Abstract
Changes in the locomotor behavior of individual bullhead catfish in response to a food extract (liver) were monitored. Plotting of the locomotor pattern showed a direct orientation to and exact localization of the liver source. The fish's locomotor pattern can be defined quantitatively by a number of variables. Statistically significant changes could be shown in the following variables in a comparison of the bullhead's response to the liver versus non-liver areas of the tank: number of events, number of entries, total time spent, total distance travelled, and total number of turns. The other variables: average velocity, magnitude of turns, number and length of straight paths may also have shown significant changes but this could not be verified due to small numbers. Fish in which the external taste system alone had been surgically destroyed were able to orient to and localize the liver source. Fish in which smell alone was surgically eliminated could also orient to and localize the liver source. Both types of fish exhibited noticeable differences in their localization behavior in comparison to normal fish. Fish in which smell was eliminated by nasal plugging were also able to accurately localize the liver source although not in the same manner as the normal fish. Fish in which external taste was surgically eliminated plus disruption of smell via nasal plugging moved very little and showed no localization of the food source. Due to variation between fish, as well as spatial and temporal variation of the behavior within one fish it was difficult to provide evidence for statistical effects of each operation type although differences in the locomotor patterns could be seen. However, with increasing elapsed time after operation, the localization behavior of the liver extract decreased, with the "poorest localization" occurring at day 7 after the operation..
Davy, Frederick Brian (1973). The role of chemoreception in teleost locomotor behavior as affected by a pesticide. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -188839.