Time Place Learning in Fathead Minnows, Pimephales promelas

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that some animals can exhibit time-place learning. Our study focused on the ability of time-place learning in fathead minnows. To test this we placed groups of 8 minnows into 11 tank replicates. To prevent room position bias, some tanks had food placed on the right side in the morning and on the left side at night. Remaining tanks had food placed vice versa. After one week of feeding, we recorded the total average positions of minnows in comparison to the correct side where they should have been in the morning and night. Our results showed no significant differences in the total average positioning of minnows within the tanks (t=-1.247, df=10, P=0.241). In our study we found that fathead minnows did not exhibit time-place learning. Future studies could replicate our experiment and change the length of observation time or number of minnows in a tank to further test for time-place learning.