title: Fighting Nemo: Effect of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) on aggressive behavior and social hierarchy of the false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris.
abstract: Aggressive behavior is crucial for maintaining social hierarchy in anemonefish. Endocrine disrupting chemicals such as EE2 may affect fish social hierarchy via disrupting their aggression. In this study, we aimed to characterize the effects of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) on aggressive behavior and social hierarchy in the false clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris). In the laboratory experiment, juvenile anemonefish were randomly distributed to separated tanks to form small colonies of three individuals and were fed with EE2-dosed diet (100ng/g food) or a control diet for 90d. Through the experiment, each tank was videotaped and behavioral indicators of social status, including aggressive behavior, submissive response, and shelter utilization, were quantitatively analyzed from the videos. The EE2 exposure caused a higher frequency of intra-colonial aggressive interactions and a less stable social hierarchy. Our findings demonstrate the importance of examining the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the social behavior of coral reef fish.
authors.affiliation: National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, 2 Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan. Electronic address: tehaochen@nmmba.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Te-Hao
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005399:Fishes; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D010473:Perciformes
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol
keywords: Anemonefish; Behavior; EE2; Endocrine disrupting chemicals