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Gorshkova E, Kyomen S, Kaucká M, Guenther A. Food quality influences behavioural flexibility and cognition in wild house mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16088. [PMID: 38997306 PMCID: PMC11245467 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66792-6] [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: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental change is frequent. To adjust and survive, animals need behavioural flexibility. Recently, cognitive flexibility has emerged as a driving force for adjusting to environmental change. Understanding how environmental factors, such as food quality, influence behavioural and/or more costly cognitive flexibility. Here, we investigate the effects of high-quality versus standard food as well as the effects of different housing conditions on both types of flexibility. Our results show that mice that experienced a poorer diet under seminatural conditions showed greater behavioural but not cognitive flexibility. For cage-housed mice, the results were less clear. However, mice fed a poorer diet performed better in innovative problem-solving, thus showing enhanced cognitive flexibility, which was not apparent in the reversal learning paradigm. The observed differences were most likely due to differences in motivation to obtain food rewards. Additionally, animals on poorer diet had lower brain volume, usually related to lower cognitive task performance at the between-species level. Thus, our study emphasises the importance of environmental conditions on behavioural flexibility at the within-species level, highlights that different test paradigms may lead to different conclusions, and finally shows that cage housing of wild animals may lead to patterns that do not necessarily reflect natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Gorshkova
- RG Behavioural Ecology of Individual Differences, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany.
- Zoology and Functional Morphology of Vertebrates, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Stella Kyomen
- RG Evolutionary Developmental Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Markéta Kaucká
- RG Evolutionary Developmental Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Anja Guenther
- RG Behavioural Ecology of Individual Differences, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
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2
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Brehm AM, Mortelliti A. Environmental heterogeneity modifies the link between personality and survival in fluctuating small mammal populations. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:196-207. [PMID: 38102795 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14037] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite numerous studies examining the fitness consequences of animal personalities, predictions concerning the relationship between personality and survival are not consistent with empirical observations. Theory predicts that individuals who are risky (i.e. bold, active and aggressive) should have higher rates of mortality; however, empirical evidence shows high levels of variation in behaviour-survival relationships in wild populations. We suggest that this mismatch between predictions under theory and empirical observations results from environmental contingencies that drive heterogeneity in selection. This uncertainty may constrain any universal directional relationships between personality traits and survival. Specifically, we hypothesize that spatiotemporal fluctuations in perceived risk that arise from variability in refuge abundance and competitor density alter the relationship between personality traits and survival. In a large-scale manipulative experiment, we trapped four small mammal species in five subsequent years across six forest stands treated with different management practices in Maine, United States. Stands all occur within the same experimental forest but contain varying amounts of refuge and small mammal densities fluctuate over time and space. We quantified the effects of habitat structure and competitor density on the relationship between personality traits and survival to assess whether directional relationships differed depending on environmental contingencies. In the two most abundant species, deer mice and southern red-backed voles, risky behaviours (i.e. higher aggression and boldness) predicted apparent monthly survival probability. Mice that were more aggressive (less docile) had higher survival. Voles that were bolder (less timid) had higher survival, but in the risky forest stands only. Additionally, traits associated with stress coping and de-arousal increased survival probability in both species at high small mammal density but decreased survival at low density. In the two less abundant study species, there was no evidence for an effect of personality traits on survival. Our field experiment provides partial support for our hypothesis: that spatiotemporal fluctuations in refuge abundance and competitor density alter the relationship between personality traits and survival. Our findings also suggest that behaviours associated with stress coping and de-arousal may be subject to density-dependent selection and should be further assessed and incorporated into theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Brehm
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alessio Mortelliti
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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3
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Kelly R, Rose PE. Assessing the impact of environmental enrichment on behavior in understudied armadillo species: A case study. Zoo Biol 2024; 43:100-109. [PMID: 37991115 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21810] [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] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of environmental enrichment (EE) can be effective in promoting zoo animal welfare by enhancing the performance of natural or species-typical behaviors. Research on the effects of EE is biased towards larger mammalian species, with less charismatic species being overlooked. Armadillos are one such overlooked example. A captive environment that results in inactivity, obesity, and associated poor health can negatively affect armadillo well-being. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the implementation of four physical object-based EEs could positively affect the behaviors of three armadillo species, housed in four similar exhibits. Behavioral data were collected both before (baseline) and during (treatment) EE periods, alongside of visitor number and environmental temperatures. The EE comprised of a plastic ball or a cardboard tube or a cardboard box, or a scatter-feed, and these were rotated each week of study until each exhibit had received them in turn. Despite the presence of different EE types, activity remained low throughout the study. However, results suggest that the plastic ball and cardboard box increased exploratory behaviors in the armadillos, but no overall increase in activity was noted during the scatter feed. Visitor presence had no effect on armadillo activity, and armadillos showed reduced activity with increasing environmental temperature. Overall, the use of physical object-based EE promoted beneficial natural behaviors in zoo-housed armadillos, but environmental conditions (i.e., temperature) also impacted armadillo activity, suggesting a complicated relationship between an enclosure's environmental variable and any behavioral husbandry measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kelly
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, Psychology, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Paul E Rose
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, Psychology, University of Exeter, Devon, UK
- WWT, Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, UK
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Monk CT, Aslak U, Brockmann D, Arlinghaus R. Rhythm of relationships in a social fish over the course of a full year in the wild. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:56. [PMID: 37710318 PMCID: PMC10502983 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00410-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals are expected to adjust their social behaviour to cope with challenges in their environment. Therefore, for fish populations in temperate regions with seasonal and daily environmental oscillations, characteristic rhythms of social relationships should be pronounced. To date, most research concerning fish social networks and biorhythms has occurred in artificial laboratory environments or over confined temporal scales of days to weeks. Little is known about the social networks of wild, freely roaming fish, including how seasonal and diurnal rhythms modulate social networks over the course of a full year. The advent of high-resolution acoustic telemetry enables us to quantify detailed social interactions in the wild over time-scales sufficient to examine seasonal rhythms at whole-ecosystems scales. Our objective was to explore the rhythms of social interactions in a social fish population at various time-scales over one full year in the wild by examining high-resolution snapshots of a dynamic social network. METHODS To that end, we tracked the behaviour of 36 adult common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in a 25 ha lake and constructed temporal social networks among individuals across various time-scales, where social interactions were defined by proximity. We compared the network structure to a temporally shuffled null model to examine the importance of social attraction, and checked for persistent characteristic groups over time. RESULTS The clustering within the carp social network tended to be more pronounced during daytime than nighttime throughout the year. Social attraction, particularly during daytime, was a key driver for interactions. Shoaling behavior substantially increased during daytime in the wintertime, whereas in summer carp interacted less frequently, but the interaction duration increased. Therefore, smaller, characteristic groups were more common in the summer months and during nighttime, where the social memory of carp lasted up to two weeks. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that social relationships of carp change diurnally and seasonally. These patterns were likely driven by predator avoidance, seasonal shifts in lake temperature, visibility, forage availability and the presence of anoxic zones. The techniques we employed can be applied generally to high-resolution biotelemetry data to reveal social structures across other fish species at ecologically realistic scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Monk
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, Kiel, 24105, Germany.
