Name: basic methods for the study of reproductive ecology of fish in aquaria
Uploaded: 2017-07-20T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria at JoVE.com

We thank S. Yokoyama for assistance with collecting fish. We are also grateful to W. Kawamura for helpful advice about rearing methods. This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI) through grants (No. 24370006 and 16K07507) awarded to T.S.

1. Collecting and Transporting Live Fish
NOTE: This protocol describes how to collect fish that possess a gas bladder, from a depth of &#8805;15 m to the surface. Rapid conveyance to the surface will induce expansion of the gas bladder by a change of pressure, which can seriously harm or kill the fish. Caution is warranted, as damage caused to the fish during this first step will negatively effect their survival and later behavior.
<ol>
	<li>Prior to diving with SCUBA, gather the following m...

<ol>
	<li>Helfman, G., Collette, B. B., Facey, D. E., Bowen, B. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology. , (2009).</li><li>Davies, N. B., Krebs, J. R., West, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. , (2012).</li><li>Fukuda, K., Manabe, H., Sakurai, M., Dewa, S., Shinomiya, A., Sunobe, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Monogamous+mating+system+and+sexuality+in+the+gobiid+fish,+Trimma+marinae+(Actinopterygii:+Gobiidae).">Monogamous mating system and sexuality in the gobiid fish, Trimma marinae (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae).</a> J Ethol. 35 (1), 121-130 (2017).</li><li>Manabe, H., Matsuoka, M., Goto, K., Dewa, S., Shinomiya, A., Sakurai, M., Sunobe, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bi-directional+sex+change+in+the+gobiid+fish+Trimma+sp.:+does+size-advantage+exist?.">Bi-directional sex change in the gobiid fish Trimma sp.: does size-advantage exist?.</a> Behaviour. 145 (1), 99-113 (2008).</li><li>Sakurai, M., Nakakoji, S., Manabe, H., Dewa, S., Shinomiya, A., Sunobe, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bi-directional+sex+change+and+gonad+structure+in+the+gobiid+fish+Trimma+yanagitai.">Bi-directional sex change and gonad structure in the gobiid fish Trimma yanagitai.</a> Ichthyol Res. 56 (1), 82-86 (2009).</li><li>Sunobe, T., Nakazono, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sex+change+in+both+directions+by+alteration+of+social+dominance+in+Trimma+okinawae+(Pisces:+Gobiidae).">Sex change in both directions by alteration of social dominance in Trimma okinawae (Pisces: Gobiidae).</a> Ethology. 94 (4), 339-345 (1993).</li><li>Wong, M. Y., Munday, P. L., Buston, P. M., Jones, G. 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L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+fluorescent+elastomer+injection+as+a+method+for+marking+small+fish.">Evaluation of fluorescent elastomer injection as a method for marking small fish.</a> Bull Mar Sci. 61 (2), 399-408 (1997).</li><li>Olsen, E. M., V&#248;llestad, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+evaluation+of+visible+implant+elastomer+for+marking+age-0+brown+trout.">An evaluation of visible implant elastomer for marking age-0 brown trout.</a> N Am J Fish Manag. 21 (4), 967-970 (2001).</li><li>Leblanc, C. A., Noakes, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visible+implant+elastomer+(VIE)+tags+for+marking+small+rainbow+trout.">Visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags for marking small rainbow trout.</a> N Am J Fish Manag. 32 (4), 716-719 (2012).</li><li>Kinkel, M. D., Eames, S. C., Philipson, L. H., Prince, V. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intraperitoneal+injection+into+adult+zebrafish.">Intraperitoneal injection into adult zebrafish.</a> J Vis Exp. (42), e2126 (2010).</li><li>Reavis, R. H., Grober, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+integrative+approach+to+sex+change:+social,+behavioural+and+neurochemical+changes+in+Lythrypnus+dalli+(Pisces).">An integrative approach to sex change: social, behavioural and neurochemical changes in Lythrypnus dalli (Pisces).</a> Acta Ethol. 2 (1), 51-60 (1999).</li><li>Milinski, M., Bakker, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Female+sticklebacks+use+male+coloration+in+mate+choice+and+hence+avoid+parasitized+males.">Female sticklebacks use male coloration in mate choice and hence avoid parasitized males.</a> Nature. 344, 330-333 (1990).</li><li>Basolo, A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phylogenetic+evidence+for+the+role+of+a+pre-existing+bias+in+sexual+selection.">Phylogenetic evidence for the role of a pre-existing bias in sexual selection.</a> Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 259 (1356), 307-311 (1995).</li><li>Milinski, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimal+forging:+the+influence+of+intraspecific+competition+on+diet+selection.">Optimal forging: the influence of intraspecific competition on diet selection.</a> Behav Ecol Sociobiol. 11 (2), 109-115 (1982).</li><li>Manabe, H., Ishimura, M., Shinomiya, A., Sunobe, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Field+evidence+for+bidirectional+sex+change+in+the+polygynous+gobiid+fish+Trimma+okinawae.">Field evidence for bidirectional sex change in the polygynous gobiid fish Trimma okinawae.</a> J Fish Biol. 70 (2), 600-609 (2007).</li><li>Stammler, K. L., Corkum, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+fish+size+on+shelter+choice+and+intraspecific+interactions+by+round+gobies+Neogobius+melanostomus.">Assessment of fish size on shelter choice and intraspecific interactions by round gobies Neogobius melanostomus.</a> Environ Biol Fishes. 73 (2), 117-123 (2005).</li><li>Matsumoto, Y., Tawa, A., Takegaki, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Female+mate+choice+in+a+paternal+brooding+blenny:+the+process+and+benefits+of+mating+with+males+tending+young+eggs.">Female mate choice in a paternal brooding blenny: the process and benefits of mating with males tending young eggs.</a> Ethology. 117 (3), 227-235 (2011).</li><li>McCormick, M. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behaviorally+induced+maternal+stress+in+a+fish+influences+progeny+quality+by+a+hormonal+mechanism.">Behaviorally induced maternal stress in a fish influences progeny quality by a hormonal mechanism.</a> Ecology. 79 (6), 1873-1883 (1998).</li><li>Knaepkens, G., Bruyndoncx, L., Coeck, J., Eens, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spawning+habitat+enhancement+in+the+European+bullhead+(Cottus+gobio),+an+endangered+freshwater+fish+in+degraded+lowland+rivers.">Spawning habitat enhancement in the European bullhead (Cottus gobio), an endangered freshwater fish in degraded lowland rivers.</a> Biodivers Conserv. 13 (13), 2443-2452 (2004).</li><li>Shiogaki, M., Dotsu, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+life+history+of+the+gobiid+fish,+Zonogobius+boreus.">The life history of the gobiid fish, Zonogobius boreus.</a> Bulletin of the Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University. 37, 1-8 (1974).</li><li>Meunier, B., Yavno, S., Ahmed, S., Corkum, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=First+documentation+of+spawning+and+nest+guarding+in+the+laboratory+by+the+invasive+fish,+the+round+goby+(Neogobius+melanostomus).">First documentation of spawning and nest guarding in the laboratory by the invasive fish, the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus).</a> J Great Lakes Res. 35 (4), 608-612 (2009).</li></ol>

