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The Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 2535-2543 (2002)
© 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited

Behavioural and neuroendocrine effects of environmental background colour and social interaction in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Erik Höglund¹, Paul H. M. Balm² and Svante Winberg^3,4,*

¹ Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Limnology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 20, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
² Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6526 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
³ Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Animal Development and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
⁴ Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Comparative Physiology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: svante.winberg{at}ebc.uu.se )

Accepted 23 May 2002

In salmonid fish, a darker skin colour has been suggested to signal social subordination. Substratum colour is another factor affecting skin pigmentation in fish; in the present experiment, juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) were acclimated and allowed to interact in pairs for 5 days on a pale or dark background colour. Skin darkness was quantified prior to and following social interaction. Furthermore, agonistic behaviour and skin darkness were quantified, together with plasma levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and -melanocyte-stimulating hormone (-MSH), and brain levels of monoamines and monoamine metabolites. The results show that fish interacting on a white background were more aggressive than those interacting on a black background. Social subordination resulted in skin darkening in fish kept on a white background, but not in fish kept on a black background. Furthermore, subordinate fish on a white background showed an elevation of brain norepinephric activity, an effect not seen in subordinate fish on a black background. Subordinate fish on both white and black backgrounds showed a similar activation of the brain serotonergic system and the hypothalamic—pituitary—interrenal axis. These results support the suggestion that skin darkening in subordinates acts as a social signal announcing social submission.

Key words: Salmonidae, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptide, skin darkening, brain, social signal, Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus

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