Need to do a research paper...

[michika]

I have a research paper on animal communication that I need to complete to graduate this summer.

I'm thinking of focusing on fish, because i know something about them. I wanted to look at the communication of fish, possibly tangs, or (large) angels, and wanted to see if anyone can recommend any reading materials, books, papers, etc. if you know of any.

I should mention that there is an observation portion to the project, and if I can I would like to observe these fish. Initially my thought is it pick up tangs from the zebrasoma family, yellow, purple, scopas, black, etc. Not only can they help me with my observations, but they will also be going into a large system I'm building in a few months.

[Nate]

I would maybe consider focusing on the relationship between cleaner fish/shrimp and fish. This would be easy to observe, and lost to write about.

I would also consider the classic clowns/anemones.

Tangs would also work, you could talk about the difference in communication and relationships between aquaria tangs and wild tangs as well....

As for papers, not too sure, you will definently have to do some digging on this...

Nate

[michika]

The paper has to focus on communication so I'm hoping to do something on communication in groups and on their own. There is a presentation aspect, a seminar, and of course the paper itself.

I'm starting to research now, I've been digging in databases for a few hours now, but I'm only just getting started.

I'm not sure where I would go with communication between say shrimps and fish. Although the clown/anemone idea has some potential. Thanks for the suggestions. Any other ideas?

[Nate]

There is an ample amount of literature on the clownfish anemone relationships...I think that my suggestion to you would be Cleaning relationships/communication in general. You could even broaden it, and maybe do communication under the sea. This could be demonstrated using a small octopus, for colour change communication, or a fish approaching a cleaner shrimp and turning on its side, and opening its gill plate, or even clownfish dominance, and the shaking or vibrating behavior that they display when trying to climb the totem pole.

My suggestion to you would be to make it easy on yourself and pick something that info is readily avail. I did my final research paper on the aquarium industry and a business plan for an aquarium maintenance company (which I was already running) and I still had a hell of a time finding info.

Good luck

[muck]

I would suggest getting yer butt on a plane to Indonesia and viewing first hand some of these fish in the wild.



Edit: You know you want to...

[michika]

Thanks for the heads up. I never wanted to do this class in the first place, so I feel like its a huge stretch for me to understand what is going on. Linking fish, which I know something about, with animal communications is helpful.

Clownfish seem to be the front runner right now because there is lots of research/books to be found so far.

[michika]

Originally Posted by muck

I would suggest getting yer butt on a plane to Indonesia and viewing first hand some of these fish in the wild.



Edit: You know you want to...

Do I ever.

[Matt]

I was watching a nice discovery HD program the other day about language of squid. The researcher was arguing that they do communicate, at quite a sophisticated level, and that she was slowly learning their language.

I can't find a link to the program, but it might be enough for you to get started.

[findingnemo1]

Catherine i have a very thick book on the relationship of clownfish and there anemones....I am not sure who made it but a friend of ours who was a school teacher gave it to us. You are more than welcome to have it..

It must weigh 10 pounds that is trully how thick it is...And in my packing mess i just happen to know where it is

Lisa

[michika]

Matt, do you know more about the program? What was the name?

Lisa, who wrote the clownfish book?