Evolution of Behavioural Form and Function in Tanganyikan Lamprologine Cichlids

Studying behavioral evolution presents a unique challenge due to the absence of fossils and the complex relationship between behavioral form (observable traits) and function (its effect on the environment). This link is shaped by dynamic interactions of internal states, phylogeny, and socio-ecological contexts. Drawing from Tinbergen’s hierarchical view, which suggests that complex behavior emerges from interactions between lower-level motor patterns and environmental contexts, my PhD research will investigate how behavioral organization corresponds to different functions in closely related Tanganyikan Lamprologine cichlid species. Specifically, I will investigate interspecific differences in the structure of responses to shared signals within common ecological contexts. This includes examining reconstructed ancestral signals and novel signals that do not naturally occur. Using 3D playbacks to simulate these signals, unsupervised learning to decode behavioral sequences and phylogenetic comparisons, I aim to establish a quantitative framework for comparing cichlid behavioral organization. This project will integrate Tinbergen’s four questions by linking behavioral form to evolutionary history, reconciling proximate (mechanistic and developmental) explanations with ultimate (phylogenetic continuity) causes. By systematically disentangling the influence of phylogeny from ecological and signal-specific adaptations, this research will enhance our understanding of how environmental pressures and shared ancestry drive behavioral diversification.