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany.
| | - Ulf Aslak
- DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800 Kgs.., Denmark
| | - Dirk Brockmann
- Robert Koch-Institute, Nordufer 20, Berlin, D-13353, Germany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology and Integrative Research Institute for the Life Sciences, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Arlinghaus
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environmental Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, Berlin, 10115, Germany
- Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Department of Crop and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, Berlin, 10115, Germany
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5
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Martin JS, Jaeggi AV, Koski SE. The social evolution of individual differences: Future directions for a comparative science of personality in social behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104980. [PMID: 36463970 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Personality is essential for understanding the evolution of cooperation and conflict in behavior. However, personality science remains disconnected from the field of social evolution, limiting our ability to explain how personality and plasticity shape phenotypic adaptation in social behavior. Researchers also lack an integrative framework for comparing personality in the contextualized and multifaceted behaviors central to social interactions among humans and other animals. Here we address these challenges by developing a social evolutionary approach to personality, synthesizing theory, methods, and organizing questions in the study of individuality and sociality in behavior. We critically review current measurement practices and introduce social reaction norm models for comparative research on the evolution of personality in social environments. These models demonstrate that social plasticity affects the heritable variance of personality, and that individual differences in social plasticity can further modify the rate and direction of adaptive social evolution. Future empirical studies of frequency- and density-dependent social selection on personality are crucial for further developing this framework and testing adaptive theory of social niche specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S Martin
- Human Ecology Group, Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Adrian V Jaeggi
- Human Ecology Group, Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sonja E Koski
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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6
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Rowell MK, Rymer TL. Problem solving of wild animals in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Misha K. Rowell
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
| | - Tasmin L. Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
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7
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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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8
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Brand JA, Naimo AC, Michelangeli M, Martin JM, Sih A, Wong BBM, Chapple DG. Social context mediates the expression of a personality trait in a gregarious lizard. Oecologia 2022; 200:359-369. [PMID: 36173475 PMCID: PMC9675666 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05269-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The social environment is a key factor that influences behavioural traits across a wide array of species. Yet, when investigating individual differences in behaviour, studies tend to measure animals in isolation from other conspecifics-even in social species. Surprisingly, whether behavioural traits measured in isolation are predictive of individual-level behaviour when in social groups is still poorly understood. Here, we repeatedly measured risk-taking behaviour (i.e. boldness; 741 total trials) in both the presence and absence of conspecifics in a social lizard, the delicate skink (Lampropholis delicata). Further, we manipulated food availability during group trials to test whether the effect of the social environment on risk-taking behaviour was mediated by competition over resources. Using 105 lizards collected from three independent populations, we found that individual risk-taking behaviour was repeatable when measured in either social isolation or within groups both with and without food resources available. However, lizards that were bolder during individual trials were not also bolder when in groups, regardless of resource availability. This was largely driven by individual differences in social behavioural plasticity, whereby individual skinks responded differently to the presence of conspecifics. Together, this resulted in a rank order change of individual behavioural types across the social conditions. Our results highlight the importance of the social environment in mediating animal personality traits across varying levels of resource availability. Further, these findings suggest that behavioural traits when measured in isolation, may not reflect individual variation in behaviour when measured in more ecologically realistic social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Brand
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Annalise C Naimo
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marcus Michelangeli
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jake M Martin
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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9
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Patterns of Performance Variation Between Animal Hybrids and their Parents: A Meta-analysis. Evol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-022-09585-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHybridization is a widespread phenomenon in animals, and hybrid heterosis/breakdown could be key processes determining the evolutionary dynamics of hybrids. Indeed, hybrids are not consistently disadvantaged compared to the parental lineages, as was historically assumed. Multiple processes could lead to performance differences between parental lineages and their hybrids. Despite many studies evaluated the performance of hybrids, a quantitative synthesis is required to assess the general pattern. Here we used meta-analytic and meta-regression approaches to quantify the fitness differences between parental lineages and their hybrids, and to identify possible processes that could lead to these differences. Specifically, we tested biological and methodological parameters that could determine differences in performance between hybrids and parental lineages. Hybrid performance was extremely variable across studies, being often significantly higher or lower compared to the mean performance of their parents. Nevertheless, the averaged hybrid performance was similar to the fitness of parental lineages, with differences across studies related to how performance was assessed. Genetic divergence between parental lineages, and the approach used to identify hybrids were the parameters most strongly related to variation in hybrid performance. Performance was lower for hybrids between distantly related lineages. Furthermore, study settings and the use of imprecise approaches for hybrid identification (e.g. morphology-based) can bias assessments of performance. Studies performed on wild populations and using genetic approaches for hybrid identification detected more often a decreased hybrid performance, compared to laboratory studies. We highlight the importance of appropriate settings for a realistic understanding of the evolutionary impacts of hybridization.
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10
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State and physiology behind personality in arthropods: a review. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn the endeavour to understand the causes and consequences of the variation in animal personality, a wide range of studies were carried out, utilising various aspects to make sense of this biological phenomenon. One such aspect integrated the study of physiological traits, investigating hypothesised physiological correlates of personality. Although many of such studies were carried out on vertebrates (predominantly on birds and mammals), studies using arthropods (mainly insects) as model organisms were also at the forefront of this area of research. In order to review the current state of knowledge on the relationship between personality and the most frequently studied physiological parameters in arthropods, we searched for scientific articles that investigated this relationship. In our review, we only included papers utilising a repeated-measures methodology to be conceptually and formally concordant with the study of animal personality. Based on our literature survey, metabolic rate, thermal physiology, immunophysiology, and endocrine regulation, as well as exogenous agents (such as toxins) were often identified as significant affectors shaping animal personality in arthropods. We found only weak support for state-dependence of personality when the state is approximated by singular elements (or effectors) of condition. We conclude that a more comprehensive integration of physiological parameters with condition may be required for a better understanding of state’s importance in animal personality. Also, a notable knowledge gap persists in arthropods regarding the association between metabolic rate and hormonal regulation, and their combined effects on personality. We discuss the findings published on the physiological correlates of animal personality in arthropods with the aim to summarise current knowledge, putting it into the context of current theory on the origin of animal personality.
