Data from: Water flow impacts group behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Constant temporal and spatial fluctuations of the physical environment pose a great challenge for individual survival, making plastic behavioral responses an important mechanism for coping with environmental fluctuations. For aquatic animals, water flow is one of the most important factors, imposing additional physiological costs and changing their relationship with the biotic environment including conspecifics, predators, and disease agents. Here, we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment to test the influence of water flow on the behavior of zebrafish (Danio rerio), considering also the impact of obstructions. Using wild-caught zebrafish, we formed groups of 6 fish and tested their behavior in 4 treatments that varied in water flow and obstructions. We used automated tracking software to estimate shoal cohesion, aggression, and activity level. Zebrafish strongly responded to the presence of even a weak flow by forming less cohesive, more aggressive, and more active groups. The effect of flow was not exaggerated by turbulence generated from obstructions. Zebrafish were also more active and more aggressive when in a structurally complex context. These findings highlight the plasticity of zebrafish social behavior and provide insight to understand the impact of water flow on behavioral plasticity of social groups.物理环境持续的时空波动对个体生存构成极大挑战，使得行为可塑性响应（plastic behavioral responses）成为应对环境波动的重要机制。对于水生动物而言，水流是最为关键的环境影响因素之一，它不仅会带来额外的生理成本，还会改变其与包括同种个体（conspecifics）、捕食者及致病原（disease agents）在内的生物环境（biotic environment）之间的相互关系。本研究开展受控实验室实验（controlled laboratory experiment），以探究水流对斑马鱼（Danio rerio）行为的影响，同时兼顾障碍物的作用。研究采用野外捕获的斑马鱼，组建6尾个体组成的群体，并在4种分别调控水流与障碍物参数的处理组中测试其行为。本研究使用自动追踪软件（automated tracking software）量化估算鱼群凝聚力（shoal cohesion）、攻击行为（aggression）与活动水平（activity level）三项指标。实验结果显示，斑马鱼即便仅面对微弱水流，也会产生显著行为响应：群体凝聚力下降，同时攻击行为与活动水平显著提升。障碍物产生的湍流并未放大水流对斑马鱼群体行为的上述效应。当处于结构复杂的环境背景中时，斑马鱼的活动水平与攻击行为同样更高。本研究结果凸显了斑马鱼社会行为的可塑性，为理解水流对社会群体行为可塑性的影响提供了新的认知视角。