Caracterização das respostas comportamentais, por meio de Descargas do Órgão Elétrico (DOEs), de duas linhagens de peixes elétricos do gênero Microsternarchus (Gymnotiformes) quando expostas a diferentes regimes de sinais interferentes

Abstract

Gymnotiformes is a fish order only present in the neotropical region, with the highest biodiversity in the amazon region. The most striking feature of this this group is the ability to generate and distinguish electric fields which working together make the Electrogenic and Electrosensory System. The Electric Organ Discharge (EOD) are highly accurate and coordinated by a Pacemaker Nucleus (PN) present in the fish’s medulla, which receives input to slow down or rise up your rhythm from two another brain regions. In electric fishes, the Jamming Avoidance Response (JAR) behavior begins when there is interference between the EOD signals, leading the individuals involved to adapt to the interfering signal. Microsternarchus is a fish genus from the order Gymnotiforms, presumably monotypic, classified how a pulse-electric-fish with at least 4 lineages and 8 sub-lineages with high molecular differences. In the presente study experiments to analyse and compare the JAR and other EOD modulations between two Microsternarchus lineages were been performed. No distinct lineages were be found among the tested fishes, only sub-lineages from the C lineage. The results suggest the two sub-lineages have diferences on your EODs and in your JAR models. The main differences between the sub-lineages were see in the frequencies related variables, males had higher number of chirps and some females showed abrupt interruptions in your EODs. This phase and frequency behaviours were then reported and described to the tested fishes in presence of interference stimulus and compared with the experimental models performed. Finally, the EOD modulations observed were been related to the neurophysiology of the PN from other species of Gymnotiforms. Conclusions: the lineages, as well as sex, have some measurable differences in their JAR models; the genus from this study presents a common JAR and EOD modulations to other genus from the order Gymnotiforms; and possibly share, in part, a PN control mechanisms with another pulser electric fishes and even wave electric fishes.