Does Temperament Affect Alcohol Induced Effects in Betta splendens?
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Kristina Dandy
Abstract
Betta splendens are reliable models for aggression and for assessing the effects of psychoactive substances on aggression (Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Richards and colleagues (2023) report that Betta aggression, observed as stereotyped behaviors called “dominance displays,” decreases with increasing doses of alcohol. Inflated variability in these effects also suggests temperament differences may exist. In this study, we assess the effects of alcohol on Betta aggression and the role of temperament in this relationship. Bettas (n = 11) are exposed to a mirror for 2-minutes while in their home tank to elicit aggression following a 5-minute exposure to alcohol in another tank (0.00%, 0.15%, 0.30%, or 0.50%). Non-testing days and a Latin square account for extraneous variables related to dosing. Aggression is video-recorded and coded for amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays (following Foberg, 2003). Temperament is determined by a median-split analysis utilizing baseline aggression data to categorize fish as Aggressive or Submissive (following Lewis, 2021). Baseline data are the median number of cumulative seconds spent displaying Gill Extension and Broadside behavior when administered 0% alcohol. Fish with a total duration above the median will be categorized as Aggressive, and fish with a total duration below the median will be categorized as Submissive. A series of 2 (temperament) x 4 (alcohol dose) Mixed-Model ANOVAs will be used to assess the effects of alcohol and temperament on aggression. The expected outcome of this study is that Submissive fish will display less aggression with increasing doses of alcohol, while Aggressive fish will display more aggression with increasing alcohol doses. This study will further our understanding about how temperament may impact the effects of alcohol on aggressive behavior.
Start Date
27-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 9:50 AM
Location
Magnolia Ballroom
Word document with title, abstract, and key words
Does Temperament Affect Alcohol Induced Effects in Betta splendens?
Magnolia Ballroom
Betta splendens are reliable models for aggression and for assessing the effects of psychoactive substances on aggression (Shapiro & Jensen, 2009). Richards and colleagues (2023) report that Betta aggression, observed as stereotyped behaviors called “dominance displays,” decreases with increasing doses of alcohol. Inflated variability in these effects also suggests temperament differences may exist. In this study, we assess the effects of alcohol on Betta aggression and the role of temperament in this relationship. Bettas (n = 11) are exposed to a mirror for 2-minutes while in their home tank to elicit aggression following a 5-minute exposure to alcohol in another tank (0.00%, 0.15%, 0.30%, or 0.50%). Non-testing days and a Latin square account for extraneous variables related to dosing. Aggression is video-recorded and coded for amount and duration (in seconds) of dominance displays (following Foberg, 2003). Temperament is determined by a median-split analysis utilizing baseline aggression data to categorize fish as Aggressive or Submissive (following Lewis, 2021). Baseline data are the median number of cumulative seconds spent displaying Gill Extension and Broadside behavior when administered 0% alcohol. Fish with a total duration above the median will be categorized as Aggressive, and fish with a total duration below the median will be categorized as Submissive. A series of 2 (temperament) x 4 (alcohol dose) Mixed-Model ANOVAs will be used to assess the effects of alcohol and temperament on aggression. The expected outcome of this study is that Submissive fish will display less aggression with increasing doses of alcohol, while Aggressive fish will display more aggression with increasing alcohol doses. This study will further our understanding about how temperament may impact the effects of alcohol on aggressive behavior.