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Amin B, Jennings DJ, Norman A, Ryan A, Ioannidis V, Magee A, Haughey HA, Haigh A, Ciuti S. Neonate personality affects early-life resource acquisition in a large social mammal. Behav Ecol 2022; 33:1025-1035. [PMID: 36382227 PMCID: PMC9664924 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is widely acknowledged that animal personality plays a key role in ecology, current debate focuses on the exact role of personality in mediating life-history trade-offs. Crucial for our understanding is the relationship between personality and resource acquisition, which is poorly understood, especially during early stages of development. Here we studied how among-individual differences in behavior develop over the first 6 months of life, and their potential association with resource acquisition in a free-ranging population of fallow deer (Dama dama). We related neonate physiological (heart rate) and behavioral (latency to leave at release) anti-predator responses to human handling to the proportion of time fawns spent scanning during their first summer and autumn of life. We then investigated whether there was a trade-off between scanning time and foraging time in these juveniles, and how it developed over their first 6 months of life. We found that neonates with longer latencies at capture (i.e., risk-takers) spent less time scanning their environment, but that this relationship was only present when fawns were 3-6 months old during autumn, and not when fawns were only 1-2 months old during summer. We also found that time spent scanning was negatively related to time spent foraging and that this relationship became stronger over time, as fawns gradually switch from a nutrition rich (milk) to a nutrition poor (grass) diet. Our results highlight a potential mechanistic pathway in which neonate personality may drive differences in early-life resource acquisition of a large social mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bawan Amin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Alison Norman
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew Ryan
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vasiliki Ioannidis
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alice Magee
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Hayley-Anne Haughey
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amy Haigh
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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12
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Kluen E, Rönkä K, Thorogood R. Prior experience of captivity affects behavioural responses to 'novel' environments. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13905. [PMID: 36061744 PMCID: PMC9438767 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Information ecology theory predicts that prior experience influences current behaviour, even if the information is acquired under a different context. However, when individuals are tested to quantify personality, cognition, or stress, we usually assume that the novelty of the test is consistent among individuals. Surprisingly, this 'gambit of prior experience' has rarely been explored. Therefore, here we make use of a wild population of great tits (Parus major) to test if prior experience of handling and captivity influences common measures of exploration (open field tests in two novel contexts: room and cage arenas), social response (simulated using a mirror), and behavioural stress (breathing rate). We found that birds with prior experience of captivity (caught previously for unrelated learning and foraging experiments) were more exploratory, but this depended on age: exploration and captivity experience (in terms of both absolute binary experience and the length of time spent in captivity) were associated more strongly in young (first-winter) birds than in adults. However, there was no association of prior experience of captivity with social response and breathing rate, and nor did the measures of exploration correlate. Together our results suggest that re-testing of individuals requires careful consideration, particularly for younger birds, and previous experiences can carry over and affect behaviours differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Kluen
- HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Research Programme in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katja Rönkä
- HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Research Programme in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rose Thorogood
- HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Research Programme in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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13
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Arndt SS, Goerlich VC, van der Staay FJ. A dynamic concept of animal welfare: The role of appetitive and adverse internal and external factors and the animal’s ability to adapt to them. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.908513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is a multifaceted issue that can be approached from different viewpoints, depending on human interests, ethical assumptions, and culture. To properly assess, safeguard and promote animal welfare, concepts are needed to serve as guidelines in any context the animal is kept in. Several different welfare concepts have been developed during the last half decade. The Five Freedoms concept has provided the basis for developing animal welfare assessment to date, and the Five Domains concept has guided those responsible for safeguarding animal welfare, while the Quality of Life concept focuses on how the individual perceives its own welfare state. This study proposes a modified and extended version of an earlier animal welfare concept - the Dynamic Animal Welfare Concept (DAWCon). Based on the adaptability of the animal, and taking the importance of positive emotional states and the dynamic nature of animal welfare into account, an individual animal is likely in a positive welfare state when it is mentally and physically capable and possesses the ability and opportunity to react adequately to sporadic or lasting appetitive and adverse internal and external stimuli, events, and conditions. Adequate reactions are elements of an animal’s normal behavior. They allow the animal to cope with and adapt to the demands of the (prevailing) environmental circumstances, enabling it to reach a state that it perceives as positive, i.e., that evokes positive emotions. This paper describes the role of internal as well as external factors in influencing welfare, each of which exerts their effects in a sporadic or lasting manner. Behavior is highlighted as a crucial read-out parameter. As most animals under human care are selected for certain traits that may affect their behavioral repertoire it is crucial to have thorough ethograms, i.e., a catalogue of specific behaviors of the species/strain/breed under study. DAWCon highlights aspects that need to be addressed when assessing welfare and may stimulate future research questions.
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Nord C, Bonnell T, Roth D, Clarke M, Dostie M, Henzi P, Barrett L. Fear of missing out? Personality and plasticity in food neophilia by wild vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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15
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Fraser Franco M, Santostefano F, Kelly CD, Montiglio PO. Studying predator foraging mode and hunting success at the individual level with an online videogame. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Predator–prey interactions are important drivers of community and ecosystem dynamics. With an online multiplayer videogame, we propose a novel system to explore within population variation in predator hunting mode, and how predator–prey behavioral interactions affect predator hunting success. We empirically examined how four predator foraging behaviors covary at three hierarchical levels (among environments, among individuals, and within individuals) to assess the structure of predator hunting mode. We also investigated how prey activity affects the foraging behavior and hunting success of predators. Our study supports key findings on predator foraging mode and predator-prey interactions from behavioral ecology. We found that individual predators displayed a diversity of hunting tactics that were conditioned by prey behavior. With prey movement, individual predators specialized either as cursorial or ambush hunters along a continuum of their hunting traits, but also shifted their strategy between encounters. Both types of hunters were generally better against slower moving prey, and they achieved similar prey captures over the sampling period. This suggests that virtual worlds supporting multiplayer online videogames can serve as legitimate systems to advance our knowledge on predator–prey interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Fraser Franco
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution des Interactions Biologiques (GREEIB), Université du Québec à Montréal , Case postale 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
| | - Francesca Santostefano
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution des Interactions Biologiques (GREEIB), Université du Québec à Montréal , Case postale 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
| | - Clint D Kelly
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution des Interactions Biologiques (GREEIB), Université du Québec à Montréal , Case postale 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
| | - Pierre-Olivier Montiglio
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution des Interactions Biologiques (GREEIB), Université du Québec à Montréal , Case postale 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
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16
