Question

Siamese fighting fish, also called betta fish, are popular aquarium fish. Betta fish are territorial and very aggressive. When threatened, betta will respond by puffing out their gill covers to look bigger as a form of intimidation. Betta fish can become threatened by movement or a change of scene in their environments.



Wild betta fish are naturally drab colors such as grey, brown, and dull green. Wild betta fish will only turn bright colors when aggressive or during courtship. Betta fish that are sold at pet stores have been bred to permanently display their bright colors.



The table below shows the reactions of a brightly colored, male pet betta fish to stimuli or things placed on the outside of its aquarium to provoke a response.



The table shows five stimuli and the Betta Fish Response to each stimulus. The betta fish swims toward and away or shows no reaction to a plastic aquarium plant. The betta fish shows a flaring of gills to a mirror. The betta fish shows no reaction to white paper. The betta fish shows a flaring of gills to colored paper. The betta fish swims toward and away or shows no reaction to black paper.



Which of the following BEST explains the betta fish's behavioral response to the stimuli?


Over time, betta fish have learned that movement can be a sign of aggression.


Over time, betta fish have learned that bright colors can be a sign of aggression.


Over time, betta fish have learned that plant matter can be poisonous.


Over time, betta fish have learned that predators can use drab colors to camouflage themselves.

Answer 1

Over time, betta fish have learned that bright colors can be a sign of aggression.

Reason: the fish flared its gills to the mirror and to colored paper (signals resembling another brightly colored male), but showed little or only investigatory movement to plastic plants, white paper, or black paper. Bright, reflective/colored stimuli trigger the territorial/aggressive display.