Formation of the chemical search images in laboratory

In 1986, Kasymyan & Ponomarev have published the results of their behavioural experiments with several tens of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, divided into two training groups. In training Group 1, fish were fed (from birth to 3 month age) planktonic Cladocera and bloodworms (Chironomus plumosus), in Group 2  Cladocera and sludge worms (Tubifex tubifex).

Then fish were moved into an experimental aquarium, where they had the possibility to select one of two sections: with water extract of bloodworms and, respectively, with water extract of sludge worms (under concentration of these extracts 10^-2 – 10^-3 g/l). According to Kasumyan & Ponomarev (1986), fish of the first group preferred (displaying search feeding behaviour) an aquarium section with the Chironomus plumosus odor, and vise versa — fish of the second group preferred another section, with the Tubifex tubifex odor.

In other words, training fish preferred the familiar feeding odors.

In general and applied ethology, this phenomenon is considered in the terms of an acquired search image. An acquired search image forms in the long-term memory of an animal during its learning (both in the nature or laboratory) and is used further as an etalon (template, specimen) to collate the receiving perceptual information. In our case, an acquired chemical search image forms in respect of an odor of some object.

How chemical search images form in other fish and crustaceans,  study the basic references given below.

Basic References

Atema J., Holland K., Ikehara W. 1980. Olfactory responses of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) to prey odors: chemical search image. Journal of Chemical Ecology 6, 457-465

Brown G.E., Smith R.J.F. 1994. Fathead minnows use chemical cues to discriminate shoalmates from unfamiliar conspecifics. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 3051-3061

Connaughton V.P., Epifanio C.E. 1993. The influence of previous experience on the feeding habits of larval weakfish (Cynoscion regalis). Marine Ecology Progress Series 101, 237-241

Derby C.D., Atema J. 1981. Selective improvement in responses to prey odors by the lobster, Homarus  americanus, following feeding experience. Journal of Chemical Ecology 7, 1073-1078

Hazlett B.A. 1994. Crayfish feeding responses to zebra mussels depend on microorganisms and learning. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 2623-2630

Hsiao S.C., Tester A. L.1955. Reaction of tuna to stimuli, 1952-1953. Part II. Response of tuna to visual and visual-chemical stimuli. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report: Fisheries 130, 63-76

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986. Study of the behaviour of zebrafish Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan under the influence of natural chemical food signals. Journal of Ichthyology 26, 665-673

McBride J.R., Idler D.R., Jonas R.E.E., Tomlinson N. 1962. Olfactory perception in juvenile salmon. I. Observations on response of juvenile sockeye to extracts of foods. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 19, 327-334

Ristvey A., Rebach S. 1999. Enhancement of the response of rock crabs, Cancer irroratus, to prey odors following feeding experiments. Biological Bulletin 197, 361-367

Thacker R.W. 1996. Food choices of land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) depend on past experience. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 199, 179-191.

Tester A. L., van Weel P.B., Naughton J.J. 1955. Reaction of tuna to stimuli, 1952-1953. Part I. Response of tuna to chemical stimuli. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report: Fisheries 130, 1-62

Uiblein F. 1993. Expectancy controlled sampling decisions in Vimba elongata. Environmental Biology of Fish 33, 311-316