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Bailey Borbas
Mentor: Megan Molinari
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Abstract
The ocellated wrasse (Symphodus ocellatus) is a fish native to the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. They live in rocky areas full of eelgrass and various algae, and in these areas they build nests. The males that build the nests are in a place of social power and have the right to mate with the females. Through this competition, various social roles arise in males. The aforementioned nesting males (NMs) are typically the oldest and largest. Satellite males are subordinate to the nesting males; they help the NM attract females, but they also get some opportunities to breed. Sneakers are the smallest males, and are relegated to trying to sneak in and spawn when the NM and the females are spawning, which is their best chance at reproducing for the season.
Fish have a hormone called isotocin, which is very similar to oxytocin, which is found in humans and other mammals. There are many studies about how oxytocin affects social behavior in humans, so this research is hoping to uncover information about how isotocin levels affect the social behaviors of the ocellated wrasse. Thankfully, we can easily observe these social behaviors because the ocellated wrasse has a very clear social structure and many different interactions. By injecting the wrasse with isotocin, as well as an isotocin antagonist, we can observe how the behaviors of the nesting male change with different levels of isotocin.
Our findings suggest that there is a significant change in the frequency of fanning and satellites submitting to the NMs when injected with isotocin. Our findings also suggest that there is a significant change in the NM chasing the satellite when injected with the isotocin antagonist. Many other behaviors are not significantly modified when isotocin or the antagonist is injected compared to the control tests.
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