The reproductive ecology of numerous fishes has often been revealed through experimental rearing. Especially, sex change6,8,14, mate choice15,16 and intraspecific competition7,17 have been frequent topics of detailed investigations using aquarium-kept fish. Furthermore, some results observed in aquaria have been ...

Spectacular adaptive evolution is evident in the morphology, ecology and behavior of fishes1. Especially, ecological features relating to reproduction are especially diverse, and most of these can be directly influenced by individual fitness2. To gain insight into selective pressures that have led to the evolution of unique features in different fish species, direct observation of reproductive and social behaviors using live fish is often beneficial to substantiate theoretical hypotheses.
However, continuous field observations of fish may require specialized underwater equipment and facilities that are difficult to maintain. In these cases, observations of wild-caught aquarium-reared fish can be helpful3,4,5. In addition, efficient observations of fish behaviors that are otherwise rare or difficult to observe under natural conditions can become possible by manipulating experiments in aquaria6,7,8. Rearing fish under good conditions by minimizing artificial stress and physical damage is critical for accurate ecological investigations.
The pygmy goby Trimma marinae reaches 23-25 mm total length and is distributed in the western Pacific Ocean, where it is found in quiet, sheltered bays, at depths of 9-26 m9. In this work, T. marinae is used as a model to describe a series of basic techniques for the collection of fish using the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), fish transport, and eventual acclimation of the fish to aquaria for direct observation of the study species&#39; reproductive behavior and ecology.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1037">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:192px;">Hand net</td>
			<td style="width:193px;">Nisso</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">AQ-17</td>
			<td style="width:544px;">Select for the target species size.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Polyethylene bag</td>
			<td>San-U Fish Farm</td>
			<td>8194</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Rubber band</td>
			<td>ESCO Co. LTD.</td>
			<td>78-0420-64</td>
			<td>&#248; 80 mm x 6 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Oxygen cylinder</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Oxgen cylinder for diving equipment suits.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Elbagin</td>
			<td>Japan Pet Design Co. Ltd.</td>
			<td>75950</td>
			<td>Pafurazine F (provided from same company) is equivalent drug to Elbagin.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Polystyrene foam box</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pipette</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>1-8625-04</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Rope</td>
			<td>Mizukami Kinzoku Co. LTD.</td>
			<td>95301601</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Weight</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Weight for diving equipment suits.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Water tank</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Air pump</td>
			<td>KOTOBUKI</td>
			<td colspan="2">4972814 062115</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Air stone</td>
			<td>KOTOBUKI</td>
			<td colspan="2">4972814 232204</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">2-Methylquinoline&#160;</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>170-00376</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethanol (99.5)</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>057-00456</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Visible implant elastomer tag kit</td>
			<td>Northwest Marine Technology</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>http://www.nmt.us/products/vie/vie.shtml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Soft sponge</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PVC board</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>0.3 mm thickness is easy to use.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Petri dish</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>A large one, such as&#160; &#248; 160 mm and 30 mm depth, is convenient for the injection of the VIE tag.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Transparent acrylic board</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">UVA filtered light&#160;</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PVC pipe</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>&#248; 5 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Waterproof sheet</td>
			<td>SOMAR Corp.</td>
			<td>3EKW03</td>
			<td>The film for the plain copier.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sand</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Stereo microscope</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Camera</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

