INTER-SPECIES DIFFERENCES IN GROUP BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIX CYPRINID FISH SPECIES AND THEIR RESPONSES TO EXERCISE TRAINING

To investigate interspecific variations in group behaviour characteristics among six Cyprinidae species and their responses to exercise training, we selected Carassius auratus, Tinca tinca, Cyprinus carpio, Spinibarbus sinensis, Procypris rabaudi, and Acrossocheilus fasciatus as experimental subjects. At 25℃, each species was divided into control groups, anaerobic exercise training groups (1session/d), and aerobic exercise training groups 4 times body length per second (bl/s), 18h/d for three weeks. Subsequently, within a six-arm maze, the following parameters were measured under both non-predator and simulated predator stimuli: centre density (CD), shelter density (SD), non-shelter density (NSD), and cohesion index (I_c). The results indicated that under both non-predator and simulated predator stimulation, the control groups of C. auratus, T. tinca, C. carpio, and S. sinensis exhibited relatively higher CD, NSD, and I_c values along with lower SD, whereas the control group of P. rabaudi showed relatively lower CD and NSD along with I_c higher SD and I_c values. The control group of A. fasciatus displayed relatively lower CD, SD, and I_c values but higher NSD. Regardless of predator stimulation, exercise training did not produce statistically significant effects on the collective behavioral characteristics of C. auratus, T. tinca, and C. carpio. Anaerobic exercise training led to an 81% significant decrease in NSD and a 21% significant increase in I_c values in P. rabaudi under non-predator stimulation (P<0.05); anaerobic exercise training resulted in a 39% significant increase in I_c values in A. fasciatus under simulated predator stimulation (P<0.05); aerobic exercise training caused a 17% significant decrease in I_c values in S. sinensis under non-predator stimulation (P<0.05). The study demonstrates that: (1) There are significant interspecific differences in the collective behavioral characteristics among the six cyprinid species, which may be related to their living habits and habitat factors; (2) Exercise training exerts varying degrees on collective behavioral characteristics by fish species and training regimen.