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Maurer ML, Goyco-Blas JF, Kohl KD. Dietary tannins alter growth, behavior, and the gut microbiome of larval amphibians. Integr Zool 2024; 19:585-595. [PMID: 37551631 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Research has shown that leached plant toxins negatively impact the growth and development of larval amphibians. However, tadpoles may encounter these same toxins in food material, and differential exposure routes and distribution of toxic chemicals can yield variable downstream effects on animals. To date, most research understanding the interactions between dietary plant toxins and herbivores has been conducted in terrestrial systems. Despite the abundance of plant toxins in food and water sources, the effects of dietary plant toxins on larval amphibians have not been studied, and tannins could negatively affect these species. Here, green frog tadpoles (Lithobates clamitans) were fed diets with or without 2% tannic acid to test how their growth, development, behavior, and gut microbiome respond to dietary tannins. At the end of the trial, we conducted a behavioral assay to measure tadpole activity and boldness and inventoried the gut microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. Dietary tannins significantly decreased body mass by 66% and length by 28%, without influencing tadpole developmental stage. We found significant differences in exploratory behavior and boldness during the first minute of our behavioral assay, demonstrating that tannins have the potential to influence behavior during novel or stressful events. Finally, tannins significantly sculpted the gut microbiome, with an increase in the measurement of Shannon entropy. We observed 7 microbial phyla and 153 microbial genera that exhibited significantly differential abundances differences between control and tannic acid-fed tadpoles. Collectively, our results demonstrate that dietary tannins have the potential to alter amphibian growth, behavior, and microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya L Maurer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - José F Goyco-Blas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Forss S, Ciria A, Clark F, Galusca CL, Harrison D, Lee S. A transdisciplinary view on curiosity beyond linguistic humans: animals, infants, and artificial intelligence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:979-998. [PMID: 38287201 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Curiosity is a core driver for life-long learning, problem-solving and decision-making. In a broad sense, curiosity is defined as the intrinsically motivated acquisition of novel information. Despite a decades-long history of curiosity research and the earliest human theories arising from studies of laboratory rodents, curiosity has mainly been considered in two camps: 'linguistic human' and 'other'. This is despite psychology being heritable, and there are many continuities in cognitive capacities across the animal kingdom. Boundary-pushing cross-disciplinary debates on curiosity are lacking, and the relative exclusion of pre-linguistic infants and non-human animals has led to a scientific impasse which more broadly impedes the development of artificially intelligent systems modelled on curiosity in natural agents. In this review, we synthesize literature across multiple disciplines that have studied curiosity in non-verbal systems. By highlighting how similar findings have been produced across the separate disciplines of animal behaviour, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and computational cognition, we discuss how this can be used to advance our understanding of curiosity. We propose, for the first time, how features of curiosity could be quantified and therefore studied more operationally across systems: across different species, developmental stages, and natural or artificial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Forss
- Collegium Helveticum, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alejandra Ciria
- School of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fay Clark
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Cristina-Loana Galusca
- Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition, CNRS Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - David Harrison
- Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Saein Lee
- Interdisciplinary Program of EcoCreative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Shephard AM, Lagon SR, Jacobsen S, Millar K, Ledón-Rettig CC. Corticosterone Contributes to Diet-Induced Reprogramming of Post-Metamorphic Behavior in Spadefoot Toads. Integr Org Biol 2024; 6:obae012. [PMID: 38707679 PMCID: PMC11067961 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obae012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Stressful experiences in early life can have phenotypic effects that persist into, or manifest during, adulthood. In vertebrates, such carryover effects can be driven by stress-induced secretion of glucocorticoid hormones, such as corticosterone, which can lead to developmental reprogramming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal axis activity and behavior. Nutritional stress in the form of early life nutrient restriction is well known to modify later life behaviors and stress activity through corticosterone-related mechanisms. However, it is not known whether corticosterone is also mechanistically involved in carryover effects induced by a different form of nutritional variation: the use of alternate or entirely novel types of dietary resources. The plains spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) presents an excellent system for testing this question, since larvae of this species have evolved to use 2 alternate diet types: an ancestral detritus-based diet and a more novel diet of live shrimp. While previous work has shown that feeding on the novel shrimp diet influences juvenile (i.e., post-metamorphic) behavior and corticosterone levels, it is unclear whether these diet-induced carryover effects are mediated by diet-induced corticosterone itself. To test for the mechanistic role of corticosterone in diet-induced carryover effects, we experimentally treated S. bombifrons larvae with exogenous corticosterone and measured subsequent effects on juvenile behavior and corticosterone levels. We found that while shrimp-fed larvae had elevated corticosterone levels, treatment of larvae with corticosterone itself had effects on juvenile behavior that partially resembled those carryover effects induced by the shrimp diet, such as altered food seeking and higher locomotor activity. However, unlike carryover effects caused by the shrimp diet, larval corticosterone exposure did not affect juvenile corticosterone levels. Overall, our study shows that corticosterone-related mechanisms are likely involved in carryover effects induced by a novel diet, yet such diet-induced carryover effects are not driven by corticosterone alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Shephard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Myers Hall, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - S R Lagon
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Myers Hall, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - S Jacobsen
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Myers Hall, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - K Millar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Myers Hall, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - C C Ledón-Rettig
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Myers Hall, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
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4
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Lu L, Su L, Si M, Wang G, Li C. Effects of Cheliped Amputation on the Personality of Crayfish. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1132. [PMID: 38612371 PMCID: PMC11011115 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal personality, which describes inter-individual differences and intra-individual consistency in behaviors across time and contexts, has been widely observed and has significance for both ecology and evolution. Morphological modifications, particularly during early life stages, may highly influence animal behavior in adulthood; thus, exploring this relationship can elucidate personality development throughout ontogeny. In this study, we reared juvenile crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) with different degrees of cheliped mutilation and explored their personality patterns, including exploration and aggression, when they reached sexual maturity. Male crayfish showed repeatability in exploration, and both sexes showed repeatability in aggression. We observed no significant correlation between the two behavioral traits, indicating the absence of behavioral syndromes. Moreover, exploration did not differ according to the type of mutilation, but crayfish with more intact chelipeds were more aggressive, and males were more aggressive than females. These results indicate that cheliped mutilation may modify the average levels of personality traits associated with competition or self-defense. Our study provides insights into how morphological modifications may shape animal personalities in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leiyu Lu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (L.L.); (L.S.); (G.W.)
| | - Li Su
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (L.L.); (L.S.); (G.W.)
| | - Mengdi Si
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (L.L.); (L.S.); (G.W.)
| | - Guangyao Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (L.L.); (L.S.); (G.W.)
| | - Chunlin Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (L.L.); (L.S.); (G.W.)
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
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Renoirt M, Angelier F, Cheron M, Jabaud L, Tartu S, Brischoux F. Population declines of a widespread amphibian in agricultural landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2024; 111:17. [PMID: 38498200 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01905-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Modern agricultural practices are suspected to play a major role in the ongoing erosion of biodiversity. In order to assess whether this biodiversity loss is linked to past habitat modifications (e.g. land consolidation) or to current consequences of modern agriculture (e.g. use of agrochemicals), it remains essential to monitor species that have persisted in agricultural landscapes to date. In this study, we assessed the presence, abundance and recent population trends of one such species, the spined toad (Bufo spinosus) along a gradient of habitats from preserved (forests) to highly agricultural sites in rural Western France. Our results showed that both presence and abundance of spined toads were markedly lower in reproductive ponds surrounded by intensive agriculture. The most salient result of our study is the ongoing decline of this species in farmland habitats. Indeed, this result suggests that unknown factors are currently affecting a widespread terrestrial amphibian previously thought to persist in agricultural landscapes. These factors have recently induced strong population declines over the course of a few years. Future investigations are required to identify these factors at a time when anthropogenic activities are currently leading to unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Renoirt
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Marion Cheron
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Laure Jabaud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Sabrina Tartu
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France.
