effect’ on individuals, reducing overall metabolic demand. This effect could occur by minimising the need for individual vigilance and reducing stress through social buffering. However, this effect has proved difficult to quantify. We examined the effect of shoaling on metabolism and body condition in the gregarious damselfish Chromis viridis. Using a novel respirometry methodology for social species, we found that the presence of shoal-mate visual and olfactory cues led to a reduction in the minimum metabolic rate of individuals. Fish held in isolation for 1 week also exhibited a reduction in body condition when compared with those held in shoals. These results indicate that social isolation as a result of environmental disturbance could have physiological consequences for gregarious species.
Highlights
Group living is widespread among animal species and carries a number of benefits (Krause and Ruxton, 2002)
We developed a novel method to measure the calming effect’s influence on body condition and metabolic rate in a gregarious coral reef fish
We hypothesised that individuals housed in shoals and tested with shoal-mates would exhibit the greatest body condition, lowest minimum metabolic rate and reduced physiological reaction to stress compared with individuals in solitary treatments
Summary
Group living is widespread among animal species and carries a number of benefits (Krause and Ruxton, 2002). We developed a novel method to measure the calming effect’s influence on body condition and metabolic rate in a gregarious coral reef fish. Metabolic rate of solitary versus shoaling individuals was tested using custom respirometry chambers that were designed to provide visual and olfactory cues of shoal-mates to a focal individual.
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