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<p>Social context can alter how fishes use visual information, but whether it reshapes background color preference and its association with movement remains unclear. We tested this in juvenile <i>Sciaenochromis fryeri</i> using a six-color arena and automated trajectory extraction. Fish were observed under four social conditions: individual testing, group housing, long-term social isolation, and visual social companionship. We quantified residence in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple sectors, together with swimming speed, acceleration, total distance moved, and the proportion of time spent moving. We found that social condition changed both color-associated space use and movement expression. Individually tested and group-housed fish spent more time in blue and purple sectors, whereas socially isolated fish showed a flatter distribution with increased use of orange and yellow sectors. Fish tested with visual conspecifics concentrated their activity in green and blue sectors. Group-housed fish spent the greatest proportion of time moving, isolated fish showed reduced locomotor activity, and individually tested and visually accompanied fish showed higher acceleration. Associations between sector residence and movement traits also differed among social conditions. These findings indicate that color preference in juvenile <i>S. fryeri</i> is not a fixed trait but part of a socially contingent sensorimotor response.</p>

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How social environments influence cichlid color preferences and movement traits: experimental evidence from behavioral trajectory extraction

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月23日

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  • Haoxiang Zhao,
  • Tiji Huang,
  • Cheng Fu,
  • Jigang Xia,
  • Wenao Gong,
  • Shijian Fu

摘要

Social context can alter how fishes use visual information, but whether it reshapes background color preference and its association with movement remains unclear. We tested this in juvenile Sciaenochromis fryeri using a six-color arena and automated trajectory extraction. Fish were observed under four social conditions: individual testing, group housing, long-term social isolation, and visual social companionship. We quantified residence in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple sectors, together with swimming speed, acceleration, total distance moved, and the proportion of time spent moving. We found that social condition changed both color-associated space use and movement expression. Individually tested and group-housed fish spent more time in blue and purple sectors, whereas socially isolated fish showed a flatter distribution with increased use of orange and yellow sectors. Fish tested with visual conspecifics concentrated their activity in green and blue sectors. Group-housed fish spent the greatest proportion of time moving, isolated fish showed reduced locomotor activity, and individually tested and visually accompanied fish showed higher acceleration. Associations between sector residence and movement traits also differed among social conditions. These findings indicate that color preference in juvenile S. fryeri is not a fixed trait but part of a socially contingent sensorimotor response.