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Al Shuraiqi A, Abed RMM, Al-Habsi A, Barry MJ. Personality Affects Zebrafish Response to Sertraline. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:132-146. [PMID: 37861374 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Sertraline is widely prescribed to treat anxiety and depression. Sertraline acts by blocking serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine transporters systems and has been detected in surface waters globally, where it may impact fish behavior. We classified zebrafish personality on three behavioral axes, boldness, anxiety, and sociability, assigning fish as either high or low in each category. The fish were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 5, 50, 500, or 5000 ng/L sertraline (measured concentrations: <10, 21.3, 370, and 2200 ng/L, respectively) to assess changes in boldness, anxiety, and sociability after 7 and 28 days. We also measured shoaling behavior and response to an alarm cue, and determined the gut microbiome of a subset of fish. After 7 days there was no overall effect of sertraline on boldness, but there was an interaction between initial personality and sex, with a stronger impact on females classified as low-boldness personality. Sertraline reduced sociability in all treatments compared with the control, but there was again an interaction between sertraline and initial personality. Fish that were classified as low-sociability responded more strongly to sertraline. After 7 days, fish exposed to a nominal concentration of 5000 ng/L (2200 ng/L measured) showed higher anxiety than controls, with the overall pattern of initial behavior retained. After 28 days, similar patterns were observed, but with higher variation. There was only a weak association between the gut microbiome and personality. Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering initial behavior, which can affect response to pollutants. Our results may also be applicable to human studies and provide a mechanism to explain why different individuals respond differently to the drug. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:132-146. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raeid M M Abed
- Biology Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Aziz Al-Habsi
- Biology Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
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Bégué L, Tschirren N, Peignier M, Szabo B, Ringler E. Behavioural consistency across metamorphosis in a neotropical poison frog. Evol Ecol 2023; 38:157-174. [PMID: 38989472 PMCID: PMC7616151 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-023-10274-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Animals often show consistency in their behavioural repertoire across time and/or contexts that differs from other individuals of the same population, i.e. animal personality. We currently have quite an incomplete understanding of the factors that lead to behavioural traits remaining stable - or becoming decoupled - over an animal's lifetime. In this study, we investigated the role of metamorphosis in the development of animal personality in a Neotropical poison frog, a species that undergoes drastic morphological and ecological changes during its development. We used lab-reared individuals of the brilliant-thighed poison frog Allobates femoralis to assess if consistent individual differences are already present at the tadpole stage, and if these differences are maintained throughout metamorphosis. We found evidence for two personality traits, exploration and boldness, already present in A. femoralis tadpoles. Despite the drastic changes in morphology, physiology, and habitat in the transition from tadpoles to metamorphs, personality traits persisted throughout metamorphosis, suggesting a physiological and/or genetic basis for the measured behavioural traits. We also found that exploration and boldness related behaviours were correlated with growth speed. Very bold and explorative individuals took fewer days until metamorphosis compared to very shy and non-explorative ones, which is in line with the concept of a Pace-of-Life Syndrome. These findings provide important insights into the proximate mechanisms that generate personality in species with complex life cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauriane Bégué
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern3032, Switzerland
| | - Noëlle Tschirren
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern3032, Switzerland
| | - Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern3032, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Szabo
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern3032, Switzerland
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern3032, Switzerland
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8
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Bisconti R, Carere C, Costantini D, Liparoto A, Chiocchio A, Canestrelli D. Evolution of personality and locomotory performance traits during a late Pleistocene island colonization in a tree frog. Curr Zool 2023; 69:631-641. [PMID: 37637312 PMCID: PMC10449429 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent empirical and theoretical studies suggest that personality and locomotory performance traits linked to dispersal abilities are crucial components of the dispersal syndromes, and that they can evolve during range expansions and colonization processes. Island colonization is one of the best characterized processes in dispersal biogeography, and its implication in the evolution of phenotypic traits has been investigated over a wide range of temporal scales. However, the effect of island colonization on personality and performance traits of natural populations, and how these traits could drive island colonization, has been little explored. Noteworthy, no studies have addressed these processes in the context of late Pleistocene range expansions. Here, we investigated the contribution of island colonization triggered by postglacial range expansions to intraspecific variation in personality and locomotory performance traits. We compared boldness, exploration, jumping performance, and stickiness abilities in populations from 3 equidistant areas of the Tyrrhenian tree frog Hyla sarda, 2 from the main island (Corsica Island), and 1 from the recently colonized island of Elba. Individuals from Elba were significantly bolder than individuals from Corsica, as they emerged sooner from a shelter (P = 0.028), while individuals from Corsica showed markedly higher jumping and stickiness performance (both P < 0.001), resulting as more performing than those of Elba. We discuss these results in the context of the major microevolutionary processes at play during range expansion, including selection, spatial sorting, founder effects, and their possible interaction with local adaptation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Bisconti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Claudio Carere
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP32, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anita Liparoto
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Andrea Chiocchio
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Daniele Canestrelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell’Università s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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Collins SM, Hendrix JG, Webber QMR, Boyle SP, Kingdon KA, Blackmore RJ, d'Entremont KJN, Hogg J, Ibáñez JP, Kennah JL, Lamarre J, Mejías M, Newediuk L, Richards C, Schwedak K, Wijekulathilake C, Turner JW. Bibliometric investigation of the integration of animal personality in conservation contexts. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14021. [PMID: 36285603 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Consistent individual differences in behavior, commonly termed animal personality, are a widespread phenomenon across taxa that have important consequences for fitness, natural selection, and trophic interactions. Animal personality research may prove useful in several conservation contexts, but which contexts remains to be determined. We conducted a structured literature review of 654 studies identified by combining search terms for animal personality and various conservation subfields. We scored the relevance of personality and conservation issues for each study to identify which studies meaningfully integrated the 2 fields as opposed to surface-level connections or vague allusions. We found a taxonomic bias toward mammals (29% of all studies). Very few amphibian or reptile studies applied personality research to conservation issues (6% each). Climate change (21%), invasive species (15%), and captive breeding and reintroduction (13%) were the most abundant conservation subfields that occurred in our search, though a substantial proportion of these papers weakly integrated conservation and animal personality (climate change 54%, invasive species 51%, captive breeding and reintroduction 40%). Based on our results, we recommend that researchers strive for consistent and broadly applicable terminology when describing consistent behavioral differences to minimize confusion and improve the searchability of research. We identify several gaps in the literature that appear to be promising and fruitful avenues for future research, such as disease transmission as a function of sociability or exploration as a driver of space use in protected areas. Practitioners can begin informing future conservation efforts with knowledge gained from animal personality research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney M Collins
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jack G Hendrix
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Sean P Boyle
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katrien A Kingdon
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Robert J Blackmore
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Kyle J N d'Entremont
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jennifer Hogg
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Juan P Ibáñez
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Joanie L Kennah
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jessika Lamarre
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Miguel Mejías
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Levi Newediuk
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Cerren Richards
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katrina Schwedak
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Chirathi Wijekulathilake
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Julie W Turner
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Wildlife Division, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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10
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Roe JH, Chavez MS, Hudson AE. Ecological and Fitness Correlates of Personality in a Long-lived Terrestrial Turtle. HERPETOLOGICA 2023; 79:9-21. [PMID: 38009091 PMCID: PMC10673623 DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-22-00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
An individual's behavioral tendencies (i.e., personality or temperament) can influence its interactions with the environment and thus have important ecological and evolutionary consequences for animal populations. Boldness, defined as an individual's tendency to engage in risk-taking activities, is a phenotypically variable trait linked with numerous behavioral and fitness outcomes in free-ranging animals. We examined variation and repeatability of boldness and other behavioral characteristics in two wild Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) populations using radiotelemetry, and assessed fitness correlates of boldness over multiple years. We observed large amounts of among-individual variation and within-individual consistency (i.e., repeatability) of boldness as measured by their head emergence latency following a standardized confinement assay. Individuals were also consistent in several in-field behaviors including movement rate, home range size, and date of emergence from overwintering refuges. Individuals with shorter head emergence latencies (i.e., bolder turtles) had larger home ranges, emerged earlier from overwintering dormancy, and experienced moderately lower survival compared with shy individuals. Boldness did not affect time spent within the thermal preference range, somatic growth rates, or the frequency of mating or same-sex aggressive encounters. Boldness and its effects on in-field behaviors differed between sexes and populations, and the relationship between boldness and survival was temporally variable. Our results suggest possible intrinsic behavioral types in T. c. carolina and highlight the importance of long-term and multipopulation studies when examining ecological and evolutionary processes that shape personality phenotypes in turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Roe
