Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Prefer Undisturbed Shoals over Shoals Exposed to the Synthetic Alarm Substance Hypoxanthine-3N-oxide (C₅H₄N₄O₂).

ABSTRACT: As an anti-predation behavior, shoaling enhances survival among prey species by reducing individual predation risk through mechanisms like the dilution effect and collective vigilance. Zebrafish-a highly social and genetically tractable species-are valuable for studying these behaviors. The present study examined zebrafish's social preferences in a 3-chamber open-tank free-swim task, assessing whether visual cues alone could distinguish between an intact and an alarmed shoal exposed to the synthetic alarm substance H3NO. Subjects were allowed to freely associate with either shoal while their behaviors were recorded and analyzed. The results reveal a significant preference for proximity to the intact shoal, indicating zebrafish's ability to visually discern threat levels. Subjects spent nea

SUBMITTER: Velkey A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11939818 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature