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The oscar, Astronotus ocellatus, detects and discriminates dipole stimuli with the lateral line system

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Abstract

We studied the role of the lateral line system for detection and discrimination of dipole stimuli in the oscar, Astronotus ocellatus (Family Cichlidae), and determined detection thresholds in still water and frequency discrimination capabilities in still and turbulent water. Average detection threshold of six animals for a 100-Hz dipole stimulus was 0.0059 μm peak-to-peak water displacement at the surface of the fish. After inactivation of the neuromast receptor organs of the lateral line system with the antibiotic streptomycin, dipole detection was reduced, but recovered within 2–4 weeks. This suggests that the oscar relied strongly on hydrodynamic information received by the lateral line system. Five oscars learned to discriminate a 100-Hz stimulus from 70 Hz and lower frequencies. When turbulence was introduced into the experimental tank, fish were still able to discriminate 100 Hz from frequencies 70 Hz and lower indicating that frequency discrimination mediated by the lateral line system was not reduced in turbulent water.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the DFG (Mo 718, 3-2) and by the European Commission, Future and Emerging Technologies, under project CILIA (project number 016039). Experiments were performed under the guidelines established by current German animal protection law.

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  1. Ines E. Nauroth

    Present address: Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

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  1. Institute for Zoology, University of Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Joachim Mogdans & Ines E. Nauroth

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  1. Joachim Mogdans
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Correspondence to Joachim Mogdans.

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Mogdans, J., Nauroth, I.E. The oscar, Astronotus ocellatus, detects and discriminates dipole stimuli with the lateral line system. J Comp Physiol A 197, 959–968 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0656-3

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