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Occhiuto F, Vázquez-Diosdado JA, Carslake C, Kaler J. Personality and predictability in farmed calves using movement and space-use behaviours quantified by ultra-wideband sensors. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:212019. [PMID: 35706665 PMCID: PMC9174733 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.212019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Individuals within a population often show consistent between individual differences in their average behavioural expression (personality), and consistent differences in their within individual variability of behaviour around the mean (predictability). Where correlations between different personality traits and/or the predictability of traits exist, these represent behavioural or predictability syndromes. In wild populations, behavioural syndromes have consequences for individuals' survival and reproduction and affect the structure and functioning of groups and populations. The consequences of behavioural syndromes for farm animals are less well explored, partly due to the challenges in quantifying behaviour of many individuals across time and context in a farm setting. Here, we use ultra-wideband location sensors to provide precise measures of movement and space use for 60 calves over 40-48 days. We are the first livestock study to demonstrate consistent within and between individual variation in movement and space use with repeatability values of up to 0.80 and CVp values up to 0.49. Our results show correlations in personality and predictability, indicating the existence of 'exploratory' and 'active' personality traits in farmed calves. We consider the consequences of such individual variability for cattle behaviour and welfare and how such data may be used to inform management decisions in farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Occhiuto
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jorge A. Vázquez-Diosdado
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Charles Carslake
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jasmeet Kaler
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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17
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Golab MJ, Sniegula S, Antoł A, Brodin T. Adult insect personality in the wild- Calopteryx splendens as a model for field studies. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18467-18476. [PMID: 35003685 PMCID: PMC8717306 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal personality has received increasing interest and acknowledgment within ecological research over the past two decades. However, some areas are still poorly studied and need to be developed. For instance, field studies focused on invertebrates are currently highly underrepresented in the literature. More studies including a wider variety of traits measured and species tested are needed to improve our understanding of trait-correlation patterns and generalities. We studied nine behavioral traits, in the damselfly Calopteryx splendens, from an array of three experiments: (i) courtship, (ii) aggressiveness, and (iii) boldness, and calculated their repeatability. The behaviors were measured twice in two different contexts: (i) undisturbed territory and (ii) partially deteriorated territory. Traits related to courtship and boldness were all repeatable across the two contexts. Among aggressive behaviors, only one trait (number of hits) was repeatable. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of within-population personality differences in an adult damselfly in the wild. We further propose C. splendens as a promising model species for testing personality in the wild under highly controlled environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Golab
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesKrakówPoland
| | - Szymon Sniegula
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesKrakówPoland
| | - Andrzej Antoł
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesKrakówPoland
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUmeåSweden
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18
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Mazza V, Czyperreck I, Eccard JA, Dammhahn M. Cross-Context Responses to Novelty in Rural and Urban Small Mammals. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.661971] [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 Anthropocene is the era of urbanization. The accelerating expansion of cities occurs at the expense of natural reservoirs of biodiversity and presents animals with challenges for which their evolutionary past might not have prepared them. Cognitive and behavioral adjustments to novelty could promote animals’ persistence under these altered conditions. We investigated the structure of, and covariance between, different aspects of responses to novelty in rural and urban small mammals of two non-commensal rodent species. We ran replicated experiments testing responses to three novelty types (object, food, or space) of 47 individual common voles (Microtus arvalis) and 41 individual striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius). We found partial support for the hypothesis that responses to novelty are structured, clustering (i) speed of responses, (ii) intensity of responses, and (iii) responses to food into separate dimensions. Rural and urban small mammals did not differ in most responses to novelty, suggesting that urban habitats do not reduce neophobia in these species. Further studies investigating whether comparable response patters are found throughout different stages of colonization, and along synurbanization processes of different duration, will help illuminate the dynamics of animals’ cognitive adjustments to urban life.
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19
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Gunn RL, Hartley IR, Algar AC, Niemelä PT, Keith SA. Understanding behavioural responses to human‐induced rapid environmental change: a meta‐analysis. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Gunn
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster Univ. Lancaster UK
| | - Ian R. Hartley
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster Univ. Lancaster UK
| | - Adam C. Algar
- Dept of Biology, Lakehead Univ. Thunder Bay ON Canada
| | - Petri T. Niemelä
- Behavioural Ecology, Dept of Biology, Ludwig‐Maximilians Univ. of Munich Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Univ. of Helsinki Finland
| | - Sally A. Keith
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster Univ. Lancaster UK
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20
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Cowan MA, Callan MN, Watson MJ, Watson DM, Doherty TS, Michael DR, Dunlop JA, Turner JM, Moore HA, Watchorn DJ, Nimmo DG. Artificial refuges for wildlife conservation: what is the state of the science? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2735-2754. [PMID: 34269510 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Artificial refuges are human-made structures that aim to create safe places for animals to breed, hibernate, or take shelter in lieu of natural refuges. Artificial refuges are used across the globe to mitigate the impacts of a variety of threats on wildlife, such as habitat loss and degradation. However, there is little understanding of the science underpinning artificial refuges, and what comprises best practice for artificial refuge design and implementation for wildlife conservation. We address this gap by undertaking a systematic review of the current state of artificial refuge research for the conservation of wildlife. We identified 224 studies of artificial refuges being implemented in the field to conserve wildlife species. The current literature on artificial refuges is dominated by studies of arboreal species, primarily birds and bats. Threatening processes addressed by artificial refuges were biological resource use (26%), invasive or problematic species (20%), and agriculture (15%), yet few studies examined artificial refuges specifically for threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered) species (7%). Studies often reported the characteristics of artificial refuges (i.e. refuge size, construction materials; 87%) and surrounding vegetation (35%), but fewer studies measured the thermal properties of artificial refuges (18%), predator activity (17%), or food availability (3%). Almost all studies measured occupancy of the artificial refuges by target species (98%), and over half measured breeding activity (54%), whereas fewer included more detailed measures of fitness, such as breeding productivity (34%) or animal body condition (4%). Evaluating the benefits and impacts of artificial refuges requires sound experimental design, but only 39% of studies compared artificial refuges to experimental controls, and only 10% of studies used a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design. As a consequence, few studies of artificial refuges can determine their overall effect on individuals or populations. We outline a series of key steps in the design, implementation, and monitoring of artificial refuges that are required to avoid perverse outcomes and maximise the chances of achieving conservation objectives. This review highlights a clear need for increased rigour in studies of artificial refuges if they are to play an important role in wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell A Cowan
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Michael N Callan
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia.,Habitech, 2/86 Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia
| | - Maggie J Watson
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - David M Watson
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Tim S Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.,Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Damian R Michael
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Judy A Dunlop
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia.,Western Australian Feral Cat Working Group, 58 Sutton St, Mandurah, Mandurah, WA, 6210, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | - James M Turner
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Harry A Moore
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Darcy J Watchorn
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Dale G Nimmo
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Dr, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
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21
