Evolutionary shift towards lateral line dependent prey capture behavior in the blind Mexican cavefish.

ABSTRACT: Feeding strategies are dependent on multi-modal sensory processing, that integrates visual, chemosensory, and mechanoreceptive cues. In many fish species, local environments and food availability dramatically influence the evolution of sensory and morphological traits that underlie feeding. The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, have developed robust changes in sensory-dependent behaviors, but the impact on prey detection and feeding behavior is not known. In the absence of eyes, cavefish have evolved enhanced sensitivity of the lateral line, comprised of mechanosensory organs that sense water flow and detect prey. Here, we identify evolved differences in prey capture behavior of larval cavefish that are dependent on lateral line sensitivity. Under lighted conditions, cavefish strike Ar

SUBMITTER: Lloyd E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6450390 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature