Modulation of kinematics and integration of Trinidadian guppies capturing functionally similar prey

REU Fellow: Zach Capilitan, Eckerd College

Mentor: Dr. Emily Kane

The kinematic response of fish in feeding and swimming behaviors is vital for the successful capture of prey. Many have studied suction feeding and its modulation in response to prey changes such as evasive behaviors and morphological differences. Few studies have focused on the modulation of kinematics and integration in predatory fish when capturing functionally similar prey. To determine changes in kinematics and integration when capturing different prey types, this study used Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) collected from both low and high predation environments. These fish were originally populations used from a separate study. Female guppies were fed two different varieties of functionally similar zooplankton. Prey types utilized were wild daphnia, which are slower, and wild copepods, which are more evasive. Videos were recorded of individuals capturing both prey types and were digitized in MATLAB to determine modulation of kinematics and integration. It was found that there were changes to kinematics in both swimming and feeding across prey types. Integration was constant between prey types, however, only low predation fish demonstrated this trait. This indicates that integration is independent from swimming and feeding kinematics, being an evolved trait rather than a learned behavior.