No effect of anthropogenic food provisioning and population density on the aggressive behavior of a territorial Cichlid: a case study

Rayan Pereira; Eduardo Bessa

doi:10.5007/2175-7925.2022.e84551

Authors

Rayan Universidade de Brasília
Eduardo Bessa Universidade de Barsília

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2022.e84551

Keywords:

Meaningful learning, physics teaching, reduced models, flat articulated systems.

Abstract

Food provisioning for fish is a very common leisure activity, especially in tourist attractions, causing impacts that are still poorly understood. There are many species of territorial fish to whom energy availability can limit aggressiveness and population growth. Our case study evaluated whether food provisioning and the resulting population density modify aggressive behavior in a territorial cichlid, the Congo tilapia (Tilapia rendalli). We compared the aggressiveness between a population that receives large amounts of food and has high density and an unfed and low-density population. Aggressiveness was the same between provisioned and non-provisioned treatments, except when we offered food, which stimulated aggression in the unprovisioned area. Food provisioning by humans and density reduced nest area, but did not increase aggressiveness, suggesting a possible habituation to the presence of conspecifics and a reduction in competitive aggression.

Author Biographies

Rayan, Universidade de Brasília

Rayan Amorim Pereira is graduated in Biology. He is interested in promoting animal welfare both with animals kept in zoos and wild animals under the impacts of human-wildlife conflict.

Eduardo Bessa, Universidade de Barsília

Professor efetivo da Universidade de Brasília com mestrado em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) pela USP (2004) e Doutorado em Biologia Animal (Ecologia e Comportamento) pelo IBILCE-UNESP (2013). Tem experiência na área de Zoologia, com ênfase em Comportamento Animal, atuando principalmente em comportamento reprodutivo e impactos do turismo de natureza sobre a fauna. Também tem interesse em divulgação científica, redigindo atualmente o blog Ciência à Bessa na rede Scienceblogs Brasil. É membro do comitê educacional da Animal Behavior Society e conselheiro da Sociedade Brasileira de Etologia.

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