Development of a Simple Behavior-analysis Software and Its Application to the Quantitative Analysis of Antipredator Behavior in Medaka

We developed a simple and easy-to-use software for analyzing video-recorded behavior of fish. Although the software did not implement automated animal tracking, it markedly reduced the intensive labor required for quantitative analysis of behaviors. The software is able to register basic information on the behaviors of multiple fish including positions, moving velocities, and distances between individuals. Using this software, we analyzed antipredator behavior of a medaka Oryzias latipes shoal induced by presenting a rod that was dropped from above the water to penetrate the water surface. The swimming speed of the fish started to increase just before rod made contact with the water surface. A decrease in distances between individuals was observed concomitantly with an increase in the swimming speed. Although the swimming speed returned to the resting level immediately after the rod was removed, shoal density was relatively high for some time. The results showed that the software was useful for the quantitative analysis of behavior involving quick movements such as antipredator behavior.