TY - JOUR
T1 - Zebrafish responds differentially to a robotic fish of varying aspect ratio, tail beat frequency, noise, and color
AU - Abaid, Nicole
AU - Bartolini, Tiziana
AU - Macrì, Simone
AU - Porfiri, Maurizio
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under grant # CMMI-0745753 and by the Honors Center of Italian Universities . The authors would like to thank Leo Liao, Giovanni Polverino, and Chiara Spinello for help in data collection and analysis and Vladislav Kopman for his help with the experimental setup.
PY - 2012/8/1
Y1 - 2012/8/1
N2 - In this paper, we present a bioinspired robotic fish designed to modulate the behavior of live fish. Specifically, we experimentally study the response of zebrafish to a robotic fish of varying size, color pattern, tail beat frequency, and acoustic signature in a canonical preference test. In this dichotomous experimental protocol, focal fish residing in the center focal compartment of a three-chambered test tank are confronted with pairs of competing stimuli, including various robots and the empty compartment, and their position is observed over time to measure preference. Fish behavior is classified into three main locomotory patterns to further dissect the complex behavior of zebrafish interacting with robots. A total of twelve experimental conditions is studied to isolate the effect of different elements of the robot design and provide general techniques for enhancing the attraction of zebrafish. We find that matching the aspect ratio and the visual appearance of the robotic fish with the target species increases the attraction experienced by zebrafish. We also find that the robot's tail beat frequency does not play a dominant role on fish attraction, suggesting that this parameter could be optimized based on engineering needs rather than biological cues. On the other hand, we find that varying the aspect ratio and coloration of the robot strongly influences fish preference.
AB - In this paper, we present a bioinspired robotic fish designed to modulate the behavior of live fish. Specifically, we experimentally study the response of zebrafish to a robotic fish of varying size, color pattern, tail beat frequency, and acoustic signature in a canonical preference test. In this dichotomous experimental protocol, focal fish residing in the center focal compartment of a three-chambered test tank are confronted with pairs of competing stimuli, including various robots and the empty compartment, and their position is observed over time to measure preference. Fish behavior is classified into three main locomotory patterns to further dissect the complex behavior of zebrafish interacting with robots. A total of twelve experimental conditions is studied to isolate the effect of different elements of the robot design and provide general techniques for enhancing the attraction of zebrafish. We find that matching the aspect ratio and the visual appearance of the robotic fish with the target species increases the attraction experienced by zebrafish. We also find that the robot's tail beat frequency does not play a dominant role on fish attraction, suggesting that this parameter could be optimized based on engineering needs rather than biological cues. On the other hand, we find that varying the aspect ratio and coloration of the robot strongly influences fish preference.
KW - Biologically-inspired robotics
KW - Danio rerio
KW - Preference test
KW - Robotic fish
KW - Visual stimulus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862657398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84862657398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.05.047
DO - 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.05.047
M3 - Article
C2 - 22677270
AN - SCOPUS:84862657398
SN - 0166-4328
VL - 233
SP - 545
EP - 553
JO - Behavioural Brain Research
JF - Behavioural Brain Research
IS - 2
ER -