TY - JOUR
T1 - Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) responds differentially to a robotic fish of varying swimming depth and aspect ratio
AU - Polverino, Giovanni
AU - Porfiri, Maurizio
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr.s N. Abaid and S. Butail for their valuable help on the statistical analysis and for reviewing the manuscript and V. Kopman for the technical support on the figures. The authors would also like to thank Dr. L. Lloyd, Dr. D. Duffy, Dr. D. Duncan, Dr. M. Imlay, and Dr. B. Masters for the references provided and the useful advices on the state of the art on the topic. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CMMI-0745753 and partially supported by the Honours Center of Italian Universities (H2CU) through a scholarship to Giovanni Polverino.
PY - 2013/8/1
Y1 - 2013/8/1
N2 - In this study, we explore the feasibility of using bioinspired robotics to influence the behaviour of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), a social freshwater fish species that is extensively studied for the ecological issues associated with its diffusion in non-native environments. Specifically, in a dichotomous choice test, we investigate the behavioural response of small shoals of mosquitofish to a robotic fish inspired by mosquitofish in its colouration, shape, aspect ratio, and locomotion. Our results indicate that the swimming depth and the aspect ratio of the robotic fish are both determinants of mosquitofish preference. In particular, we find that mosquitofish are never attracted by a robotic fish whose colouration and shape are inspired by live subjects and that the degree of repulsion varies as a function of the swimming depth and the aspect ratio.
AB - In this study, we explore the feasibility of using bioinspired robotics to influence the behaviour of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), a social freshwater fish species that is extensively studied for the ecological issues associated with its diffusion in non-native environments. Specifically, in a dichotomous choice test, we investigate the behavioural response of small shoals of mosquitofish to a robotic fish inspired by mosquitofish in its colouration, shape, aspect ratio, and locomotion. Our results indicate that the swimming depth and the aspect ratio of the robotic fish are both determinants of mosquitofish preference. In particular, we find that mosquitofish are never attracted by a robotic fish whose colouration and shape are inspired by live subjects and that the degree of repulsion varies as a function of the swimming depth and the aspect ratio.
KW - Bioinspired robotics
KW - Ethorobotics
KW - Gambusia
KW - Invasive species
KW - Mosquitofish
KW - Social behaviour
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878730867&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 23684918
AN - SCOPUS:84878730867
SN - 0166-4328
VL - 250
SP - 133
EP - 138
JO - Behavioural Brain Research
JF - Behavioural Brain Research
ER -