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Mouchet A, Dingemanse NJ. A quantitative genetics approach to validate lab- versus field-based behavior in novel environments. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Conclusions about the adaptive nature of repeatable variation in behavior (i.e., “personality”) are often derived from laboratory-based assays. However, the expression of genetic variation differs between laboratory and field. Laboratory-based behavior might not predict field-based behavior thus, cross-context validation is required. We estimated the cross-context correlation between behavior expressed by wild great tits (Parus major) in established laboratory versus field novel environment assays. Both assays have been used as proxies for “exploration tendency.” Behavior in both contexts had similar repeatability (R = 0.35 vs. 0.37) but differed in heritability (h2 = 0.06 vs. 0.23), implying differences in selection pressures. Unexpectedly, there was no cross-context correlation. Laboratory- and field-based behavior thus reflected expressions of two distinct underlying characters. Post hoc simulations revealed that sampling bias did not explain the lack of correlation. Laboratory-based behavior may reflect fear and exploration, but field-based behavior may reflect escape behavior instead, though other functional interpretations cannot be excluded. Thus, in great tits, activity expressed in laboratory versus field novel environment assays is modulated by multiple quasi-independent characters. The lack of cross-context correlation shown here may also apply to other setups, other repeatable behaviors, and other taxa. Our study thus implies care should be taken in labeling behaviors prior to firm validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Mouchet
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Großhaderner Straße, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Großhaderner Straße, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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22
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Pilecky M, Závorka L, Arts MT, Kainz MJ. Omega-3 PUFA profoundly affect neural, physiological, and behavioural competences - implications for systemic changes in trophic interactions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2127-2145. [PMID: 34018324 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, much conceptual thinking in trophic ecology has been guided by theories of nutrient limitation and the flow of elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, within and among ecosystems. More recently, ecologists have also turned their attention to examining the value of specific dietary nutrients, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), among which the omega-3 PUFA, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play a central role as essential components of neuronal cell membranes in many organisms. This review focuses on a new neuro-ecological approach stemming from the biochemical (mechanistic) and physiological (functional) role of DHA in neuronal cell membranes, in particular in conjunction with G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). We link the co-evolution of these neurological functions to metabolic dependency on dietary omega-3 PUFA. We outline ways in which deficiencies in dietary DHA supply may affect, cognition, vision, and behaviour, and ultimately, the biological fitness of consumers. We then review emerging evidence that changes in access to dietary omega-3 PUFA may ultimately have profound impacts on trophic interactions leading to potential changes in community structure and ecosystem functioning that, in turn, may affect the supply of DHA within and across ecosystems, including the supply for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Pilecky
- WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station, Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser Promenade 5, Lunz am See, 3293, Austria.,Department of Biomedical Research, Donau-Universität Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems, 3500, Austria
| | - Libor Závorka
- WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station, Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser Promenade 5, Lunz am See, 3293, Austria
| | - Michael T Arts
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Martin J Kainz
- WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station, Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser Promenade 5, Lunz am See, 3293, Austria.,Department of Biomedical Research, Donau-Universität Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems, 3500, Austria
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23
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Santostefano F, Allegue H, Garant D, Bergeron P, Réale D. Indirect genetic and environmental effects on behaviors, morphology, and life-history traits in a wild Eastern chipmunk population. Evolution 2021; 75:1492-1512. [PMID: 33855713 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Additive genetic variance in a trait reflects its potential to respond to selection, which is key for adaptive evolution in the wild. Social interactions contribute to this genetic variation through indirect genetic effects-the effect of an individual's genotype on the expression of a trait in a conspecific. However, our understanding of the evolutionary importance of indirect genetic effects in the wild and of their strength relative to direct genetic effects is limited. In this study, we assessed how indirect genetic effects contribute to genetic variation of behavioral, morphological, and life-history traits in a wild Eastern chipmunk population. We also compared the contribution of direct and indirect genetic effects to traits evolvabilities and related these effects to selection strength across traits. We implemented a novel approach integrating the spatial structure of social interactions in quantitative genetic analyses, and supported the reliability of our results with power analyses. We found indirect genetic effects for trappability and relative fecundity, little direct genetic effects in all traits and a large role for direct and indirect permanent environmental effects. Our study highlights the potential evolutionary role of social permanent environmental effects in shaping phenotypes of conspecifics through adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santostefano
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hassen Allegue
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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24
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Wauters LA, Mazzamuto MV, Santicchia F, Martinoli A, Preatoni DG, Lurz PWW, Bertolino S, Romeo C. Personality traits, sex and food abundance shape space use in an arboreal mammal. Oecologia 2021; 196:65-76. [PMID: 33796927 PMCID: PMC8139925 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Animal space use is affected by spatio-temporal variation in food availability and/or population density and varies among individuals. This inter-individual variation in spacing behaviour can be further influenced by sex, body condition, social dominance, and by the animal's personality. We used capture-mark-recapture and radio-tracking to examine the relationship between space use and personality in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in three conifer forests in the Italian Alps. We further explored to what extent this was influenced by changes in food abundance and/or population density. Measures of an individual's trappability and trap diversity had high repeatability and were used in a Principal Component Analysis to obtain a single personality score representing a boldness-exploration tendency. Males increased home-range size with low food abundance and low female density, independent of their personality. However, bolder males used larger core-areas that overlapped less with other males than shy ones, suggesting different resource (food, partners) utilization strategies among personality types. For females, space use-personality relationships varied with food abundance, and bolder females used larger home ranges than shy ones at low female density, but the trend was opposite at high female density. Females' intrasexual core-area overlap was negatively related to body mass, with no effect of personality. We conclude that relationships between personality traits and space use in free-ranging squirrels varied with sex, and were further influenced by spatio-temporal fluctuations in food availability. Moreover, different personality types (bold-explorative vs. shy) seemed to adopt different space-use strategies to increase access to food and/or partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.,School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano G Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Peter W W Lurz
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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25
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Forkosh O. Animal behavior and animal personality from a non-human perspective: Getting help from the machine. PATTERNS 2021; 2:100194. [PMID: 33748791 PMCID: PMC7961179 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2020.100194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We can now track the position of every fly's leg or immerse a tiny fish inside a virtual world by monitoring its gaze in real time. Yet capturing animals' posture or gaze is not like understanding their behavior. Instead, behaviors are still often interpreted by human observers in an anthropomorphic manner. Even newer tools that automatically classify behaviors rely on human observers for the choice of behaviors. In this perspective, we suggest a roadmap toward a "human-free" interpretation of behavior. We present several recent advances, including our recent work on animal personalities. Personality both underlies behavioral differences among individuals and is consistent over time. A mathematical formulation of this idea has allowed us to measure mouse traits objectively, map behaviors across species (humans included), and explore the biological basis of behavior. Our goal is to enable "machine translation" of raw movement data into intelligible human concepts en route to improving our understanding of animals and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Forkosh
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 761001, Israel
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26
