title: Behavioural plasticity of lake charr (Salvelinus namaycush) x brook charr (S. fontinalis) F1 hybrids in response to varying social environment.
abstract: Lake x brook F1 hybrid charr were observed in heterogeneous groups with lake charr or brook charr to assess the effects of different species on hybrid social behaviour. Levels of behavioural plasticity were low in relation to the behavioural differences between the parental and hybrid types. Feeding behaviour showed the most dramatic change, with higher levels in the lake charr treatment and lower levels in the brook charr treatment than controls, suggesting social facilitation. Even though only two measures varied significantly between treatments, there was a tendency for the frequencies and durations of all agonistic measures to increase in the presence of lake charr and decrease with brook charr. A cost-benefit argument is presented to account for this trend.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Noakes