basic methods for the study of reproductive ecology of fish in aquaria

Captive-rearing observations are valuable for revealing aspects of fish behavior and ecology when continuous field investigations are impossible. Here, a series of basic techniques are described to enable observations of the reproductive behavior of a wild-caught gobiid fish, as a model, kept in an aquarium. The method focuses on three steps: collection, transport, and observations of reproductive ecology of a substrate spawner. Essential aspects of live fish collection and transport are (1) preventing injury to the fish, and (2) careful acclimation to the aquarium. Preventing harm through injuries such as scratches or a sudden change of water pressure is imperative when collecting live fish, as any physical damage is likely to negatively affect the survival and later behavior of the fish. Careful acclimation to aquaria decreases the incidence death and mitigates the shock of transport. Observations during captive rearing include (1) the identification of individual fish and (2) monitoring spawned eggs without negative effects to the fish or eggs, thereby enabling detailed investigation of the study species' reproductive ecology. The subcutaneous injection of a visible implant elastomer (VIE) tag is a precise method for the subsequent identification of individual fish, and it can be used with a wide size range of fish, with minimal influence on their survival and behavior. If the study species is a substrate spawner that deposits adhesive eggs, an artificial nest site constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with the addition of a removable waterproof sheet will facilitate counting and monitoring the eggs, lessening the investigator's influence on the nest-holding and egg-guarding behavior of the fish. Although this basic method entails techniques that are seldom mentioned in detail in research articles, they are fundamental for undertaking experiments that require the captive rearing of a wild fish.

Following the above methods, 41, 15 and 96 individuals of T. marinae were collected in April 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, offshore of Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan (Table 1). In each case, 25 (61%), 14 (93%) and 91 (95%) individuals lived until depositing eggs in an aquarium. As reported in Fukuda et al.3, only one fish died before the end of the observation period in 2014, and fish spawning otherwise appeared to...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria at JoVE.com

Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria

A series of basic methods to enable the study of the reproductive ecology of fish kept in aquaria are described. These are useful protocols for collecting fish using SCUBA, transporting live fish, and observing the reproductive behavior of wild-caught fish kept in aquaria.