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Johnstone KC, McArthur C, Banks PB. Testing transgenerational transfer of personality in managed wildlife populations: a house mouse control experiment. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02247. [PMID: 33135270 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2247] [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: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pest species control operations are most effective if every individual in a population is targeted. Yet, individual personality drives variation in animal responses to devices such as traps and baits. Failing to account for differences in behavior during control operations may drive a selective removal, resulting in residual animals with biased expressions of personality. If these biased traits are passed onto offspring, control operations would become increasingly problematic. To test if biased trait expressions in founding populations are passed on to offspring, we quantified personality traits in wild-caught house mice (Mus musculus) and created founder populations selected for biased (high, low) or intermediate expressions of activity. We released the behaviorally biased populations into outdoor yards to breed to the F1 generation and, 10 weeks later, removed the mice and quantified the personality traits of the offspring. Despite the strong personality bias in founder populations, we observed no transgenerational transfer of personality and detected no personality bias in the F1 generation. Our results provide reassuring evidence that a single intensive control operation that selects for survivors with a personality bias is unlikely to lead to a recovering population inherently more difficult to eradicate, at least for house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyla C Johnstone
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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27
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Seitz BM, McCune K, MacPherson M, Bergeron L, Blaisdell AP, Logan CJ. Using touchscreen equipped operant chambers to study animal cognition. Benefits, limitations, and advice. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246446. [PMID: 33606723 PMCID: PMC7894864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Operant chambers are small enclosures used to test animal behavior and cognition. While traditionally reliant on simple technologies for presenting stimuli (e.g., lights and sounds) and recording responses made to basic manipulanda (e.g., levers and buttons), an increasing number of researchers are beginning to use Touchscreen-equipped Operant Chambers (TOCs). These TOCs have obvious advantages, namely by allowing researchers to present a near infinite number of visual stimuli as well as increased flexibility in the types of responses that can be made and recorded. We trained wild-caught adult and juvenile great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) to complete experiments using a TOC. We learned much from these efforts, and outline the advantages and disadvantages of our protocols. Our training data are summarized to quantify the variables that might influence participation and success, and we discuss important modifications to facilitate animal engagement and participation in various tasks. Finally, we provide a “training guide” for creating experiments using PsychoPy, a free and open-source software that was incredibly useful during these endeavors. This article, therefore, should serve as a resource to those interested in switching to or maintaining a TOC, or who similarly wish to use a TOC to test the cognitive abilities of non-model species or wild-caught individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M. Seitz
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BMS); (CJL)
| | - Kelsey McCune
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Maggie MacPherson
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Luisa Bergeron
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Aaron P. Blaisdell
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Corina J. Logan
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail: (BMS); (CJL)
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28
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Dingemanse NJ. Personality and pace-of-life: Ecological lessons learnt from free-ranging lemon sharks. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:314-316. [PMID: 33538347 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In Focus: Dhellemmes, F., Finger J.S., Smukall M.J., Gruber S.H., Guttridge T.L., Laskowski K.L., & J. Krause. (2020) Personality-driven life-history trade-offs differ in two subpopulations of free-ranging predators. Journal of Animal Ecology, 90, 260-272. Life-history theory predicts that explorative individuals live-fast-but-die-young as they take risks to rapidly accumulate resources. Dhellemmes et al. (2020) show that fast-exploring sharks forage in risky habitats, where they grow-fast-but-die-young. In higher risk environments, however, this personality-related pace-of-life-syndrome does not exist because neither fast- nor slow-exploring types venture out into risky areas. The study thereby reveals the key role of ecology as a mediator of personality-related pace-of-life-syndromes in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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Rotics S, Turjeman S, Kaatz M, Zurell D, Wikelski M, Sapir N, Fiedler W, Eggers U, Resheff YS, Jeltsch F, Nathan R. Early-life behaviour predicts first-year survival in a long-distance avian migrant. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202670. [PMID: 33434462 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life conditions have critical, long-lasting effects on the fate of individuals, yet early-life activity has rarely been linked to subsequent survival of animals in the wild. Using high-resolution GPS and body-acceleration data of 93 juvenile white storks (Ciconia ciconia), we examined the links between behaviour during both pre-fledging and post-fledging (fledging-to-migration) periods and subsequent first-year survival. Juvenile daily activity (based on overall dynamic body acceleration) showed repeatable between-individual variation, the juveniles' pre- and post-fledging activity levels were correlated and both were positively associated with subsequent survival. Daily activity increased gradually throughout the post-fledging period, and the relationship between post-fledging activity and survival was stronger in individuals who increased their daily activity level faster (an interaction effect). We suggest that high activity profiles signified individuals with increased pre-migratory experience, higher individual quality and perhaps more proactive personality, which could underlie their superior survival rates. The duration of individuals' fledging-to-migration periods had a hump-shaped relationship with survival: higher survival was associated with intermediate rather than short or long durations. Short durations reflect lower pre-migratory experience, whereas very long ones were associated with slower increases in daily activity level which possibly reflects slow behavioural development. In accordance with previous studies, heavier nestlings and those that hatched and migrated earlier had increased survival. Using extensive tracking data, our study exposed new links between early-life attributes and survival, suggesting that early activity profiles in migrating birds can explain variation in first-year survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shay Rotics
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michael Kaatz
- Vogelschutzwarte Storchenhof Loburg e.V., Chausseestrasse 18, 39279 Loburg, Germany
| | - Damaris Zurell
- Ecology and Macroecology, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Nir Sapir
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78468 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ute Eggers
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Yehezkel S Resheff
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Florian Jeltsch
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.,Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Szopa-Comley AW, Duffield C, Ramnarine IW, Ioannou CC. Predatory behaviour as a personality trait in a wild fish population. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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31
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Kellner M, Olsén KH. Divergent Response to the SSRI Citalopram in Male and Female Three-Spine Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 79:478-487. [PMID: 33151376 PMCID: PMC7688600 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-020-00776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are psychotropic pharmaceuticals used as antidepressants. SSRIs are commonly found in surface waters in populated areas across the globe. They exert their effect by blocking the serotonin re-uptake transporter in the presynaptic nerve ending. The present study examined whether behavioural effects to exposure to SSRI citalopram depend on personality and sex in the stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Three aspects of stickleback behaviour are examined: feeding behaviour, aggression, and boldness. We exposed sticklebacks to 350-380 ng/l citalopram for 3 weeks. Feeding and aggressive behaviour were recorded before and after exposure, whereas scototaxis behaviour was tested after exposure. The results show treatment effects in feeding and aggressive behaviour. Feeding is suppressed only in the male group (χ2 = 20.4, P < 0.001) but not in the females (χ2 = 0.91, P = 0.339). Aggressive behaviour was significantly affected by treatment (χ2 = 161.9, P < 0.001), sex (χ2 = 86.3, P < 0.001), and baseline value (χ2 = 58.8, P < 0.001). Aggressiveness was suppressed by citalopram treatment. In addition, the fish showed no change in aggression and feeding behaviour over time regardless of sex and treatment, which indicate personality traits. Only females are affected by treatment in the scototaxis test. The exposed females spent significantly (χ2 = 5.02, P = 0.050) less time in the white zone than the female controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kellner
- School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels allé 7, 141 89, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - K Håkan Olsén
- School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels allé 7, 141 89, Huddinge, Sweden.
