By: Shehzer Tahir, Graham Jones and Andrew Flynn

1. Affinity of Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) towards schooling with conspecifics within different levels of turbid water By: Shehzer Tahir, Graham Jones and Andrew Flynn

2. Research Question • Research Question: What are the effects of turbidity on the visualization of conspecies of neon tetras fish? • Rationale: To achieve a greater understanding how neon tetras would interact in an environment that resembles their ecosystem.

3. Background Information • The neon tetra is a popular aquarium fish, it is characterized by remarkably bright body coloration • Likely evolved bright coloration in response to the ecological context of their turbid habitat in the Amazon • Exhibit aggregation in the form of schooling http://www.keepingtropicalfish.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Paracheirodon-innesi.jpg

4. Experimental information • Independent variable: Turbidity • Dependent variable: The reaction of the fish in the affected water • Species: Neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) • Hypothesis: Neon tetras will have a affinity for schooling with conspecifics in clear water over turbid water

5. Experimental Design • Instantaneous/Scan Sampling -> 15 minute sets where data was recorded in intervals of 30 seconds • Test one – Same turbidity -> no fish/three fish • Test two – different levels of turbidity -> Three fish/Three fish • Turbidity levels include: 0mL, 0.3mL, 0.75mL,1.5mL and 3.0mL (Food coloring)

6. Procedure • Fish were placed in Jars • Dechlorinated water at 21o Celsius

7. Procedure • Equal volumes of red, blue and green food coloring was added to the water in the jars to simulate turbid water • Different levels of turbidity were prepared by adding different amounts of Food coloring to the jars.

8. Our Results • Several test sets were done with different levels of turbidity • 50% of our data was significant based on the X2 test

9. Higher Turbid level vs. Lower Turbid level • Preference for water of low turbidity • At the highest turbid water level there was no preference

10. Testing for Clear Water Preference • This graph shows clear water vs. low level turbid water • Fish showed an affinity for schooling with the fish in clear water

11. Testing for Clear Water Preference • A significant preference for Clear water over over even more turbid water • There was a increase in affinity to clear water when it was compared to higher level of turbid waters • Graph shows clear water vs. high level of turbid water

12. Testing Fish vs. No Fish in Turbid Water • No preference when given a choice between jars with fish and no fish • Suggests that the fish cannot see their conspecifics at higher turbidity levels

13. Conclusion • Neon tetras showed an affinity for clear water over turbid water • Affinity for clear water went up when turbid water levels increased in other jar • Showed affinity for lower level turbid waters vs. high turbid waters • Showed no affinity for schooling at highest turbid level with fish present or not

14. Improvements • Bottom surface was mirrored • Neon Tetraswere re-used for multiple experiments • Lack of trials for each turbidity level • Background distractions • Light consistency

15. Future Research/Wrap-Up • Future Research -Additionalwork on this subject needs to be done to discover more information on the ecological purpose for neon tetra coloration • References available upon request

16. Any Questions about whole project??