Escape Responses of Herring Larvae to Visual Stimuli

摘要: Predation is now considered the main cause of mortality in larval and juvenile fish (Hunter, 1984) therefore most important factor controlling recruitment to adult population. Marine larvae are prey for many different types predator including medusae, crustaceans larger fish. When predatory attacks sensed both may respond by making a 'C-start', very fast, simultaneous contraction trunk musculature that deforms body into C-shape within 20 ms (Eaton & Hackett, 1984). This startle response mediated Mauthner cells, pair prominent neurones hind brain or other reticulo-spinal cells located same region. As result reciprocal inhibition decussation cell axon, stimulation on one side results all muscle contralateral side.