Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


bgsu1344885435.pdf (1.68 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Color Perception and Object Recognition in a Lake Malawian Cichlid Melanochromis Auratus

Didion, Jeremy E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1344885435

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Cichlids of the African Great Lakes offer a remarkable model system for studying the functional components and perceptual constraints of visual perception, as it is the primary modality in sensory-driven speciation. An objects distinct features may be used in visual recognition. Here we show that color is more salient than shape in the object recognition of the Malawian cichlid Melanochromis auratus. Using a food-reward operant conditioning paradigm,fish were trained to discriminate between ecologically neutral objects (i.e. red triangle, blue square). Probe trials confirmed that M. auratus discriminated between the rewarded stimulus and the distractor, while the dissociation of these objects allowed for the assessment of the relative salience of color and shape information. Results indicate a clear precedence of color over shape information (Sign Test 13/16 p = .021). Moreover, we have demonstrated that the best absolute and difference visual thresholds for hues (color) in M. auratus are biased towards blue colors. Using an unconditioned optomotor response towards moving vertically grated bars, absolute visual thresholds were lowest in the range of primary absorption of M. auratus‘s single cones (414 nm).
Robert Huber, PhD (Committee Chair)
Moira van Staaden, PhD (Committee Member)
Jeffrey Miner, PhD (Committee Member)
48 p.
Biology
object recognition; operant conditioning; visual perception; optomotor response

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Didion, J. E. (2012). Color Perception and Object Recognition in a Lake Malawian Cichlid Melanochromis Auratus [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1344885435

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Didion, Jeremy. Color Perception and Object Recognition in a Lake Malawian Cichlid Melanochromis Auratus. 2012. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1344885435.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Didion, Jeremy. "Color Perception and Object Recognition in a Lake Malawian Cichlid Melanochromis Auratus." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1344885435

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1344885435
730
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.