Known locally as ‘millions fish’ for its beautiful colours, the guppy has been the subject of academic research for many decades, and has given valuable insights into varied scientific questions, ranging from the rate of evolution, to the basis of decision-making.
Recently, attention has turned to the effects that invasive species – those that have spread to areas outside of their native range – might have on ecosystems around the world.
Our research, published this month in the journal Animal Behaviour, investigated how social behaviour might be important in the process of species invasion. Guppies are of special interest here because they have spread from their native range of Trinidad and northeast-South America to every continent except Antarctica.