Development of Schooling Behavior in Fish Ontogeny

Abstract

In most fish species, the transition to a schooling lifestyle occurs soon after the start of exogenous feeding. The age at which juveniles begin to show schooling behavior differs in different species and is not related to the level of schooling in adults, i.e., their belonging to obligate or facultative schooling fish. In marine fish passing through the metamorphosis phase, schooling develops, as a rule, after the completion of this process. Among freshwater fish, juveniles living in rivers begin to show schooling behavior earlier than juveniles in stagnant waters. By the time a school is formed, the level of development of sensory systems and locomotion in juveniles is sufficient for intra-school contacts and schooling swimming. As juveniles grow, the coordination of schooling reactions and the ability to maintain the unity of a school during maneuvering increase. Compared to adult fish, schools of juveniles are less uniform in size and species composition.