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Journalism of Courage
When predicting the outcome of a fight,the big guy doesn’t always win,according to new research on fish. Scientists at the University of Exeter and Texas A&M University found that when fish fight over food,it is personality,rather than size,that determines whether they will be victorious.
The findings suggest that when resources are in short supply personality traits such as aggression could be more important than strength when it comes to survival. The study,published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology,found that small fish were able to do well in contests for food against larger fish provided they were aggressive.
“The research suggests that personality can have far reaching implications for life and survival,” Wilson said. The sheep head swordtail fish (Xiphophorus birchmanni) were placed in pairs in a fish tank,food was added and their behaviour was captured on film.
The feeding contest trials were carried out with both male and female fish. The researchers found that while males regularly attacked their opponent to win the food,females were much less aggressive and rarely attacked.
In animals,personality is considered to be behaviour that is repeatedly observed under certain conditions. Major aspects of personality such as shyness or aggressiveness have previously been characterised and are thought to have important ecological significance. There is also evidence to suggest that certain aspects of personality can be inherited.