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Maria S. Chavez
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Abbie E. Hudson
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
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11
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Peignier M, Bégué L, Ringler M, Szabo B, Ringler E. Regardless of personality, males show similar levels of plasticity in territory defense in a Neotropical poison frog. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3435. [PMID: 36859425 PMCID: PMC9977724 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30546-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal personality traits are sometimes linked to an individual's degree of plasticity, with certain personality types being more plastic than others. In territorial species, consistently high levels of aggression might increase the risk of harmful fights, while consistently low aggression might lead to the loss of a territory. Consequently, reacting plastically with an appropriate territorial response should be beneficial to avoid these risks. An integrative investigation of both personality traits and plasticity can help us better understand the dynamics of aggressive interactions during male-male competition. Here, we used a free-ranging Neotropical poison frog population to investigate the role of plasticity in male territorial aggression towards intruders. We conducted repeated standardized territorial intrusion experiments mimicking frogs of different body sizes via playback calls with different peak frequencies. We found individual repeatability for the latency to reach and approach a simulated intruder and observed that both aggressive and less aggressive males decreased their level of aggression towards big intruders. However, our results do not support a correlation between personality and plasticity in the context of male territory defense during the breeding season. We discuss how such a correlation between personality and plasticity might be conditional on the costs and benefits across contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland.
| | - Lauriane Bégué
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Birgit Szabo
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
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12
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MacKinlay RD, Shaw RC. A systematic review of animal personality in conservation science. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e13935. [PMID: 35561041 PMCID: PMC10084254 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Although animal personality research may have applied uses, this suggestion has yet to be evaluated by assessing empirical studies examining animal personality and conservation. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature relating to conservation science and animal personality. Criteria for inclusion in our review included access to full text, primary research articles, and relevant animal conservation or personality focus (i.e., not human personality studies). Ninety-two articles met these criteria. We summarized the conservation contexts, testing procedures (including species and sample size), analytical approach, claimed personality traits (activity, aggression, boldness, exploration, and sociability), and each report's key findings and conservation-focused suggestions. Although providing evidence for repeatability in behavior is crucial for personality studies, repeatability quantification was implemented in only half of the reports. Nonetheless, each of the 5 personality traits were investigated to some extent in a range of conservations contexts. The most robust studies in the field showed variance in how personality relates to other ecologically important variables across species and contexts. Moreover, many studies were first attempts at using personality for conservation purposes in a given study system. Overall, it appears personality is not yet a fully realized tool for conservation. To apply personality research to conservation problems, we suggest researchers think about where individual differences in behavior may affect conservation outcomes in their system, assess where there are opportunities for repeated measures, and follow the most current methodological guides on quantifying personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan D. MacKinlay
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Rachael C. Shaw
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
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13
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Beyts C, Cella M, Colegrave N, Downie R, Martin JGA, Walsh P. The effect of heterospecific and conspecific competition on inter-individual differences in tungara frog tadpole ( Engystomops pustulosus) behavior. Behav Ecol 2023; 34:210-222. [PMID: 36998994 PMCID: PMC10047633 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Repeated social interactions with conspecifics and/or heterospecifics during early development may drive the differentiation of behavior among individuals. Competition is a major form of social interaction and its impacts can depend on whether interactions occur between conspecifics or heterospecifics and the directionality of a response could be specific to the ecological context that they are measured in. To test this, we reared tungara frog tadpoles (Engystomops pustulosus) either in isolation, with a conspecific tadpole or with an aggressive heterospecific tadpole, the whistling frog tadpole (Leptodactylus fuscus). In each treatment, we measured the body size and distance focal E. pustulosus tadpoles swam in familiar, novel and predator risk contexts six times during development. We used univariate and multivariate hierarchical mixed effect models to investigate the effect of treatment on mean behavior, variance among and within individuals, behavioral repeatability and covariance among individuals in their behavior between contexts. There was a strong effect of competition on behavior, with different population and individual level responses across social treatments. Within a familiar context, the variance in the distance swam within individuals decreased under conspecific competition but heterospecific competition caused more variance in the average distance swam among individuals. Behavioral responses were also context specific as conspecific competition caused an increase in the distance swam within individuals in novel and predator risk contexts. The results highlight that the impact of competition on among and within individual variance in behavior is dependent on both competitor species identity and context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cammy Beyts
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, Easter Bush Campus, University of Edinburgh , Easter Bush , Midlothian, EH25 9RG , UK
| | - Maddalena Cella
- Digital Futures, Warnford Court , 29 Throngmorton Street, London, EC2N 2AT , UK
| | - Nick Colegrave
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh , West Mains Road, EH9 3JT , UK
| | - Roger Downie
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, R205A Level 2, The University of Glasgow , G12 8QQ , UK
| | - Julien G A Martin
- Department of Biology, Marie-Curie Private, University of Ottawa , Ontario, K1N 9A7 , Canada
| | - Patrick Walsh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh , West Mains Road, EH9 3JT , UK
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14
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Wessling EG, Surbeck M. Failure to account for behavioral variability significantly compromises accuracy in indirect population monitoring. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. G. Wessling
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge MA USA
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - M. Surbeck
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge MA USA
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany
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15
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Background matching explains repeatable individual variation in the defence strategies of a stick insect. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Menges V, Späth S, Menzel F. Temporally consistent behavioural variation between wild ant colonies is robust to strong seasonal and thermal variation. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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17
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Bouffard J, Careau V, Robinson SA, Bergeron P. Effects of a Neonicotinoid Insecticide and Population Density on Behavior and Development of Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2968-2980. [PMID: 36089896 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians have been facing global declines over the last decades from direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic activities. A contributor to declines is waterway contamination from agricultural runoffs of pesticides such as neonicotinoids. Beyond direct and indirect effects of the pesticide, few studies have investigated the possible interactions between neonicotinoids and natural environmental stressors across larval development, which could alter the strength and direction of observed neonicotinoid effects. The present study used a fully crossed design to investigate how a concentration of imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid; 10 µg/L) measured in surface waters interacted with low and high population densities (0.33 and 1 tadpole/L, respectively), an important environmental stressor, to influence behavior and development across metamorphosis in wood frogs (Rana sylvatica), known to breed in agricultural landscapes. Behaviors were measured in the absence and presence of predation cues using open-field tests at three distinct developmental stages, up to the metamorph stage. We found that imidacloprid did not interact with population density or independently affect behaviors in the absence of predation cues. However, individuals raised at high density compared with low density were more active at an early developmental stage but less active at metamorphic climax. Furthermore, both density and imidacloprid independently decreased the natural freezing response of tadpoles to predation cues. Finally, we found that distance traveled in the open-field test was weakly repeatable between aquatic stages but not repeatable across metamorphosis, a pattern that was not affected by treatments. The present study provides novel insights on the ecotoxicology of imidacloprid in the presence of a natural stressor, highlighting the importance of including behavioral assays and natural stressors in studies of amphibian ecotoxicology. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2968-2980. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bouffard
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - V Careau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - S A Robinson
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - P Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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18
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Tan S, Li J, Yang Q, Fu J, Chen J. Light/dark phase influences intra-individual plasticity in maintenance metabolic rate and exploratory behavior independently in the Asiatic toad. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:39. [PMID: 37170388 PMCID: PMC10127016 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00139-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
It is well-known that light/dark phase can affect energy expenditure and behaviors of most organisms; however, its influences on individuality (inter-individual variance) and plasticity (intra-individual variance), as well as their associations remain unclear. To approach this question, we repeatedly measured maintenance metabolic rate (MR), exploratory and risk-taking behaviors across light/dark phase four times using wild-caught female Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans), and partitioned their variance components with univariate and bivariate mixed-effects models.
