1. Francuois Müller 2714916 Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape

2.  Native to Mekong basin but also found in Thailand and other neighboring countries of SE Asia.  Has a labyrinth organ on head for air breathing  Natural colouration in wild are dull greens and browns http://www.cev.washington.edu/files/screenshot2009-12- 11at2.33.07pm.png

3.  Evolved due to mating advantages it gives to the bearer  Displayed during courtship  Used in male-male intraspecific competition http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2438572393_8483f 07470.jpg

4.  Male Siamese fighting fish are highly territorial.  To keep its territory, it must win male-male confrontations.  Aggression altered in the presence of an audience. http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp- content/uploads/betta11.jpg

5. OBJECTIVE 1 DOES COLOUR (IN LAB REARED) Betta splendens PLAY A ROLE IN MALE-MALE AGGRESSION OBJECTIVE 2 HOW DOES THE PRESSENCE OF A PREDATOR AUDIENCE AFFECT THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR BETWEEN TWO MALE Betta splendens

6. Darker colour males will show aggression towards all colour males, but will be more aggressive towards other dark colour males The presence of a predator will reduce the aggressive displays shown by the fish, and when these displays have already started, the presence of the predator will bring the display to a stop

7. OBSERVING AGGRESSION IN DIFFERENT COLOUR Betta splendens

8. OBSERVING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE Betta splendens IN THE PRESENCE OF A PREDATOR

9. Dr. R Knight for providing the fish and tanks and for helping to set up the tanks. Prof. M Gibbons for lending the tank in which the predator fish will be kept.

10. Herb BM, Biron SA & Kidd MR. 2003. Courtship by subordinate male Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens: Their response to eavesdropping and naïve females. Behaviour 140(1): 71-78. Clotfelter ED, Curren LJ & Murphy CE. 2006. Mate choice and spawning success in the fighting fish Betta splendens: The importance of body size, display behaviour and nest size. Ethology 112: 1170-1178. Dzieweczynski TL, Bessler AM, Shelton DS & Rowland WJ. 2006. Effect of a dummy audience on male - male interactions in Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. Ethology 112: 127-133. Monvises A, Nuansaeng B, Sriwattanarothai N & Panijpan B. 2009. The Siamese Fighting Fish: well known generally but little known scientifically. Science Asia 35: 8-16 Alyan S. 2010. Male Betta splendens are equally aggressive towards neighbors and strangers. Journal of Ichthyology 50(11): 1066-1069. Google contributors. Betta fish (Internet) [cited 2011 Feb 15]. Available from: http:www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Betta-fish