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Mate Choice in Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Response to Virtual Mates: A Method for the Investigation of Fish Mate Choice Using Maya 3D Simulation Technology
1
Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
2
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Fishery Resources and Eco-Environment, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2024, 14(23), 3369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233369
Submission received: 27 October 2024
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Revised: 16 November 2024
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Accepted: 21 November 2024
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Published: 22 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Topic The Importance of Fish Phenotype in Aquaculture, Fisheries and Conservation)
Simple Summary
This study explored how visual signals affect mate choice in animals, focusing on the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). We created 3D simulation animations using the Maya 2018 software to accurately replicate key movements and behaviors essential for our research. Through preference tests, we validated these animations and found that the fish could effectively identify 3D simulated mates. Both male and female mosquitofish exhibited a strong preference for larger animations. Additionally, the fish displayed significantly greater attraction to 3D simulations compared to 2D ones. These findings underscore the potential of 3D simulation technology in studying fish behavior, offering an efficient, precise, and non-invasive method for future research on mate choice. This work not only enhances our understanding of animal behavior but also contributes to conservation strategies aimed at preserving fish populations and their ecosystems.
Abstract
Visual signals are crucial for animals to obtain information about their environment, and they play a significant role in mate choice. However, individual variability and factors such as movement patterns can hinder research flexibility. A key challenge in this field is the accurate simulation of specific movements and behaviors. In this study, we investigated the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) by creating 3D simulation animations using the Maya 2018 software. Meanwhile, we validated the effectiveness of this animation through dichotomous association preference tests. The results showed that our subjects could successfully identify 3D simulated mates, and both males and females demonstrated pronounced preferences for larger simulated animations. Moreover, our findings revealed that this species exhibited a notably stronger preference for 3D simulations compared to 2D animations. These findings suggest that 3D simulation technology holds significant potential for the investigation of fish mate choice, offering an efficient, precise, standardized, and easily manageable non-invasive method for future research in fish behavior.
