Fighting fish Betta splendens extract relative information from apparent interactions: what happens when what you see is not what you get

摘要: Abstract Aggressive signalling interactions contain information that could be used by individuals other than those directly involved in the interaction. We investigated whether relative contained such is others a laboratory setting. Male fighting fish (subjects) were allowed to see three treatments, without themselves being seen. In control treatment subjects saw two males not interacting. real interaction apparent appear subject interacting but actually with hidden from subject's view. After observing was interact visually male ‘opponents’ turn. both treatments outcome of observed (i.e. opponent won or lost) significantly affected aggressive response opponent, more strongly interactions. Subjects responded opponents had apparently shorter latencies, time spent near and displaying, tail beats attempted bites. No absolute measures related subjects' responses. Our results suggest level aggression seen eavesdroppers affects how they gather use information.