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32
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Fahlman J, Hellström G, Jonsson M, Veenstra A, Klaminder J. Six common behavioral trials and their relevance for perch performance in natural lakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 732:139101. [PMID: 32422478 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral traits measured in laboratory settings are commonly used when predicting ecological effects and evolutionary outcomes in natural systems. However, uncertainties regarding the relevance of simplified lab-based behavioral tests for complex natural environments have created doubts about the use of these tests within aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology. In this study, we scrutinize the assumption that fish performance in six commonly applied behavioral assays has relevance for in situ behavior, by comparing individual behavior tracked in both artificial laboratory settings as well as in two natural lakes. We show that: i) commonly measured behavioral traits of individual fish (Perca fluviatilis) have low predictive power for within-lake behaviors if interpreted alone, but that; ii) composite variables synthesized from several (six) behavioral assays explain important in situ measures such as swimming activity, dispersion, home-range size, and habitat preference. While our findings support recent criticisms against the use of single behavioral tests for predicting environmental effects, we provide empirical evidences suggesting that fish performances in multiple laboratory assays are highly relevant for fish behavior in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fahlman
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - G Hellström
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, SLU, Umeå, Sweden
| | - M Jonsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - A Veenstra
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - J Klaminder
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Hertel AG, Niemelä PT, Dingemanse NJ, Mueller T. A guide for studying among-individual behavioral variation from movement data in the wild. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:30. [PMID: 32612837 PMCID: PMC7325061 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00216-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Animal tracking and biologging devices record large amounts of data on individual movement behaviors in natural environments. In these data, movement ecologists often view unexplained variation around the mean as "noise" when studying patterns at the population level. In the field of behavioral ecology, however, focus has shifted from population means to the biological underpinnings of variation around means. Specifically, behavioral ecologists use repeated measures of individual behavior to partition behavioral variability into intrinsic among-individual variation and reversible behavioral plasticity and to quantify: a) individual variation in behavioral types (i.e. different average behavioral expression), b) individual variation in behavioral plasticity (i.e. different responsiveness of individuals to environmental gradients), c) individual variation in behavioral predictability (i.e. different residual within-individual variability of behavior around the mean), and d) correlations among these components and correlations in suites of behaviors, called 'behavioral syndromes'. We here suggest that partitioning behavioral variability in animal movements will further the integration of movement ecology with other fields of behavioral ecology. We provide a literature review illustrating that individual differences in movement behaviors are insightful for wildlife and conservation studies and give recommendations regarding the data required for addressing such questions. In the accompanying R tutorial we provide a guide to the statistical approaches quantifying the different aspects of among-individual variation. We use movement data from 35 African elephants and show that elephants differ in a) their average behavior for three common movement behaviors, b) the rate at which they adjusted movement over a temporal gradient, and c) their behavioral predictability (ranging from more to less predictable individuals). Finally, two of the three movement behaviors were correlated into a behavioral syndrome (d), with farther moving individuals having shorter mean residence times. Though not explicitly tested here, individual differences in movement and predictability can affect an individual's risk to be hunted or poached and could therefore open new avenues for conservation biologists to assess population viability. We hope that this review, tutorial, and worked example will encourage movement ecologists to examine the biology of individual variation in animal movements hidden behind the population mean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne G. Hertel
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Petri T. Niemelä
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Niels J. Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt (Main), Germany
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Kaiser A, Merckx T, Van Dyck H. An experimental test of changed personality in butterflies from anthropogenic landscapes. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02871-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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35
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Jablonszky M, Krenhardt K, Markó G, Szász E, Hegyi G, Herényi M, Kötél D, Laczi M, Nagy G, Rosivall B, Török J, Garamszegi LZ. A behavioural trait displayed in an artificial novel environment correlates with dispersal in a wild bird. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Jablonszky
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Katalin Krenhardt
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Gábor Markó
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Plant Pathology Szent István University Budapest Hungary
| | - Eszter Szász
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Gergely Hegyi
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Márton Herényi
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology Szent István University Gödöllő Hungary
| | - Dóra Kötél
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Miklós Laczi
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Gergely Nagy
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Balázs Rosivall
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - László Zsolt Garamszegi
- MTA‐ELTE Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Institute of Physics Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSIC Seville Spain
- Institute of Ecology and Botany Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Vácrátót Hungary
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36
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Cauchoix M, Chaine AS, Barragan-Jason G. Cognition in Context: Plasticity in Cognitive Performance in Response to Ongoing Environmental Variables. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Moiron M, Laskowski KL, Niemelä PT. Individual differences in behaviour explain variation in survival: a meta-analysis. Ecol Lett 2019; 23:399-408. [PMID: 31811699 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Research focusing on among-individual differences in behaviour ('animal personality') has been blooming for over a decade. Central theories explaining the maintenance of such behavioural variation posits that individuals expressing greater "risky" behaviours should suffer higher mortality. Here, for the first time, we synthesize the existing empirical evidence for this key prediction. Our results did not support this prediction as there was no directional relationship between riskier behaviour and greater mortality; however there was a significant absolute relationship between behaviour and survival. In total, behaviour explained a significant, but small, portion (5.8%) of the variance in survival. We also found that risky (vs. "shy") behavioural types live significantly longer in the wild, but not in the laboratory. This suggests that individuals expressing risky behaviours might be of overall higher quality but the lack of predation pressure and resource restrictions mask this effect in laboratory environments. Our work demonstrates that individual differences in behaviour explain important differences in survival but not in the direction predicted by theory. Importantly, this suggests that models predicting behaviour to be a mediator of reproduction-survival trade-offs may need revision and/or empiricists may need to reconsider their proxies of risky behaviours when testing such theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Moiron
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 Campus CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Kate L Laskowski
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Petri T Niemelä
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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38
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Lavergne S, Smith K, Kenney A, Krebs C, Palme R, Boonstra R. Physiology and behaviour of juvenile snowshoe hares at the start of the 10-year cycle. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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39
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Kelleher SR, Silla AJ, Niemelä PT, Dingemanse NJ, Byrne PG. Dietary carotenoids affect the development of individual differences and behavioral plasticity. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNutritional conditions experienced during development are expected to play a key role in shaping an individual’s behavioral phenotype. The long term, irreversible effects of nutritional conditions on behavioral variation among and within individuals remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate how long-term carotenoid availability (representing low vs. high quality nutritional conditions) during both larval and adult life stages influences the expression of among-individual variation (animal personality) and within-individual variation (behavioral plasticity). We tested for personality and plasticity along the exploration/avoidance behavioral axis in the Southern Corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree). We predicted that treatment groups receiving carotenoids during early development would be more exploratory and have greater among- and within-individual variation compared with individuals that did not receive carotenoids (i.e., silver spoon hypothesis). Superior nutritional conditions experienced during development are expected to provide individuals with resources needed to develop costly behaviors, giving them an advantage later in life irrespective of prevailing conditions. Unexpectedly, frogs that did not receive carotenoids as larvae expressed greater among-individual variance in exploration behavior. Additionally, frogs that did not receive carotenoids at either life stage displayed greater within-individual variance. Our findings provide no support for the silver spoon hypothesis but suggest that inconsistent nutritional conditions between life stages may adversely affect the development of behavioral phenotypes. Overall, our results indicate that early and late life nutritional conditions affect the development of personality and plasticity. They also highlight that nutritional effects on behavior may be more complex than previously theorized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon R Kelleher
