Meeting Abstract

87.6  Wednesday, Jan. 7  Larval fish sense predators by detecting rapid water flow FEITL, KE*; STROTHER, JA; VAN TRUMP, WJ; MCHENRY, MJ; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of California, Irvine kfeitl@uci.edu

The ability to sense water flow plays a role in a variety of behaviors in adult fish. However, the function of this sensory system in earlier life history stages is not clear. We tested whether the flow-sensing lateral line system facilitates predator detection in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). We constructed a flow tank that generates a well characterized and highly repeatable impulsive flow stimulus that closely approximates the accelerations generated during suction feeding. This stimulus elicited an escape response in larvae, but this response ceased when larvae were treated with an antibiotic that ablates lateral line hair cells. As hair cells regenerated over the course of 72 hours, flow sensitivity and behavioral responsiveness returned. These findings suggest the lateral line system mediates the escape behavior of larval fish in response to fish predators.