Results
The group means of maintenance MR and risk-taking behavior increased at night, while the group mean of exploratory behavior remained constant throughout the day. At night, the intra-individual variances were elevated in maintenance MR but reduced in exploration, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity was enhanced in the former but constrained in the latter. In addition, maintenance MR was not coupled with exploratory or risk-taking behaviors in daytime or at night, neither at the inter-individual nor intra-individual levels.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that these traits are independently modulated by the light/dark phase, and an allocation energy management model may be applicable in this species. This study sheds new insights into how amphibians adapt nocturnal lifestyle across multiple hierarchy levels via metabolic and behavioral adjustments.
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19
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Le Sage EH, Unkefer MK, Duncan SI, Cundiff JA, Rissler L, Crespi EJ. Neuroendocrine correlates of juvenile amphibian behaviors across a latitudinal cline. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105263. [PMID: 36155911 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the macrogeographic and neuroendocrine correlates of behavioral variation exhibited by juveniles, an important life stage for dispersal, across the expansive range of the wood frog. By rearing animals from eggs in a common garden then using a novel environment test, we uniquely demonstrated differential expression of juvenile behaviors among 16 populations spanning 8° latitude. On the individual level, cluster analysis indicated three major behavior profiles and principal component analysis resolved four unique axes of behavior, including escape, foraging, food intake, feeding efficiency. We found that increased escape behavior was associated with lower adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-induced circulating corticosterone (CORT) levels, however, foraging and food intake behaviors were not associated with either resting or ACTH-induced CORT. At the population level, the expression of foraging behaviors increased with latitude while food intake behaviors declined with latitude, which raised several hypotheses of eco-evolutionary processes likely driving this variation. Given that these behaviors covary along the same ecological gradient as locally adapted developmental traits, genomic studies in this species could provide deep insights into how HPA/I activity is associated with the eco-evolutionary processes that structure intraspecific variation in morphology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Le Sage
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Margaret K Unkefer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Sarah I Duncan
- Department of Biology, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Jennifer A Cundiff
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA; School of Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Leslie Rissler
- Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Erica J Crespi
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA; Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman WA, USA
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20
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Wassink L, Huerta B, Larson D, Li W, Scribner K. Hatchery and wild larval lake sturgeon experience effects of captivity on stress reactivity, behavior and predation risk. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac062. [PMID: 36225539 PMCID: PMC9547518 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Reintroduction programs are important tools for wildlife conservation. However, captive rearing environments may lead to maladaptive behavior and physiological alterations that reduce survival probability after release. For captive rearing programs that raise individuals captured from the wild during early ontogeny for later release, there is a lack of information about when during ontogeny the detrimental effects of captive rearing may become evident. In this study we compared cortisol levels, predation rates and swimming behavior between hatchery-produced and wild-caught larval lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), a threatened fish species, at three times over 9 days. Cortisol levels did not indicate that hatchery-produced individuals were more stressed, but cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor disappeared for both hatchery-produced and wild-caught larvae after 9 days in the hatchery. Swimming activity levels decreased over time for hatchery-produced larvae but increased over time for wild-caught larvae, suggesting that behavioral trajectories may be programmed prior to the larval stage. Neither increasing nor decreasing activity levels was advantageous for survival, as predation rates increased over time in captivity for larvae from both treatments. Results suggest that physiological and behavioral phenotypes may not accurately predict survival for individuals released from reintroduction programs and that the captive environment may inhibit transition to the wild even if cortisol levels do not indicate high stress. Findings emphasize that even a short amount of time in captivity during early ontogeny can affect phenotypes of individuals captured from wild populations, which may impact the success of reintroduction programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Wassink
- Corresponding author: 8350 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243 USA. Tel: 1-616-550-8380.
| | - Belinda Huerta
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Doug Larson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Weiming Li
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Kim Scribner
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
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21
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Gibert RG, Maag DW, Sanders LN, Clark RW. Investigating personality in vipers: individual rattlesnakes exhibit consistent behavioral responses in defensive and exploratory contexts. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03239-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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22
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Jreidini N, Green DM. Dispersal without drivers: Intrinsic and extrinsic variables have no impact on movement distances in a terrestrial amphibian. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9368. [PMID: 36203625 PMCID: PMC9526034 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Dispersive movements are often thought to be multicausal and driven by individual body size, sex, conspecific density, environmental variation, personality, and/or other variables. Yet such variables often do not account for most of the variation among dispersive movements in nature, leaving open the possibility that dispersion may be indeterministic. We assessed the amount of variation in 24 h movement distances that could be accounted for by potential drivers of displacement with a large empirical dataset of movement distances performed by Fowler's Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) on the northern shore of Lake Erie at Long Point, Ontario (2002–2021, incl.). These toads are easy to sample repeatedly, can be identified individually and move parallel to the shoreline as they forage at night, potentially dispersing to new refuge sites. Using a linear mixed‐effect model that incorporated random effect terms to account for sampling variance and inter‐annual variation, we found that all potential intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of movement accounted for virtually none of the variation observed among 24 h distances moved by these animals, whether over short or large spatial scales. We examined the idea of movement personality by testing variance per individual toad and found no evidence of individuality in movement distances. We conclude that deterministic variables, whether intrinsic or extrinsic, neither can be shown to nor are necessary to drive movements in this population over all spatial scales. Stochastic, short time‐scale movements, such as daily foraging movements, can instead accumulate over time to produce large spatial‐scale movements that are dispersive in nature.
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23
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Differences in Agonistic Behavior and Energy Metabolism between Male and Female Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus Based on the Analysis of Boldness. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182363. [PMID: 36139223 PMCID: PMC9494951 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in metabolism and agonistic behavior have been a key research area in evolution and ecology recently. In this study, we investigated the boldness of swimming crabs Portunus trituberculatus and explored the agonistic behavior between female and male crabs, specifically examining competitions between bold females vs. bold males (BF–BM), bold females vs. shy males (BF–SM), shy females vs. shy males (SF–SM), and shy females vs. bold males (SF_BM) and its relationship with energy metabolism. The main results revealed the following: There was no significant difference in boldness between females and males, while there were more bold individuals than shy in both females and males. Bold individuals initiated significantly more fights than shy individuals, and male initiators won significantly more fights than female initiators. The duration and intensity of fight between bold individuals was significantly higher than fights between shy individuals. For males, the concentration of glucose in the hemolymph was significantly higher in shy crabs than bold crabs, while there was no significant difference between shy and bold individuals in females. After fighting, the concentration of glycogen in claws was lower than that before fighting, and the concentrations of glucose and lactate in hemolymph were significantly higher after fighting than before. We found that the fighting willingness and ability were higher in male crabs than females and higher in bold crabs than shy. Fighting ability varied between sexes and was influenced by boldness and energy state.
