Developmental Behavioural Plasticity and DNA Methylation Patterns in Response to Predation Stress in Trinidadian Guppies

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Ecology
• Neuroscience
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Early-life experiences shape adult behavior, promoting adaptive responses to predicted environments.
• Epigenetic mechanisms, like DNA methylation (DNAm), are crucial for developmental plasticity but require further study across diverse species and ecological contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of early-life predation stress on adult behavior and brain DNA methylation in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

Main Methods:

• Guppies were exposed to alarm cues (predation stress) or control cues during development.
• Behavioral assays (open-field, grouping) were conducted in adulthood.
• Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was used to analyze brain DNA methylation patterns.

Main Results:

• Developmental exposure to alarm cues increased adult shoaling behavior in guppies.
• No significant changes were observed in activity, boldness, or exploratory behavior.
• Stable shifts in brain DNA methylation were identified in genes related to behavioral regulation, with some sites correlating with shoaling propensity.
• Sex-specific differences in DNA methylation responses were noted.

Conclusions:

• Early-life predation stress can induce lasting behavioral changes, specifically increased shoaling, in adult guppies.
• Neural DNA methylation shifts are a potential underlying mechanism for these stress-induced behavioral modifications.
• The findings underscore the role of epigenetics in mediating adaptive behavioral plasticity in response to environmental cues.