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BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND DIETARY PREFERENCES OF GAMBUSIA AFFINIS IN A LABORATORY SETTING

Abstract

Gambusia affinis, or mosquitofish, is an adaptable species found in freshwater and brackish environments, playing an important role in controlling mosquito larvae populations that transmit diseases. Parasitized mosquitofish with trematode infestations show visible dark spots, allowing us to categorize them as parasitized. These parasitized fish can have reproductive issues and altered mating behaviors making it crucial to investigate differences compared to healthy fish. Understanding the dietary preferences and behaviors of G. affinis is essential for its management as an environmental health indicator. Following the collection of mosquitofish from their natural habitats, experiments were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting to assess food preferences and behavioral differences in visually parasitized and non-parasitized G. affinis. The first study examined the food preferences of non-parasitized males, gravid non-parasitized females, and gravid parasitized females (n=10) across three food types: artificial pellets, live brine shrimp, and seaweed. Results showed a strong preference for live brine shrimp among all groups (p<0.05). Secondly, we investigated how behaviors, such as swimming, freezing, thrashing, hiding, and eating, varied under different light conditions, such as daytime and nighttime simulations. Parasitized females (n=15) exhibited around 10.2 (±0.6) behaviors per minute during the day in white light, compared to 9.1 (±0.5) in red light simulating night. Non-parasitized females (n=15) under white light displayed about 7.3 (±0.6) behaviors per minute, while in red light they displayed 8.1 (±0.7). There was no statistical difference in behaviors across the red versus white light treatments for all female fish. These findings improve our understanding of the behavioral ecology of G. affinis and provide insights into their dietary preferences. As there are limited studies investigating mosquitofish, these results can later be compared to climate change models to determine if climate change is affecting mosquitofish populations.

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