Escape Responses of Herring Larvae to Visual Stimuli

Abstract

Predation is now considered the main cause of mortality in larval and juvenile fish (Hunter, 1984) and is therefore the most important factor controlling recruitment to the adult population. Marine fish larvae are prey for many different types of predator including medusae, crustaceans and larger fish. When predatory attacks are sensed both adult and larval fish may respond by making a 'C-start', a very fast, simultaneous contraction of the trunk musculature that deforms the body into a C-shape within 20 ms (Eaton & Hackett, 1984). This startle response is mediated by the Mauthner cells, a pair of prominent neurones in the hind brain or by other reticulo-spinal cells located in the same region. As a result of reciprocal inhibition and decussation of the cell axon, stimulation on one side of the body results in contraction of all the muscle on the contralateral side.