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Kelleher SR, Silla AJ, Hunter DA, McFadden MS, Byrne PG. Captive diet does not influence exploration behavior upon reintroduction to the wild in a critically endangered amphibian. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.985545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploration behavior can have profound effects on individual fitness. Consequently, knowledge of the proximate mechanisms underpinning exploration behavior may inform conservation breeding programs (CBPs) for threatened species. However, the environmental factors that influence exploration behavior in captivity and during the reintroduction process remain poorly understood. Dietary micronutrients, such as carotenoids, are known to affect the expression of energetically costly behavioral traits, and theoretically may also influence the degree of exploration behavior in various contexts. Here, we investigate whether dietary β-carotene supplementation in captivity influences exploration behavior upon reintroduction to the wild in the critically endangered southern corroboree frog, Pseudophryne corroboree. We conducted a manipulative dietary experiment where captive bred P. corroboree were supplemented with different doses of β-carotene for 40 weeks prior to release. Frogs (n = 115) were reintroduced to the wild using a soft-release approach, where they were released into field enclosures specifically designed for this species. Upon reintroduction, the frogs’ initial exploration behavior was measured using a standardized behavioral assay. There was no effect of diet treatment on any measure of exploration behavior (mean latency to leave the initial refuge, time spent mobile within the release apparatus and latency to disperse into the field enclosure). However, there was a significant relationship between individual body size and latency to leave the refuge, whereby smaller individuals left the refuge more rapidly. While these findings provide no evidence that β-carotene at the dosages tested influences P. corroboree exploration behavior in a reintroduction context, the effect of body size draws attention to the potential for bodily state to influence exploration behavior. We discuss the need for ongoing research investigating the influence of captive diet on post release behavior, and highlight how knowledge concerning state-dependent behavior might help to inform and direct reintroduction programs.
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25
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Castellón TD, Deyle AC, Farmer AL, Bauder JM, Roznik EA, Johnson SA. Effects of Translocation on Gopher Frog Survival and Movement. HERPETOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-20-00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Traci D. Castellón
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 South West Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
| | - Anna C. Deyle
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1239 Southwest 10th Street, Ocala, FL 34471, USA
| | - Anna L. Farmer
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 South West Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
| | - Javan M. Bauder
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Steve A. Johnson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 222 Criser Hall, PO Box 114000, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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26
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Does Exposure to Predator Cues Influence Movement Behavior of Postmetamorphic Juvenile Rana aurora? J HERPETOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1670/21-035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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27
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Menon NM, Carr JA. Anxiety-like behavior and tectal gene expression in a foraging/predator avoidance tradeoff task using adult African clawed frogs Xenopus laevis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03219-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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28
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Finkemeier MA, Krause A, Tuchscherer A, Puppe B, Langbein J. Personality traits affect learning performance in dwarf goats (Capra hircus). Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:916459. [PMID: 35909682 PMCID: PMC9336648 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.916459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of species exhibit time- and context-consistent interindividual variation in a number of specific behaviors related to an individual's personality. Several studies have shown that individual differences in personality-associated behavioral traits have an impact on cognitive abilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and learning abilities in dwarf goats. The behavior of 95 goats during a repeated open field (OF) and novel object test (NO) was analyzed, and two main components were identified using principal component analysis: boldness and activity. In parallel, the goats learned a 4-choice visual initial discrimination task (ID) and three subsequent reversal learning (RL) tasks. The number of animals that reached the learning criterion and the number of trials needed (TTC) in each task were calculated. Our results show that goats with the lowest learning performance in ID needed more TTC in RL1 and reached the learning criterion less frequently in RL2 and RL3 compared to animals with better learning performance in ID. This suggests a close relationship between initial learning and flexibility in learning behavior. To study the link between personality and learning, we conducted two analyses, one using only data from the first OF- and NO-test (momentary personality traits), while the other included both tests integrating only animals that were stable for their specific trait (stable personality traits). No relationship between personality and learning was found using data from only the first OF- and NO-test. However, stability in the trait boldness was found to have an effect on learning. Unbold goats outperformed bold goats in RL1. This finding supports the general hypothesis that bold animals tend to develop routines and show less flexibility in the context of learning than unbold individuals. Understanding how individual personality traits can affect cognitive abilities will help us gain insight into mechanisms that can constrain cognitive processing and adaptive behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Antonine Finkemeier
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Annika Krause
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Armin Tuchscherer
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Birger Puppe
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan Langbein
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jan Langbein
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29
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Peignier M, Araya-Ajoy YG, Bégué L, Chaloupka S, Dellefont K, Leeb C, Walsh P, Ringler M, Ringler E. Exploring links between personality traits and their social and non-social environments in wild poison frogs. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022; 76:93. [PMID: 38989132 PMCID: PMC7616156 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
An animal's behavioral phenotype comprises several traits, which are hierarchically structured in functional units. This is manifested in measured behaviors often being correlated, partly reflecting the need of a coordinated functional response. Unfortunately, we still have limited understanding whether consistent differences in animal behaviors are due to underlying physiological constraints or a result of plastic adaptation to their current environment. Therefore, characterizing the spatial distribution of behaviors can provide important insights into causes and consequences of behavioral variation. In the present study, we quantified behaviors in a wild, free-ranging population of the Neotropical frog Allobates femoralis. We investigated how these behaviors were linked to the frogs' natural and social environment and quantified the extent to which these behaviors consistently differed among individuals (i.e., animal personality). We assessed levels of aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness by measuring several underlying behaviors expressed in a set of experimental assays, and found evidence for consistent among-individual differences along these axes. Contrary to our expectation, there was no relationship between individual behaviors and their natural environment, but we found a plastic response of males to changes in female density, which might reflect how individuals cope with their socio-ecological environment. Significance statement How are behavioral phenotypes distributed across space? Here, we studied an entire free-ranging population of poison frogs, and investigated if the personality traits aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness are linked to the frogs' natural or social environment. We found that behavioral traits were non-randomly distributed across the population, suggesting that the spatial arrangement of behavioral traits reflects how individuals cope with their complex natural and social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, CH-3032Hinterkappelen, Bern, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lauriane Bégué
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sarah Chaloupka
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Dellefont
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Leeb
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Mainz, Germany
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Walsh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, CH-3032Hinterkappelen, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, CH-3032Hinterkappelen, Bern, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Waldron BP, Ganzfried MC, Hickerson CAM, Anthony CD. Repeatability of foraging behavior following a simulated predation attempt depends on color morph, sex, and foraging metric in Red-backed salamanders ( Plethodon cinereus). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1941268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian P. Waldron
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
| | - Marissa C. Ganzfried
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
| | - Cari-Ann M. Hickerson
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
| | - Carl D. Anthony
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
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Personality assessment of headstart Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) in human care prior to release. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Kluiver CE, de Jong JA, Massen JJM, Bhattacharjee D. Personality as a Predictor of Time-Activity Budget in Lion-Tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121495. [PMID: 35739832 PMCID: PMC9219468 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Time-activity budgets describe how animals divide their day into various behaviours and activities, e.g., time spent foraging or resting. Activity budgets can serve as crucial indicators of energy intake and expenditure, providing better knowledge of a species’ lifestyle. The conventional trend has been to explore group-level time-activity budgets; however, individuals may also vary in their time-activity budgets (e.g., one individual foraging more than another), with the influencing mechanisms still poorly understood. We propose that animal personality, a behavioural and cognitive profile that makes one individual different from another, may explain why individuals vary in their time-activity budgets. We used a multi-method approach comprised of behavioural observations and experiments to assess the personality traits of lion-tailed macaques. The observed traits were used to predict individual time-activity budgets, broadly categorised into food-related, active, and resting behaviours. We then discuss the significance of this novel approach in light of lion-tailed macaque ecology, conservation, and welfare. Abstract Time-activity budget, i.e., how a population or an individual divides their day into various behaviours and activities, is an important ecological aspect. Existing research primarily focused on group-level time-activity budgets, while individual variations have only been reported recently. However, little is known about how consistent inter-individual differences or personalities influence time-activity budgets. We examined the personalities of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) and investigated their influence on individual time-activity budgets. The resulting personality traits, namely persistence, sociability, affiliation, and anxiety, were used to predict the three broad categories of the time-activity budget—food-related, active, and resting behaviours. We found that persistence and sociability positively predicted the time spent being active. Food-related behaviours were positively predicted by persistence, while anxiety was found to influence them negatively. The time spent resting was negatively predicted by persistence. We did not find an effect of affiliation on the time-activity budgets. We discuss these findings in light of the ecology of lion-tailed macaques. Our study highlights the importance of a novel approach that uses animal personality traits as predictors of individual time-activity budgets and offers insights regarding the use of personality assessments in conservation and welfare activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E. Kluiver
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.E.K.); (J.J.M.M.)
