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Environmental Change Enhances Cognitive Abilities in Fish

I.

Introduction

The topic being, "cognitive abilities of fish", shows connections to evolution and the
study thereof. The scientists have concluded because of natural selection that
animals in changing environments have an increase in cognitive abilities in order to
adapt to the changing environment. The reason for the choice of this particular
subject was not clearly stated. It seems as though it was chosen to further expound
the theory of evolution.
This research shows cognitive abilities of an animal increase when exposed to
environmental changes, aren't we animals also and do the results of the experiment
directly relate to the human race? This research was compiled to show that the
conditions of an animal directly affect its behavior, physiology, and morphology;
Animals may adapt by altering their behavior, physiology, or morphology, said

[Kotrschal, 2016].
The information that the researchers are trying to gather is how well a fish can
respond to a signal (food and cue) and if this response is improved when its
environment is changed. The main goal of the research is to show that
environmental changes improve the cognitive abilities of animals; that research
being done on fish.
The topic's relevance is directly related to humans and can easily be compared to
populations of people that experience environmental changes. Because it can be
related to humans we can suggest the exposure to environmental changes in the
case of a human can improve behavior and cognitive abilities of that human. The

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tested hypothesis was to show whether or not environmental changes would affect
the behavior, physiology, and morphology of a fish.
II.

Materials and Methods

The research consisted of two experiments on two groups of fish (juveniles and
adults) at separate times 1 year apart. Most of the experiment was observational
and the data recorded was compiled by the same person for accuracy purposes.
The environmental change was controlled by different feeding conditions, high food
rations, and low food rations.
A 1mm gray grid measured their size and their weight was recorded by an
electronic balance. Both measurements were recorded once every 3 weeks. Besides
the tools used to measure the fishes growth, there were two cues in the tank, red
"X" and a blue "square", to signal the fish to eat. Their cognitive ability was
measured by how long it took them to recognize the cue as a sign for food and
retrieve the food.
III.

Results

Overall the results showed that a change in the environment increases cognitive
ability. During the experiments some fish were inconclusive and did not show
results, this amount being so small that the majority ruled. It was also shown that
there wasn't a difference between juvenile fish and adult fish. The fish that were
again tested a year later showed that the memory of a fish was not good or
changed from the experiment, but the fish had similar results when tested again as
adults. There were significant changes between the fish that had environmental
changes and the controlled group.

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Their data showed that the tested fish were slightly more affected by the
environmental change then the controlled group, increasing their cognitive ability
because they were in a state of environmental change, whereas the controlled
group had a consistent ration of food. During the year between the experiments
some fish died. So new fish were added to increase the sample size. These fish
surprisingly outperformed the previously tested fish in year 1. It is assumed that the
experienced fish recognized the feeding method rather than the cue and were not
as responsive to the cues.
IV.

Discussion

It's conclusive that environmental changes can increase the cognitive abilities of
fish. Information and data results supported the hypothesis of the scientists. Their
research has definitely supported the hypothesis, but not proven it to be true. The
tests were only done on fish and not other animals and we can conclude that other
animals might react differently. With the large group of fish, enough data was
collected to come to a conclusion that the environmental change improved the
fishs behavior. They wanted to expand their research on other animals to collect
data and adjust the variable (environmental change) or how they test the animals.
One big limitation is the amount of fish that you can test. Only so many fish can be
tested in a day and there is only so much tank space for the fish. It would have been
useful to broaden the research to different species to support the idea that the
hypothesis has the potential to be universal for all species. They should have at
least extended their research to different fish that live in different environments.

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Citations
Kotrschal, A., & Taborsky, B. (2016). Animal Biology/Cognitive Abilities in
Fish. Biology 1615.
Retrieved 9 March 2016, from
http://biology1615.weebly.com/animal-biology.html