Neolamprologus Pulcher

Conspecific interactions help determine how effective an individual is in its environment (Hellman & Hamilton 2014). Neolamprologus pulcher, or chchlids, are a social species that live in cooperatively breeding groups who also interact with neighboring groups (Hellman & Hamilton 2014). One interaction within the species that was studied was the aggressive interactions with a predator based on the presence or absence of neighbors (Hellman & Hamilton 2014). It was predicted that the cichlids would increase their defense when neighbors were present with the subordinates being especially sensitive to their presence and also that defense against predators would be higher when unfamiliar neighbors were around versus familiar ones (Hellman & Hamilton

Group size ranged from 3 to 10 cichlids and contained at least one subordinate (Hellman & Hamilton 2014). At complete random, groups were exposed to predators with and without neighbors around. The predator used to produce the aggressive interactions was an Altolamprologus compressiceps, this gave a moderate threat but still offered the ability to measure social interactions (Hellman & Hamilton 2014). The predator was presented into the tank in a glass jar, observations were done in fifteen minute increments, and video recorded to document the behaviors of the interactions. Interactions were divided into overt or physical contact and restrained or without physical contact. As a control an empty jar was placed in the tanks (Hellman & Hamilton

(Schadelin et al. 2012) Using the Neolamprologus caudopunctatus species they conducted the experiment by forming pairs of potential breeders in tanks and letting them bond and construct a breeding cavity. To test their bond after three days, a predator was placed in the tank within a plastic tube and the aggression reaction towards the predator together determined if a bond had been made. They put the stimulus pair, which had more time to invest in territory establishment prior to the experiment, in the central tank and later introduced a test pair into the same central tank with three potential breeding cavities. After fourteen days small predators, Lepidiolamprologus elongatus, were presented into the tank in transparent plastic tubes. The antipredator attacks were compared to one group versus both groups (Schadelin et al. 2012). The results of the study showed that there was a reduction in predator defense by the test pair when they established their breeding cavity next to a neighbor. Potential explanations for this result is that in the presence of an established neighbor they could potentially indicate better breeding habitat and greater safety through increased mobbing (Schadelin et al.