| | - Jolanda A. de Jong
- Department of Applied Biology, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Arboretum West 98, 1325 WB Almere, The Netherlands;
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.E.K.); (J.J.M.M.)
| | - Debottam Bhattacharjee
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.E.K.); (J.J.M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-30-253-2550
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Chaloupka S, Peignier M, Stückler S, Araya-Ajoy Y, Walsh P, Ringler M, Ringler E. Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog. Front Ecol Evol 2022; 10:881387. [PMID: 38989273 PMCID: PMC7616157 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.881387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Intra-specific aggressive interactions play a prominent role in the life of many animals. While studies have found evidence for repeatability in boldness, activity, and exploration in amphibians, we know relatively little about consistent among-individual variation in aggressiveness, despite its importance for male-male competition and territoriality. Amphibians, and Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) in particular, are highly suitable for investigating among-individual variation in aggressiveness, as most species exhibit strong territoriality in at least one of the sexes. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in knowledge, by investigating within- and between-individual variation in territorial aggression in a semi-natural population of the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae) in French Guiana. We conducted repeated, standardized behavioral tests to assess if the level of territorial aggression is consistent within and different between individuals. Further, we tested a possible link between body size and level of territorial aggression. We found moderate repeatability in territorial aggressiveness, but no link to age and/or body size. In conclusion, our study represents the first documentation of repeatable aggressive behavior in a territorial context in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Chaloupka
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mélissa Peignier
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Stückler
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yimen Araya-Ajoy
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Patrick Walsh
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Zamora-Camacho FJ. The relationships between toad behaviour, antipredator defences, and spatial and sexual variation in predation pressure. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12985. [PMID: 35194533 PMCID: PMC8858576 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal behaviour is under strong selection. Selection on behaviour, however, might not act in isolation from other fitness-related traits. Since predators represent outstanding selective forces, animal behaviour could covary with antipredator defences, such that individuals better suited against predators could afford facing the costs of riskier behaviours. Moreover, not all individuals undergo equivalent degrees of predation pressure, which can vary across sexes or habitats. Individuals under lower predation pressure might also exhibit riskier behaviours. METHODS In this work, I tested these hypotheses on natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita). Specifically, I gauged activity time, exploratory behaviour and boldness in standard laboratory conditions, and assessed whether they correlated with body size and antipredator strategies, namely sprint speed, parotoid gland area and parotoid gland colour contrast. Additionally, I compared these traits between sexes and individuals from an agrosystem and pine grove, since there is evidence that males and agrosystem individuals are subjected to greater predation pressure. RESULTS Sprint speed as well as parotoid gland contrast and size appeared unrelated to the behavioural traits studied. In turn, body mass was negatively related to activity time, boldness and exploration. This trend is consistent with the fact that larger toads could be more detectable to their predators, which are mostly gape unconstrained and could easily consume them. As predicted, females exhibited riskier behaviours. Nonetheless, agrosystem toads did not differ from pine grove toads in the behavioural traits measured, despite being under stronger predation pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain,Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Mühlenhaupt M, Baxter-Gilbert J, Makhubo BG, Riley JL, Measey J. No evidence for innate differences in tadpole behavior between natural, urbanized, and invasive populations. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022; 76:11. [PMID: 35002046 PMCID: PMC8727469 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03121-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Animals are increasingly challenged to respond to novel or rapidly changing habitats due to urbanization and/or displacement outside their native range by humans. Behavioral differences, such as increased boldness (i.e., propensity for risk-taking), are often observed in animals persisting in novel environments; however, in many cases, it is unclear how these differences arise (e.g., through developmental plasticity or evolution) or when they arise (i.e., at what age or developmental stage). In the Guttural Toad (Sclerophrys gutturalis), adult urban toads from both native and invasive ranges are bolder than conspecifics in natural habitats. Here, we reared Guttural Toad tadpoles in a common garden experiment, and tested for innate differences in boldness across their development and between individuals whose parents and lineage came from rural-native, urban-native, and urban-invasive localities (i.e., origin populations). Tadpoles did not differ in their boldness or in how their boldness changed over ontogeny based on their origin populations. In general, tadpoles typically became less bold as they aged, irrespective of origin population. Our findings indicate that differences in boldness in free-living adult Guttural Toads are not innate in the tadpole stage and we discuss three possible mechanisms driving phenotypic divergence in adult boldness for the focus of future research: habitat-dependent developmental effects on tadpole behavior, decoupled evolution between the tadpole and adult stage, and/or behavioral flexibility, learning, or acclimatization during the adult stage. Significance statement To determine if animals can persist in urban areas or become invasive outside their native ranges, it is important to understand how they adapt to life in the city. Our study investigates if differences in boldness that have been found in adult Guttural Toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) represent heritable differences that can also be found in early life stages by rearing tadpoles from eggs in a common garden experiment. We did not find any differences in boldness among tadpoles from rural-native, urban-native, and urban-invasive origin populations. Our findings suggest that differences in boldness are not innate and/or that boldness is a behavioral trait that is decoupled between the tadpole and the adult stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Mühlenhaupt
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7600 South Africa
| | - James Baxter-Gilbert
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7600 South Africa
| | - Buyisile G Makhubo
- College of Agriculture, Engineering & Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 91 Ridge Rd, Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville 3201 South Africa
| | - Julia L Riley
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7600 South Africa.,Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 Canada.,Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1E2 Canada
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7600 South Africa
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Kelleher SR, Silla AJ, Hertel AG, Dingemanse NJ, Byrne PG. Mate Preference Plasticity in a Critically Endangered Frog: Implications for Conservation Breeding. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.748104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in female mate preferences for male traits remains poorly understood (both among and within females), despite having important evolutionary and conservation implications, particularly for captive breeding. Here, we investigate female mate preferences for male advertisement call frequency, and determine whether preferences vary over repeated trials, in the critically endangered southern corroboree frog, Pseudophryne corroboree. We conducted a series of phonotaxis trials in a six-speaker arena where naïve, captive-bred, virgin females were offered a choice between low, average and high frequency male advertisement calls, with a subset of females tested repeatedly. In the first trial, we found no evidence for a population-level preference for call frequency, but females spent less time in the low call zone than expected by chance. However, our results showed that female mate preferences changed over sequential trials. Females spent significantly more time in the low frequency call zone in the third trial compared to the first trial, and, in the last trial, females exhibited a significant population-level preference for low frequency calls. Subsequently, repeatability estimates of female preferences were low and did not significantly deviate from zero. Our results indicate that female P. corroboree mate preferences can exhibit temporal variation, and suggest that females are more attracted to low call frequencies after repeated exposure. These findings imply that female P. corroboree may become choosier over time, and highlight the potential for mate preferences to exhibit phenotypic plasticity within a single reproductive cycle. Overall, these findings provide the first information on mate preferences in P. corroboree, and emphasize the importance of considering individual variation in mate choice studies. From a conservation perspective, knowledge of individual variation in female mate preferences may be used to conduct behavioral manipulations in captivity that facilitate the breeding of genetically valuable individuals, and improve the success of conservation breeding programs.
