Effects of Alcohol on Coordinated Movement of Betta splendens
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Kristina Dandy
Abstract
Aggressive and submissive dominance displays of Betta splendens have been studied heavily (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Clotfelter et al., 2007; Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Drugs that increase serotonin, including SSRIs, have been shown to decrease aggressive displays in Betta fish (Lynn et al., 2007), but the effects are less well known. Prior work has demonstrated that alcohol decreases aggressive displays of Betta splendens (Richards et al., 2022). The current study extends past research from our lab by assessing the effects of varying alcohol doses on dominance displays of Betta fish. Eleven male Betta splendens will serve as subjects; fish will be tested as part of a larger ongoing study (results reported elsewhere). Fish will be housed and tested in their home tanks, comprised of half-gallon clear plastic tanks. During dominance display testing fish will be exposed to a mirror for 2 minutes, as mirrors are shown to reliably elicit aggressive displays in this species (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Collins et al., 2008). Each test session will be video-recorded, and the amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays will be coded and analyzed (following Foberg, 2003). Dominance display testing will occur following the administration of alcohol at concentrations of 0%, 0.15%, 0.3%, and 0.5%, which will be achieved by administering 0 ml, 0.7ml, 1.5 ml, or 2.5 ml of 95% alcohol to 473ml of water. Fish will be exposed to each concentration of alcohol for 5 minutes prior to testing. To assess the effects of alcohol on the relationship between aggressive and submissive dominance displays, we will perform a series of Pearson r Correlations. We expect that aggressive and submissive displays will negatively correlate with each other. Because alcohol is a known central nervous system depressant (Bushman, 1993), we also expect that as alcohol dose increases, disruption to these correlations will increase. Results will allow us to determine what effects alcohol may have on aggression. More generally, results will add to our knowledge of factors that influence aggression in Betta splendens.
Start Date
27-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 9:50 AM
Location
Magnolia Ballroom
Effects of Alcohol on Coordinated Movement of Betta splendens
Magnolia Ballroom
Aggressive and submissive dominance displays of Betta splendens have been studied heavily (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Clotfelter et al., 2007; Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Drugs that increase serotonin, including SSRIs, have been shown to decrease aggressive displays in Betta fish (Lynn et al., 2007), but the effects are less well known. Prior work has demonstrated that alcohol decreases aggressive displays of Betta splendens (Richards et al., 2022). The current study extends past research from our lab by assessing the effects of varying alcohol doses on dominance displays of Betta fish. Eleven male Betta splendens will serve as subjects; fish will be tested as part of a larger ongoing study (results reported elsewhere). Fish will be housed and tested in their home tanks, comprised of half-gallon clear plastic tanks. During dominance display testing fish will be exposed to a mirror for 2 minutes, as mirrors are shown to reliably elicit aggressive displays in this species (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Collins et al., 2008). Each test session will be video-recorded, and the amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays will be coded and analyzed (following Foberg, 2003). Dominance display testing will occur following the administration of alcohol at concentrations of 0%, 0.15%, 0.3%, and 0.5%, which will be achieved by administering 0 ml, 0.7ml, 1.5 ml, or 2.5 ml of 95% alcohol to 473ml of water. Fish will be exposed to each concentration of alcohol for 5 minutes prior to testing. To assess the effects of alcohol on the relationship between aggressive and submissive dominance displays, we will perform a series of Pearson r Correlations. We expect that aggressive and submissive displays will negatively correlate with each other. Because alcohol is a known central nervous system depressant (Bushman, 1993), we also expect that as alcohol dose increases, disruption to these correlations will increase. Results will allow us to determine what effects alcohol may have on aggression. More generally, results will add to our knowledge of factors that influence aggression in Betta splendens.