Meeting Abstract

58.2  Sunday, Jan. 5 13:45  How zebrafish larvae sense and evade fish predators MCHENRY, M.J.*; NAIR, A.M.; STEWART, W.J.; CHANGSING, K.; SOTO, A.; U.C. Irvine; U.C. Irvine; U.C. Irvine; U.C. Irvine; U.C. Irvine mmchenry@uci.edu

Prey fish use the visual and lateral line systems to evade predators, but it is unclear how this sensory information is integrated to successfully anticipate a predatory strike. Prior experiments established that zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae survive by initiating an escape response during a predator’s approach. We replicated this condition with a robotic predator, which consisted of a dead fish that was actuated to move toward larvae at a constant speed. By measuring the high-speed kinematic responses of larvae in 3D, we learned that larvae are capable of evading a predator in the dark by sensing the water flow generated by the approach. Under illumination, we found that larvae were capable of responding to the looming stimulus created by a predator at a greater distance than possible by the lateral line system. In response, larvae exhibited relatively slow avoidance swimming at greater distance and with an escape response in close proximity to the approaching predator. By mathematically modeling sensory cues for both lateral line and visual stimuli, we developed algorithms for behavioral decisions that depend on both modalities. Therefore, this study offers a basis for understanding the sensory cues that facilitate the survival of prey fish.