Wall-following – phylogenetic context of an enhanced behaviour in stygomorphic Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) cavefishes
Data files
Sep 13, 2025 version files 29.50 KB
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README.md
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Sinocyclocheilus_supplementary_data1.csv
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Sinocyclocheilus_supplementary_data2.csv
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Abstract
With 75 known species, the freshwater-fish genus Sinocyclocheilus is the largest cavefish radiation in the world, emerging as a model system for evolutionary studies. They show multiple adaptations for cave dwelling (stygomorphic adaptations), which include a range of traits such as eye degeneration (Normal-eyed, Micro-eyed and Eyeless), depigmentation of skin, and in some species, the presence of “horns”. Their behavioural adaptations to subterranean environments, however, are poorly understood. Wall-following (WF) behaviour, where an organism remains in close contact with the boundary demarcating its habitat when in the dark, is a peculiar behaviour observed in a wide range of animals and is enhanced in some cave dwellers. Hence, we hypothesize wall-following to be present also in Sinocyclocheilus, possibly enhanced in Eyeless species compared to species with visual cues (Normal / Micro-eyed species). Using 13 species representative of Sinocyclocheilus radiation and eye-morphs, we designed a series of assays, based on pre-existing methods for Astyanax mexicanus behavioural experiments, to examine wall-following behaviour under three stimulation conditions. Our results indicate that eyeless species exhibit significantly enhanced levels of WF compared to Normal-eyed species, with Micro-eyed forms demonstrating intermediate levels. Using a mtDNA based dated phylogeny (chronogram with four clades A – D), we traced the degree of WF of these forms to outline common patterns. We show that intensity of WF behaviour is high in the subterranean clades (B & C) compared to clades with free-living species (A & D). Experiments on WF behaviour revealed that eyeless species are highly sensitive to vibrations, whereas normal-eyed species are the least sensitive. Since WF behaviour is present to some degree in all Sinocyclocheilus species, and given that these fishes evolved in the late Miocene, we identify this behaviour as being ancestral with WF enhancement related to cave occupation. Our results from this diversification-scale study of cavefish behaviour suggest that enhanced wall-following behaviour may be a convergent trait across all stygomorphic cavefish lineages.
This readme file was generated on 2024-03-05 by Bing Chen
GENERAL INFORMATION
Date of data collection: 2019-2021
Geographic location of data collection: Guangxi University, NanNing, China
DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
- "Sinocyclocheilus_supplementary_data1.csv": Raw data collection about wall-following behaviour from laboratory measurements. All Abbreviations were set the same as "TABLE A2. The definition and measurements of all variables in this study"
- WF:Wall-following
- SL: Standard Length
- Pfin: Pectoral fin
- S: Stimulation
- WF-Distance: Distance fish swam in wall-following range/standard length (SL)
- WF-Time: Time that fish spend for wall-following/whole testing time (%)
- WF-Resting Time: Time of swimming speeds <0.2 (cm/s)/whole testing time (%)
- WF-Speed: Tested by EthoVision XT as average speed (SL/s)
- WF-Max Speed: The maximum speed fish reached in one assay (SL/s)
- WF-Frequency: The times fish swimming into wall-following range (–)
- S-Time: Time fish swimming in stimulation range (%)
- S-Speed: Average speed in stimulation range (SL/s)
- S-Max Speed: The max speed in stimulation range (SL/s)
- S-Frequency: The times fish swam into stimulation range (–)
- SE-diameter: Diameter of eyeball/diameter of eye orbit (–)
- Standard Length: The length from the tip of mouth to the end of caudal fin (cm)
- Angle3: Angle of approaching to stimulation, the third time (degree)
- Angle2: Angle of approaching to stimulation, the second time (degree)
- Angle1: Angle of approaching to stimulation, the first time (degree)
- Distance3: Distance of the third approach (cm)
- Distance2: Distance of the second approach (cm)
- Distance1: Distance of the first approach (cm)
- "Sinocyclocheilus_supplementary_data2.csv": Raw data collection from wall-following behaviour in the "Approaching distance, angle" laboratory measurements.
METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
- Description of methods used for collection/generation of data:
Measurements were collected from the lab work. - Methods for processing the data:
Behaviour was recorded by Cannon infrared camera (Cannon XF 405) and analysis was measured by software "EthoVision XT v.15 (Noldus IT, Wageningen, Netherlands)".
- Chen, Bing; Dai, Wen‐Zhang; Li, Xiang‐Lin et al. (2024). Wall‐following – Phylogenetic context of an enhanced behaviour in stygomorphic Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) cavefishes. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11575
- Chen, Bing; Dai, Wen-Zhang; Li, Xiang-Lin et al. (2023). Wall-following – phylogenetic context of an enhanced behaviour in stygomorphicSinocyclocheilus(Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) cavefishes [Preprint]. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.31.555641
