Quantifying anti-predator responses to chemical alarm cues

Abstract

A behavioral assay of responses to chemical alarm cues can be used to test for cognitive functions related to olfaction, learning, and memory. Alarm cues are chemicals released from damaged epithelial tissue. These cues indicate the presence of predation risk because they are released only after an attack by a predator. Here, I describe a protocol for quantifying behavioral response to these cues and a method for preparing skin extract that contain these cues. In addition, estimates of accuracy and repeatability of these methods are presented for predicting cue potency based on area and mass of skin fillet. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.