Primary Assay — Three-Spined Stickleback
Courtship (Zigzag Dance)
Gasterosteus aculeatus
The zigzag dance is the iconic stickleback courtship display. Zigzag frequency, nest-leading latency, female following probability, and male red coloration intensity provide quantifiable measures of reproductive behavior and sexual selection.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Gasterosteus aculeatus.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Zigzag frequency | events/min | Male courtship display rate |
| Lead-to-nest latency | s | Courtship completion speed |
| Female following probability | % | Receptivity index |
| Red coloration intensity | RGB value | Nuptial color score |
References
Citations for Courtship (Zigzag Dance)
- Wootton RJ. (2009). The Darwinian stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus: a history of evolutionary studies. J Fish Biol, 75(8), 1919-1942. PMID: 20738663
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Three-Spined Stickleback Research
Courtship Observation Arena
Zigzag dance recording
Territorial Arena with Model
Aggression testing
Shoaling Tank
Group behavior tracking
Novel Object/Environment Setup
Boldness testing
Predator Model System
Inspection behavior analysis
Related Assays
Other Three-Spined Stickleback Primary Assays
05
Aggression (Red Belly Display)
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Male sticklebacks defend territories with escalating aggressive displays. Bite frequency, display frequency, and defense…
05
Shoaling
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Stickleback shoaling behavior provides measures of social cohesion and group dynamics. Inter-individual distance, shoal …
05
Boldness-Exploration Syndrome
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Sticklebacks exhibit correlated suites of behavior (syndromes) where boldness, exploration, and aggression covary consis…
Run Courtship (Zigzag Dance) on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your three-spined stickleback facility.
