DURIE, C. J.*; WILGA, C. D.; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island: Modulation of prey-capture in ram, suction, and biting centrarchid species

Many investigations into patterns of conservation attempt to determine whether the evolution of new behaviors are initiated by alteration in the patterns generated by the central nervous system or by changes in morphology. Centrarchids are a common North American family of fishes that possess a range of habitat and prey preferences. Largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and redear sunfish represent three feeding modes commonly observed in fishes (ram, suction, and biting respectively). Modulation and conservation of motor patterns has been observed in centrarchids, yet it remains to be determined if the differences in feeding mode are related to differences in kinematics and/or buccal cavity pressures. The goals of this study are two-fold. First, to determine if and how cranial movements and suction pressures during prey capture in bass and sunfishes are modulated when presented with differing prey types (fish, earthworms, and snails) and whether the modulation patterns of kinematics and pressure are similar across taxa. Although motor patterns have been determined to be similar among these species, it is expected that any differences in prey capture behavior will be due to differences in kinematics and pressure. Second, this is the first study to use the techniques of high-speed videography, electromyography, and pressure transduction simultaneously to characterize feeding behavior. The direct relationship among the levels of motor patterns, movements of cranial elements, and changes in pressure will be determined and how changes on one level of the feeding mechanism (motor patterns, kinematics, pressure) are related to changes on another.