Social rank and not physiological capacity determines competitive success in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

ABSTRACT: Competition for resources shapes ecological and evolutionary relationships. Physiological capacities such as in locomotor performance can influence the fitness of individuals by increasing competitive success. Social hierarchy too can affect outcomes of competition by altering locomotor behaviour or because higher ranking individuals monopolize resources. Here, we tested the hypotheses that competitive success is determined by sprint performance or by social status. We show that sprint performance of individuals measured during escape responses (fast start) or in an accelerated sprint test did not correlate with realized sprint speed while competing for food within a social group of five fish; fast start and accelerated sprint speed were higher than realized speed. Social status within the

SUBMITTER: Miln C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8025299 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature