Fish Cognition and Behaviour

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 277

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Fish Cognition and Behaviour”, aims to advance our understanding of the cognitive abilities and behavioral strategies of fish, shedding light on their ecological, evolutionary and neurobiological significance. This collection seeks to explore the mechanisms underlying fish cognition, including perception, learning, memory, decision-making, and social interactions, as well as how these behaviors adapt to environmental challenges.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Cognitive processes in fish, such as problem-solving, spatial navigation, and tool use.
  • Behavioral adaptations to changing environments (e.g., climate change, habitat loss).
  • Social behavior and communication in fish populations.
  • Neurobiological foundations of cognition and behavior in fish species.
  • Comparative studies between fish and other vertebrates in cognitive or behavioral traits.
  • Applications of fish cognition research in conservation biology and aquaculture.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research articles, reviews, case studies, and methodological advancements that provide novel insights into fish cognition and behavior. By compiling interdisciplinary perspectives from ethology, neurobiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and biomedical research, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of these fascinating organisms in experimental science.

Dr. Asahi Ogi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cognitive processes
  • behavioral adaptations
  • social behavior
  • neurobiological foundations
  • fish ethology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2519 KiB  
Article
Genetic Variability Related Behavioral Plasticity in Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L.) Fingerlings
by Ildikó Benedek, Béla Urbányi, Balázs Kovács, István Lehoczky, Attila Zsolnai and Tamás Molnár
Animals 2025, 15(15), 2229; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152229 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 152
Abstract
Background: The relationship between genetic diversity and fitness is well understood, but few studies have investigated how behavior influences genetic diversity, or vice versa. We investigated the relationship between feeding behavior (on a pelleted diet) and genetic diversity in pikeperch, a piscivorous species. [...] Read more.
Background: The relationship between genetic diversity and fitness is well understood, but few studies have investigated how behavior influences genetic diversity, or vice versa. We investigated the relationship between feeding behavior (on a pelleted diet) and genetic diversity in pikeperch, a piscivorous species. Methods: A total of 135 juvenile pikeperch from the same stock were grouped into three behavioral groups: pellet consuming, pellet refusing, and cannibalistic. Eighteen microsatellite markers were used to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of individuals. Results: The juveniles were classified into two genetic clusters: one dominated by pellet-consuming individuals and the other by pellet-refusing individuals containing equal proportions of cannibal individuals. Three of the microsatellite markers were under selection, but only one showed significant genetic segregation between the groups. For this marker, the pellet consumption was associated with low fragment length. Individual multilocus heterozygosity was significantly higher in the pellet-refusing group. Conclusions: These results suggest that pellet consumption acts as an uncontrolled selective force during domestication, influencing the genetic variability of domesticated populations. The ability to habituate to pellets has a significant genetic basis. Cannibalism does not affect genetic variability, and the emergence of the trait is independent of the propensity to consume pellets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Cognition and Behaviour)
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