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Quantifying Anti-predator Responses to Chemical Alarm Cues

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Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Protocols

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 51))

Abstract

A behavioral assay of responses to chemical alarm cues can be used to test for cognitive functions related to olfaction, learning, and memory. Alarm cues are chemicals released from damaged epithelial tissue. These cues indicate the presence of predation risk because they are released only after an attack by a predator. Here, I describe a protocol for quantifying behavioral response to these cues and a method for preparing skin extract that contain these cues. In addition, estimates of accuracy and repeatability of these methods are presented for predicting cue potency based on area and mass of skin fillet.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN, USA

    Brian D. Wisenden

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  1. Brian D. Wisenden
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Program, Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, Tulane Ave. 1430, New Orleans, 70112, Louisiana, USA

    Allan V. Kalueff

  2. Neuroscience Program, Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, Tulane Ave. 1430, New Orleans, 70112, Louisiana, USA

    Jonathan M. Cachat

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Wisenden, B.D. (2011). Quantifying Anti-predator Responses to Chemical Alarm Cues. In: Kalueff, A., Cachat, J. (eds) Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Protocols. Neuromethods, vol 51. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-953-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-953-6_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-952-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-953-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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