HABITAT-SPECIFIC FISH PREFERENCE FOR SHELTER SELECTION UNDER SIMULATED PREDATION RISK: A CASE STUDY OF CHINESE BARB (SPINIBARBUS SINENSIS) AND CICHLID (CHINDONGO DEMASONI)

The utilization of shelters represents a crucial anti-predator behavioral strategy among fish species. Shelters preference, a key facet of this strategy, seems intricately linked to various factors, including habitat conditions, as well as physiological and morphological characteristics of organisms. In this study, juvenile Chinese barb (Spinibarbus sinensis) and juvenile cichlid (Chindongo demasoni) were employed as fish model. The objective was to investigate shelter selection preference for different types (e.g., weed, branch and stone) and colors (e.g., blue, red and green) in response to simulated predator attacks. The main results of this study are as follows: (1) Among different shelters, both Chinese barb and cichlid exhibited a preference for weed under natural conditions. Chinese barb demonstrated an aversion of stone, while cichlid showed a preference for stone. (2) The preference for weed became more pronounced in both Chinese barb and cichlid after simulated predation attack. (3) Concerning different color shelters, the highest percentage of the first choice for green weed was observed in the natural state for Chinese barb, while cichlid displayed the highest percentage of first choice for red weed. (4) Following simulated predation attacks, there was no significant difference in the dwell time proportion in different color shelters by Chinese barb. However, cichlid exhibited the highest dwell time proportion in red weed. These results suggested that Chinese barb and cichlid consistently exhibit preferences for different types of shelters, with interspecific differences in selection preferences for shelters of different colors. These differences may be closely linked to their distinct habitats and habits.