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Eccles GR, Bethell EJ, Greggor AL, Mettke-Hofmann C. Individual Variation in Dietary Wariness Is Predicted by Head Color in a Specialist Feeder, the Gouldian Finch. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.772812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shifts in resource availability due to environmental change are increasingly confronting animals with unfamiliar food types. Species that can rapidly accept new food types may be better adapted to ecological change. Intuitively, dietary generalists are expected to accept new food types when resources change, while dietary specialists would be more averse to adopting novel food. However, most studies investigating changes in dietary breadth focus on generalist species and do not delve into potential individual predictors of dietary wariness and the social factors modulating these responses. We investigated dietary wariness in the Gouldian finch, a dietary specialist, that is expected to avoid novel food. This species occurs in two main head colors (red, black), which signal personality in other contexts. We measured their initial neophobic responses (approach attempts before first feed and latency to first feed) and willingness to incorporate novel food into their diet (frequency of feeding on novel food after first feed). Birds were tested in same-sex pairs in same and different head color pairings balanced across experiments 1 and 2. Familiar and novel food (familiar food dyed) were presented simultaneously across 5 days for 3 h, each. Gouldian finches fed on the familiar food first demonstrating food neophobia, and these latencies were repeatable. Birds made more approach attempts before feeding on novel than familiar food, particularly red-headed birds in experiment 1 and when partnered with a black-headed bird. Individuals consistently differed in their rate of incorporation of novel food, with clear differences between head colors; red-headed birds increased their feeding visits to novel food across experimentation equaling their familiar food intake by day five, while black-headed birds continually favored familiar food. Results suggest consistent among individual differences in response to novel food with red-headed birds being adventurous consumers and black-headed birds dietary conservatives. The differences in food acceptance aligned with responses to novel environments on the individual level (found in an earlier study) providing individuals with an adaptive combination of novelty responses across contexts in line with potential differences in movement patterns. Taken together, these novelty responses could aid in population persistence when faced with environmental changes.
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Fuss T. Mate Choice, Sex Roles and Sexual Cognition in Vertebrates: Mate Choice Turns Cognition or Cognition Turns Mate Choice? Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.749495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea of “smart is sexy,” meaning superior cognition provides competitive benefits in mate choice and, therefore, evolutionary advantages in terms of reproductive fitness, is both exciting and captivating. Cognitively flexible individuals perceive and adapt more dynamically to (unpredictable) environmental changes. The sex roles that females and males adopt within their populations can vary greatly in response to the prevalent mating system. Based on how cognition determines these grossly divergent sex roles, different selection pressures could possibly shape the (progressive) evolution of cognitive abilities, suggesting the potential to induce sexual dimorphisms in superior cognitive abilities. Associations between an individual’s mating success, sexual traits and its cognitive abilities have been found consistently across vertebrate species and taxa, providing evidence that sexual selection may well shape the supporting cognitive prerequisites. Yet, while superior cognitive abilities provide benefits such as higher feeding success, improved antipredator behavior, or more favorable mate choice, they also claim costs such as higher energy levels and metabolic rates, which in turn may reduce fecundity, growth, or immune response. There is compelling evidence in a variety of vertebrate taxa that females appear to prefer skilled problem-solver males, i.e., they prefer those that appear to have better cognitive abilities. Consequently, cognition is also likely to have substantial effects on sexual selection processes. How the choosing sex assesses the cognitive abilities of potential mates has not been explored conclusively yet. Do cognitive skills guide an individual’s mate choice and does learning change an individual’s mate choice decisions? How and to which extent do individuals use their own cognitive skills to assess those of their conspecifics when choosing a mate? How does an individual’s role within a mating system influence the choice of the choosing sex in this context? Drawing on several examples from the vertebrate world, this review aims to elucidate various aspects associated with cognitive sex differences, the different roles of males and females in social and sexual interactions, and the potential influence of cognition on mate choice decisions. Finally, future perspectives aim to identify ways to answer the central question of how the triad of sex, cognition, and mate choice interacts.
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Saltz D, Getz WM. Finding a Home: Stopping Theory and Its Application to Home Range Establishment in a Novel Environment. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.714580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Familiarity with the landscape increases foraging efficiency and safety. Thus, when animals are confronted with a novel environment, either by natural dispersal or translocation, establishing a home range becomes a priority. While the search for a home range carries a cost of functioning in an unfamiliar environment, ceasing the search carries a cost of missed opportunities. Thus, when to establish a home range is essentially a weighted sum of a two-criteria cost-minimization problem. The process is predominantly heuristic, where the animal must decide how to study the environment and, consequently, when to stop searching and establish a home range in a manner that will reduce the cost and maximize or at least satisfice its fitness. These issues fall within the framework of optimal stopping theory. In this paper we review stopping theory and three stopping rules relevant to home range establishment: the best-of-n rule, the threshold rule, and the comparative Bayes rule. We then describe how these rules can be distinguished from movement data, hypothesize when each rule should be practiced, and speculate what and how environmental factors and animal attributes affect the stopping time. We provide a set of stopping-theory-related predictions that are testable within the context of translocation projects and discuss some management implications.
