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The effects of different coloured visual stimuli on Paracheirodon innesi in a fixed environment

The effects of different coloured visual stimuli on Paracheirodon innesi in a fixed environment. Taylor Brooks, James Holobow & Allyson MacDougall. Paracheirodon innesi. Fresh water fish Native to streams in Colombia, Peru and Brazil Iridescent blue with red stripe

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The effects of different coloured visual stimuli on Paracheirodon innesi in a fixed environment

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  1. The effects of different coloured visual stimuli on Paracheirodon innesi in a fixed environment Taylor Brooks, James Holobow & Allyson MacDougall

  2. Paracheirodon innesi • Fresh water fish • Native to streams in Colombia, Peru and Brazil • Iridescent blue with red stripe • Approximately 3 cm long

  3. P. innesi Eyes • Rod Pigments absorb λmax of 500-545 nm • Melanosomes: organelles in pigment cells in eyes (melanins) • Light response in the retina activates the migration of melanosomes and the elongation of cones (colour vision) • Melanosomes and cones meld together to direct incoming light to the rods • Spectral absorbance of melanosomes is ~ 480 nm

  4. Iridophores • Scales have alternating layers of guanine and cytosine • Scatter light to a shine • Minimal light exposure = ultraviolet/blue • Great light exposure = green • Respond to each other best in bright environments

  5. Purpose • Examine the response of different coloured stimuli in P. innesi • P. innesi will stay in close proximity to colours that are within the wavelength range of 500-545 nm

  6. Materials & Methods • Experimental design was simple • Limited external variables • Modelled fish blobs constructed of silicon sealant painted with nail polish • Red, yellow, green, blue, aqua • Modelled fish were placed inside of a jar paired with an empty control jar at the opposing end of the aquarium

  7. Materials & Methods • Models were ~3 cm • intended to vaguely resemble real fish • The aquarium was split into three sections • Control • Middle • Coloured Model

  8. Materials & Methods • 15 minute trials • Position recorded at 30 second intervals • Trials repeated with orientation of aquarium reversed • Repeated test 3 times • 6 trials/colour

  9. Results • P. innesi preferred Green and Aqua systems most • Time spent next to model • Green (50.6%, SE ± 0.050) • Aqua (65.6%, SE ± 0.023)

  10. Results

  11. Discussion • Aqua has a wavelength of ~ 480 nm, the same spectral absorbance as the melanosomes • Blue and green were the second most popular and are on either side of the 480 nm on the wavelength spectrum • Green was 2nd most popular and it’s on the higher end of the spectrum (500-545 nm)

  12. Discussion Sources of error: • Background stimuli • Fish inconsistency/ Overuse • Issues with our coloured model fish

  13. Why is this Important? Knowing the most stimulating visual in P. innesi is important because it can give insight towards • Schooling • Mating • Predator avoidance

  14. Future Studies • Use iridescent nail polish • Stimulate iridophores • Compare coloured models against each other • Use different fish species to compare light absorbances

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