Captive-rearing observations are valuable for revealing aspects of fish behavior and ecology when continuous field investigations are impossible. Here, a ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to implant identifying tags in live fish without injury, to facilitate various ecological studies using wild caught fish in aquarium. This method can help answer key question in the fish behavioral ecology field;such as the reproductive and social behavior of fishes. The main advantage of this technique is that we can conduct experiment on the fish without any major negative effect on their behavior.This section shows how fish are implanted with VIE tags. If the fish cannot be held by hand because it is too small, build a surgical table to hold such fish. First cut a soft sponge into a five square centimeter section, 20 to 25 millimeters tall.Then cut a groove into the sponge that is five to 10 millimeters deep and is as wide as the fish it will hold. Next cut a piece of 0.3 millimeter thick polyvinyl chloride to precisely fit over the sponge. Then add a valley fold to the PVC, and position it into the central groove.Now transfer the assembly to a 160 millimeter dish with 30 millimeter walls, and fill the dish with water from the recovery tank until the PVC board is completely immersed. This completes the surgical table. Now proceed with tagging a fish.To begin, choose an injection site and tag color. It is safer to inject the thick muscular dorsal or caudal regions, then to inject the abdomen where internal organs may be pierced. If the study species is large enough there will be eight reasonable positions for a tag.With just one tag color and use of all eight positions, 154 unique identifying patterns can be made. For the tag color, choose the one that will best contrast the body color. Then prepare the VIE tags using the tagging kit.Mix the elastomer materials and load it into a three millimeter syringe with a 29 gauge needle. Next prepare two water tanks to use during the tag injections. One for anesthesia and one for recovery.Use an air stone to mildly circulate the water in the recovery tank. For the anesthesia tank, make a one to one mixture stock of two methylquinoline and 99.5%ethanol. Make just enough to have an 18 ppm of two methylquinoline in the tank, and mix it thoroughly into the tank water.After completing these preparations, proceed with tagging the fish. Transfer an individual fish to the anesthesia tank and cover the tank so it cannot escape. Fine tune this step according to the species.The concentration of anesthetic is an important factor. Wait until the fish does not react to water vibrations or to being touched. Do not wait for the operculum to stop moving or the fish will be at a high risk of death.When the fish is ready, remove it by hand. Use a cold water acclimated hand so the fish is not warmed too much, keeping it stronger. Lift a fish from the anesthesia tank and quickly take physical measurements.If a fish appears to recover during this time, immediately transfer it back to the anesthesia tank. If the fish is small, transfer it to the surgical table ventral side down in the PVC groove. If the fish is very small, use a binocular microscope to make the injection.If the fish happens to be large enough to hold by hand, inject it handheld. Now position the beveled side of the needle outwards, and the pointed side toward the fish. Then insert the needle subcutaneously more or less parallel to the body and very shallow, just under the skin.Ultimately the goal is to make the tag visibile, so adjust as needed. Next, inject the VIE tag while withdrawing the needle and stop the injection before the needle bevel reaches the entry point. Injecting a relatively wide area on the fish makes it easier to judge the stopping point.If the injection doesn't go well, make certain that the anesthesia is working and that the needle is quickly inserted to the appropriate depth. Once injected immediately transfer the fish to the recovery tank. If recovery takes more than two minutes, gently circulate the water by hand.After the fish recovers, return it to the rearing aquarium using a net. In the rearing aquarium, provide 10 ppm of Elbagin for three days to prevent wound infection. If the fish are housed under low visibility conditions, the VIE tags can be seen more clearly using UVA filtered light.Reproductive ecology of Trimma marinae, the Princess Pygmy Goby, was studied using VIE tags. Wild individuals collected offshore of Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, once per year. Most survived and spawned about seven days after capture.The VIE tags were visibile and allowed identification of individual Gobys even though they are quite small. The Pygmy Goby tended to establish reproductive pairs between which most of the observed spawning occurred. Only males were observed caring for eggs.Aggressive interactions between the females suggest that the monogamous mating system may result mainly from mate guarding. When eggs were deposited on a waterproof sheet they were visible enough to be counted. After the sheet was removed, photographed and returned to its former place in the aquarium, the nesting male immediately continued paternal care.Analysis of the egg counts revealed a positive correlation between female fecundity and female body size. Whereas no difference in reproductive success was observed among differently sized males. Since developing this procedure, we have been able to perform various behavioral experiment using a lot of variety of fish more easily and accurately then we had using other fish identifying systems.

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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

There has been a long-standing interest in the assessment of the neurobehavioral integrity of the newborn infant.  The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale ...

Stereotaxic Microinjection of Viral Vectors Expressing Cre Recombinase to Study the Role of Target Genes in Cocaine Conditioned Place Preference

Microinjecting recombinant adenoassociated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing Cre recombinase into distinct mouse brain regions to selectively knockout genes ...

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

In human drug addicts, exposure to drug-associated cues or environments that were previously associated with drug taking can trigger relapse during ...

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

Kinesthetic awareness is important to successfully navigate the environment. When we interact with our daily surroundings, some aspects of movement are ...

Implantation and Recording of Wireless Electroretinogram and Visual Evoked Potential in Conscious Rats

The full-field electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) are useful tools to assess retinal and visual pathway integrity in both ...

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

The complex lifestyle, evolutionary history of advanced cooperation, and disease defenses of leaf-cutting ants are well studied. Although numerous studies ...

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Over the last decade, employing computer animations for animal behavior research has increased due to its ability to non-invasively manipulate the ...

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans

"Affective" touch is believed to be processed in a manner distinct from discriminatory touch and to involve activation of C-tactile (CT) afferent fibers. ...

In Vivo Protocol of Controlled Subconcussive Head Impacts for the Validation of Field Study Data

Subconcussive hits pose a threat to neuronal health as they have shown to induce neuronal structural damage and functional impairment without causing ...

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Valid and efficient measures for assessing the quality of parent-child relationships are needed to facilitate research and evidence-based practice with ...