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Moore SJ, Nicholson KE. Beneath the Leaf-Litter: Can Salamander Personality Influence Forest-Floor Dynamics? HERPETOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-19-00019.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaundon J.B. Moore
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
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Nordberg E, Denny R, Schwarzkopf L. Testing measures of boldness and exploratory activity in native versus invasive species: geckos as a model system. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Adaniya CH, Wellman CL, Demas GE, Cusick JA. The ontogeny of personality: Repeatability of social and escape behaviors across developmental stages in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2021; 335. [PMID: 34184832 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality is defined as behavioral tendencies that are consistent across time and contexts within an individual, but differ across individuals. Studies investigating personality typically examine individuals across short time periods or within a single life stage. Growing evidence suggests that personality may be less stable across life stages, highlighting the need to consider the effects of ontogeny on the expression of consistent behavioral traits. We investigated individual consistency in social and escape behaviors across developmental stages using Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). To determine whether individuals were consistent in these behaviors as juveniles and across developmental stages, we measured male and female social and escape behaviors twice as juveniles and once as adults. Individuals' social scores were significantly repeatable within the juvenile stage, but not across developmental stages. In contrast, escape scores were highly repeatable across developmental stages, with males' scores being more repeatable than females' scores. Our results support previous findings that personality traits, especially those associated with social behavior, are less stable across development, whereas behaviors associated with stress or coping may represent a more permanent feature of an individual's phenotype. Our results also indicate potential sex differences in long-term repeatability of personality. Considering how ontogeny affects animal personality for males and females can provide insight into the evolution and mechanisms that maintain animal personality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cara L Wellman
- Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Gregory E Demas
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Jessica A Cusick
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Animal Behavior Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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McMahon EK, Cavigelli SA. Gaps to Address in Ecological Studies of Temperament and Physiology. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1917-1932. [PMID: 34097030 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecology is a diverse field with many researchers interested in drivers and consequences of variability within populations. Two aspects of variability that have been addressed are behavioral and physiological. While these have been shown to separately influence ecological outcomes such as survival, reproductive success and fitness, combined they could better predict within-population variability in survival and fitness. Recently there has been a focus on potential fitness outcomes of consistent behavioral traits that are referred to as personality or temperament (e.g. boldness, sociability, exploration, etc.). Given this recent focus, it is an optimal time to identify areas to supplement in this field, particularly in determining the relationship between temperament and physiological traits. To maximize progress, in this perspective paper we propose that the following two areas be addressed: (1) increased diversity of species, and (2) increased number of physiological processes studied, with an eye toward using more representative and relatively consistent measures across studies. We first highlight information that has been gleaned from species that are frequently studied to determine how animal personality relates to physiology and/or survival/fitness. We then shine a spotlight on important taxa that have been understudied and that can contribute meaningful, complementary information to this area of research. And last, we propose a brief array of physiological processes to relate to temperament, and that can significantly impact fitness, and that may be accessible in field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse K McMahon
- Ecology Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sonia A Cavigelli
- Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Variations in Behavioral and Physiological Traits in Yearling Tibetan Sheep ( Ovis aries). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061676. [PMID: 34199836 PMCID: PMC8227952 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) are raised in the wild by shepherds on the Tibetan Plateau and domesticated for a long period. Studying variations in the behavioral and physiological traits of sheep during the growing season is important for welfare and productivity. In this study, the behavior and physiology of a Tibetan sheep cohort were repeatedly evaluated in 2-, 5-, and 11-month-old sheep. The mean level of the risk-taking variable increased, while that of the vocalizations variable decreased. The exploration variable was stable over ontogeny. The novelty decreased, and the heart rate increased from 2 to 5 months, but both stabilized at 11 months. The fecal cortisol concentration (CORT) variable was stable at 2 and 5 months but decreased at 11 months of age. Stable correlations were reported for 2- and 5-month-olds and for behavioral variables and heart rate. However, some correlations emerged only at 11 months, whereas others disappeared over ontogeny. Moreover, CORT was independent of temperament and heart rate during the entire period. Abstract Temperament is a consistent behavioral difference among individuals over time or in different contexts. A comprehensive understanding of temperament and complex behavioral interactions enhances knowledge on animal evolution, welfare, and productivity. However, reports on the development of behavioral consistency over ontogeny are vague. Here, we tested the ontogeny of the temperament and physiological traits of Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) in three crucial age stages. The mean level of the risk-taking variable increased, while that of the vocalizations variable decreased. The exploration variable was stable over ontogeny. The novelty decreased and the heart rate increased from the juvenile to the adolescent stage but stabilized at the adult stage. The fecal cortisol concentration (CORT) variable was stable at the juvenile and adolescent stages but decreased at the adult stage. Stable correlations were reported for the juvenile and adolescent stages and for the behavioral variables and heart rate. However, some correlations emerged only after maturation, whereas others disappeared over ontogeny. Moreover, CORT was independent of temperament and heart rate at different ages. These results demonstrate that age affects temperament and physiology and their correlations. Hence, developmental aspects should be incorporated into future temperament studies.
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de Azevedo CS, Young RJ. Animal Personality and Conservation: Basics for Inspiring New Research. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041019. [PMID: 33916547 PMCID: PMC8065675 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The study of animal personality is important to conserve animals because it can help in selecting the most appropriate individuals to be released into the wild. Individuals not so bold or aggressive, less stressed, who explore their new environment with greater caution are often more likely to survive after release into the wild. In contrast, bolder and more aggressive animals reproduce more successfully and, therefore, can be released with the aim of rapid repopulation of an area. These and other aspects of how animal personality can help in conservation programs, as well as how to collect personality data are covered in this paper. Abstract The number of animal species threatened with extinction are increasing every year, and biologists are conducting animal translocations, as one strategy, to try to mitigate this situation. Furthermore, researchers are evaluating methods to increase translocation success, and one area that shows promise is the study of animal personality. Animal personality can be defined as behavioral and physiological differences between individuals of the same species, which are stable in time and across different contexts. In the present paper, we discuss how animal personality can increase the success of translocation, as well as in the management of animals intended for translocation by evaluating personality characteristics of the individuals. Studies of the influence of birthplace, parental behavior, stress resilience, and risk assessment can be important to select the most appropriate individuals to be released. Finally, we explain the two methods used to gather personality data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, s/n Bauxita, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert John Young
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford Manchester, Peel Building—Room G51, Salford M5 4WT, UK;
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Cabrera D, Nilsson JR, Griffen BD. The development of animal personality across ontogeny: a cross-species review. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Kundey SMA, Phillips M. Recognition of novelty in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) and tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). Behav Processes 2021; 184:104320. [PMID: 33460726 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Novelty recognition helps organisms identify changes over time. Studies to date have usually involved mammals, particularly rodents. We explored leopard geckos' (Eublepharis macularius; Experiment 1) and tiger salamanders' (Ambystoma tigrinum, Experiment 2) sensitivity to spatial and object novelty. We used an exploratory paradigm adapted from rodents where time spent near objects in an open-field box was compared. Subjects first habituated to three objects. To evaluate spatial novelty recognition, one object was moved to a new location. Subjects again habituated to the objects' locations. To evaluate object novelty recognition, one object that had not been moved earlier was replaced with an unfamiliar object. Results indicated when one object was moved to a new location, geckos and salamanders spent more time near that spatially-displaced object. Additionally, when a familiar object was replaced with a new object, geckos and salamanders spent more time near the substituted object. These results suggest geckos and salamanders recognized changes in objects' identities and locations. Geckos and salamanders acted differentially depending on familiarity in both spatial and object domains. These results support attempts to include lesser-studied species in our efforts to characterize cognition.
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Yang S, Zhang T, Li Y, Xu S, Zhang M, Hu X, Liu S, Hu D, Wronski T. Identifying personality traits and their potential application to the management of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Cassola FM, Henaut Y, Cedeño-Vázquez JR, Méndez-de la Cruz FR, Morales-Vela B. Temperament and sexual behaviour in the Furrowed Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys areolata. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244561. [PMID: 33378375 PMCID: PMC7773281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The variation in temperament among animals has consequences for evolution and ecology. One of the primary effects of consistent behavioral differences is on reproduction. In chelonians some authors have focused on the study of temperament using different methods. In our research our first aim was i) establish a methodology to determine the degree of boldness among individuals Rhinoclemmys areolata. Our second aim was to ii) determine the role boldness plays during reproduction, with emphasis on courtship and copulation, considering a) the interactions between males and females, and b) competition between males. We used 16 sexually mature individuals of each sex. Males were observed in four different situations and 17 behavioral traits were recorded. We selected 12 traits that allowed us distinguish between the bolder and the shier individuals and found that five behavioral traits were specific for bolder individuals and five others for shier individuals. In a second step, we observed a male in presence of a female and recorded courtship behaviors and breeding attempts. Bolder individuals did not display courtship behaviors and just attempted to copulate. Shier individuals displayed courtship behaviors and copulation attempts were rarely observed. Finally, in the simulations that compared two males in the presence of a female we noticed that bolder individuals displayed courtship behaviors while the shier ones simply ignored the female. Our results first allowed us to determine which methodology is the best to determine temperament in turtles. Secondly, temperament seems to be an important factor in modulating interaction between males and females. Bolder individuals have an advantage during competition and display courtship behaviours only if other males are present. Shier males displayed courtship behaviors and only try to copulate when no competitors were present. These two different temperament-dependant strategies are discussed in terms of ecology, evolution and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yann Henaut
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Fausto Roberto Méndez-de la Cruz
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México
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