Stickleback fish adapt their social behavior to compensate for reduced visibility in murky water, according to research from the University of Bristol published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The study examined how three-spined sticklebacks respond when water turbidity increases. Researchers observed that “in murkier water fish took longer to move towards the food than those in clear water, but individuals in larger groups responded more quickly overall.”
The fish demonstrated behavioral plasticity by swimming closer together and coordinating their movements more closely in cloudy conditions. This enhanced cooperation helped them locate food more effectively despite visibility challenges.
Professor Christos Ioannou noted that the sticklebacks “were able to compensate for this challenge by changing their shoaling behaviour,” with fish becoming “more coordinated” in poor visibility conditions.
The findings suggest fish possess adaptive behavioral strategies to navigate environmental changes caused by human activities like farming, mining, and construction that increase water turbidity in rivers and coastal ecosystems.
Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2026.0731
Article Title: Plasticity in collective behaviour helps fish shoals mitigate limited visual information from water turbidity
Publication Date: 1-Sep-2026
Institution: University of Bristol
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