1. Natural Science Biology Lab
University of Akron
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2.  Demonstrate an understanding of ethology
through careful observations.
 Understand the difference between cues,
stimuli, and triggers.
 Differentiate between betta in the wild,
versus betta raised in captivity.
 Compare and contrast interspecific and
intraspecific behaviors.
 Describe betta behavior without using
anthropomorphic terminology.
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3.  Behaviors are responses to various stimuli
 A stimulus is anything that triggers a
response (ie. light, sight of food, rival male)
 One of the most common behaviors among
animals (including humans) is fighting
SPARRING
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4. Why do animals fight?
 Food
 Defense
 Social status
 Territories for breeding/spawning
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5.  Males have evolved to be extremely aggressive
 Agonistic behaviors are exhibited between males
to assert dominance
 Dominant males have greater access to females
and thus higher fitness
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6.  Studying the behaviors of betta fish in
response to various stimuli, cues, and triggers
 Interpreting these behaviors in the context of
natural selection (Why would certain
behaviors be chosen for?)
 Avoiding anthropomorphisms like “this fish is
mad” or “that guy was scared”
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7. • Rice Paddies
• Slow moving
streams
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8.  Labyrinth organ
 Allows fish to “gulp air”
 Fish swims to the
surface and takes a gulp
of atmospheric oxygen,
which supplements the
oxygen received
through the gills
 Still found in
domesticated bettas
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11.  Agonistic behaviors
 Fin flickering
 Tail beating
 Raising fins
 Nipping or biting
 Aggression against your own species
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12.  Individuals of different
species compete for
resources.
 Examples – food, living
space, sunlight
 Students observing bettas
may affect the experiment
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13.  Fish get “stressed” much the same as we do
 Follow the guidelines described in the lab to
minimize undue stress
 All Animal research done in an Accredited
University has to go through IACUC
(Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee) which provides intense,
research-based protocols.
 People cannot just do animal research – must
be grounded in theory, use standard
protocols, and be as ethical as possible
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14. If you were a betta fish, what would your world
look like, from inside that tiny tank?
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