He Eastern mosquito fish, Gokbles Holbrooki It is originally from the Southern United States And it has been extended to many countries around the world after it was originally used as a biological tool for the control of malaria carriers.
This Species have had a huge impact on the environment on local animalsone of the 100 most harmful invasive exotic species in the worldAccording to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Mosquito Fish: World Invader
The Beatles already said: “Everything you need is love.” And according to a new study by the National University of Australia, the same thing happens in the animal kingdom. At least for Gambusia (Gambusia affinis), a PEZ the size of a phosphorus, Endemic from Central -America and now present in almost everyonebetter known as PEZ mosquito.
According to scientists in the southern country, the PEZ Gambusia -ogen It has impressive cognitive skills and can successfully navigate through labyrinths and other tests. The men who work better have a greater chance of pairs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIE86TZUI8U
Ivan Vingradav, main author of the work published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, confirms that the pieces Males have probably developed better cognitive skills over time because of the advantage they gave them To find women in nature and to produce offspring, A phenomenon known as sexual selection.
“For a long time it was thought that the evolution of intelligence in animals was powered by natural selection. The animals that were Better problems were better solved to collect foodTo find refuge and to avoid predators, and therefore lived longer, “says Vingradov. “They then transferred these genes to their descendants, which helped future generations to get smarter over time.”
How do you manage the smartest fish?
But there is another explanation for the evolution of intelligence. According to the researcher: “Intelligence is an attractive quality. A Best brain can help an animal to find more couplesHave more sex and ultimately have more offspring. For the authors this suggests that the intelligence of Gambusia partly evolved through sexual selection, whereby qualities that increase success in couples and fertilization occurs more often in generations.
So the Sexual selection is usually stronger in men than in women Because with most species more men are looking for a partner than women who are ready to mate and reproduce. “Our study suggests that intelligence is not only driven by the need to find food or to avoid predators, but also by the complex challenges of finding a partner. This shows that love, just like people, conquers everything, “Vidiradov appreciates.
The researchers measured the intelligence of male shrimp by submitting them to a series of underwater tests, including navigation by Labyrints, the detour around transparent barriers and the Learn to remember places of different colors. Eventually they offered a reward to the fish that could complete the tests. Subsequently, the team followed, for a period of two months, how many young people produced each man by competing against others for a female couple to mate.
After performing more than 2,000 paternity tests, scientists discovered that that The smartest men who have successfully sailed underwater tests They resisted with more women and produced more descendants than the less intelligent fish that failed in the tests.
Evolution of cognitive skills
“Our findings imply that The evolution of cognitive skills It may have been promoted by sexual selection for men who have obtained more clothing opportunities, “says Michael Jennions, co -author of the study and researcher at the Australian Institute.
“Something in these men of PEZ Mosquito apparently gave them an advantage to guarantee possibilities. Maybe The females recognized and preferred the smartest specimensOr perhaps the most ‘cunning’ men were better chases and force them to mate, a common practice in this species, “he adds. Scientists conclude that more research is needed to better observe men and see how the mating behavior differs from more and less intelligent specimens.