Exploring the solitaire illusion in guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

Cooperation among non-kin is well documented in humans and widespread in non-human animals, but explaining the occurrence of cooperation in the absence of inclusive fitness benefits has proven a significant challenge. Current theoretical explanations converge on a single point: cooperators can prevail when they cluster in social space. However, we know very little about the real-world mechanisms that drive such clustering, particularly in systems where cognitive limitations make it unlikely that mechanisms such as score keeping and reputation are at play. Here, we show that Trinidadian guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) use a ‘walk away’ strategy, a simple social heuristic by which assortment by cooperativeness can come about among mobile agents. Guppies cooperate during predator inspection and we found that when experiencing defection in this context, individuals prefer to move to a new social environment, despite having no prior information about this new social group. Our results provide evidence in non-human animals that individuals use a simple social partner updating strategy in response to defection, supporting theoretical work applying heuristics to understanding the proximate mechanisms underpinning the evolution of cooperation among non-kin.

Download Full-text

Optimization of handling and refrigerated storage of guppy Poecilia reticulata sperm

Journal of Fish Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02658.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 54-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

C. Sun ◽

C. Huang ◽

X. Su ◽

X. Zhao ◽

Q. Dong

Keyword(s):

Poecilia Reticulata ◽

Refrigerated Storage

Download Full-text

Influences of orange spot patterns and operational sex ratio on male mating behaviors in the guppy Poecilia reticulata

Ichthyological Research ◽

10.1007/s10228-012-0287-x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 304-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Asuka Kiritome ◽

Aya Sato ◽

Kenji Karino

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Poecilia Reticulata ◽

Operational Sex Ratio ◽

Male Mating ◽

Mating Behaviors ◽

Orange Spot

Download Full-text

Paternal exposure to a common pharmaceutical (Ritalin) has transgenerational effects on the behaviour of Trinidadian guppies

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83448-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alex R. De Serrano ◽

Kimberly A. Hughes ◽

F. Helen Rodd

Keyword(s):

Poecilia Reticulata ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Differential Mortality ◽

Paternal Effects ◽

Transgenerational Effects ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Male Germline ◽

Paternal Line ◽

Chronic Dose ◽

Male Specific

AbstractEvidence is emerging that paternal effects, the nongenetic influence of fathers on their offspring, can be transgenerational, spanning several generations. Methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH; e.g. Ritalin) is a dopaminergic drug that is highly prescribed to adolescent males for the treatment of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It has been suggested that MPH could cause transgenerational effects because MPH can affect the male germline in rodents and because paternal effects have been observed in individuals taking similar drugs (e.g. cocaine). Despite these concerns, the transgenerational effects of paternal MPH exposure are unknown. Therefore, we exposed male and female Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to a low, chronic dose of MPH and observed that MPH affected the anxiety/exploratory behaviour of males, but not females. Because of this male-specific effect, we investigated the transgenerational effects of MPH through the paternal line. We observed behavioural effects of paternal MPH exposure on offspring and great-grandoffspring that were not directly administered the drug, making this the first study to demonstrate that paternal MPH exposure can affect descendants. These effects were not due to differential mortality or fecundity between control and MPH lines. These results highlight the transgenerational potential of MPH.

Download Full-text