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Aimee J Silla
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Petri T Niemelä
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Phillip G Byrne
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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40
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Hertel AG, Leclerc M, Warren D, Pelletier F, Zedrosser A, Mueller T. Don't poke the bear: using tracking data to quantify behavioural syndromes in elusive wildlife. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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41
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Schell CJ, Young JK, Lonsdorf EV, Santymire RM, Mateo JM. Parental habituation to human disturbance over time reduces fear of humans in coyote offspring. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12965-12980. [PMID: 30619597 PMCID: PMC6308887 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of maternal effects assumes that maternal variance over time should have discordant consequences for offspring traits across litters. Yet, seldom are parents observed across multiple reproductive bouts, with few studies considering anthropogenic disturbances as an ecological driver of maternal effects. We observed captive coyote (Canis latrans) pairs over two successive litters to determine whether among‐litter differences in behavior (i.e., risk‐taking) and hormones (i.e., cortisol and testosterone) corresponded with parental plasticity in habituation. Thus, we explicitly test the hypothesis that accumulating experiences of anthropogenic disturbance reduces parental fear across reproductive bouts, which should have disparate phenotypic consequences for first‐ and second‐litter offspring. To quantify risk‐taking behavior, we used foraging assays from 5–15 weeks of age with a human observer present as a proxy for human disturbance. At 5, 10, and 15 weeks of age, we collected shaved hair to quantify pup hormone levels. We then used a quantitative genetic approach to estimate heritability, repeatability, and between‐trait correlations. We found that parents were riskier (i.e., foraged more frequently) with their second versus first litters, supporting our prediction that parents become increasingly habituated over time. Second‐litter pups were also less risk‐averse than their first‐litter siblings. Heritability for all traits did not differ from zero (0.001–0.018); however, we found moderate support for repeatability in all observed traits (r = 0.085–0.421). Lastly, we found evidence of positive phenotypic and cohort correlations among pup traits, implying that cohort identity (i.e., common environment) contributes to the development of phenotypic syndromes in coyote pups. Our results suggest that parental habituation may be an ecological cue for offspring to reduce their fear response, thus emphasizing the role of parental plasticity in shaping their pups’ behavioral and hormonal responses toward humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Schell
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology University of Chicago Chicago Illinois.,School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences University of Washington Tacoma Tacoma Washington
| | - Julie K Young
- USDA-WS-NWRC Predator Research Facility, Department of Wildland Resources Utah State University Logan Utah
| | | | - Rachel M Santymire
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology University of Chicago Chicago Illinois.,Conservation and Science Department Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago Illinois
| | - Jill M Mateo
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology University of Chicago Chicago Illinois
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42
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Závorka L, Brijs J, Wengström N, Wallerius ML, Näslund J, Koeck B, Aldvén D, Lassus R, Höjesjö J, Johnsson JI, Cucherousset J. Laboratory captivity can affect scores of metabolic rates and activity in wild brown trout. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Závorka
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - J. Brijs
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - N. Wengström
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - M. L. Wallerius
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. Näslund
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - B. Koeck
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - D. Aldvén
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - R. Lassus
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - J. Höjesjö
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. I. Johnsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. Cucherousset
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
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43
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Larue B, Côté SD, St‐Laurent M, Dussault C, Leblond M. Natal habitat preference induction in large mammals-Like mother, like child? Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12629-12640. [PMID: 30619569 PMCID: PMC6309006 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat selection has received considerable attention from ecologists during the last decades, yet the underlying forces shaping individual differences in habitat selection are poorly documented. Some of these differences could be explained by the early experience of individuals in their natal habitat. By selecting habitat attributes like those encountered early in life, individuals could improve resource acquisition, survival, and ultimately fitness. This behavior, known as natal habitat preference induction (NHPI), could be particularly common in large mammals, because offspring generally stay with their mother for an extended period. We used three complementary approaches to assess NHPI in a marked population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou): (a) population-based resource selection functions (RSFs), (b) individual-based RSFs, and (c) behavioral repeatability analyses. All approaches compared the behavior of calves in their natal range to their behavior as independent subadults during the snow-covered (Dec-Apr) and snow-free (May-Nov) seasons. Using RSFs, we found that the magnitude of habitat selection between calf and subadult stages differed for most covariates, yet the signs of statistically significant effects (selection vs. avoidance) were generally the same. We also found that some habitat selection tactics were highly repeatable across life stages. Notably, caribou responses to habitat disturbances were highly repeatable year-round, meaning that different individuals reacted differently, but consistently, to disturbances. This study highlights the potential role of natal habitat preference induction in shaping individual differences in habitat selection in large mammals and provides valuable knowledge for the management and conservation of a threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Larue
- Département de biologieUniversité LavalQuébecQuébecCanada
- Present address:
Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Département de biologie and Centre for Northern StudiesUniversité LavalQuébecQuébecCanada
| | - Martin‐Hugues St‐Laurent
- Département de biologie, chimie et géographie, Centre for Northern Studies, and Centre for Forest ResearchUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQuébecCanada
| | - Christian Dussault
- Direction de l’expertise sur la faune terrestre, l’herpétofaune et l’avifauneMinistère des Forêts, de la Faune et des ParcsQuébecQuébecCanada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Département de biologie and Centre for Northern StudiesUniversité LavalQuébecQuébecCanada
- Present address:
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology BranchOttawaOntarioCanada
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Martin JS, Massen JJM, Šlipogor V, Bugnyar T, Jaeggi AV, Koski SE. The
EGA
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GNM
framework: An integrative approach to modelling behavioural syndromes. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S. Martin
- Behavioural Ecology LabDepartment of AnthropologyEmory University Atlanta Georgia
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of AnthropologyMiami University Oxford Ohio
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Cognitive Psychology UnitInstitute of PsychologyLeiden University Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Vedrana Šlipogor
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Adrian V. Jaeggi
- Behavioural Ecology LabDepartment of AnthropologyEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | - Sonja E. Koski
- Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
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Závorka L, Aldvén D, Näslund J, Höjesjö J, Johnsson JI. Inactive trout come out at night: behavioral variation, circadian activity, and fitness in the wild. Ecology 2018; 97:2223-2231. [PMID: 27859082 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Theory suggests that high activity levels in animals increase growth at the cost of increased mortality. This growth-mortality tradeoff has recently been incorporated into the wider framework of the pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis. However, activity is often quantified only in the laboratory and on a diurnal basis, leaving open the possibility that animals manage predation risk and feeding efficiency in the wild by modulating their circadian activity rhythms. Here we investigate how laboratory activity in wild brown trout parr (Salmo trutta L.) associates with circadian activity, growth, and mortality in their natal stream. We found that individuals with high activity in the laboratory displayed high dispersal and cathemeral activity in their natal stream. In contrast, trout with low laboratory activity showed variation of activity in the wild, which was negatively related to the light intensity. Our results do not support the growth-mortality trade-off of the POLS hypothesis as highly active, fast-growing individuals showed higher survival than inactive conspecifics. These novel results show for the first time that active and inactive individuals, as scored in the lab, can show different circadian patterns of behavior in the wild driven by light intensity. This implies that studies conducted under a narrow range of light conditions can bias our understanding of individual behavioral variation and its fitness consequences in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libor Závorka
- CNRS, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, UMR 5174 EDB, F-31062, Toulouse, France.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Aldvén
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joacim Näslund
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Höjesjö
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jörgen I Johnsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
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46
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Sex differences in life history, behavior, and physiology along a slow-fast continuum: a meta-analysis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018; 72:132. [PMID: 30100667 PMCID: PMC6060830 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis predicts that behavior and physiology covary with life history. Evidence for such covariation is contradictory, possibly because systematic sources of variation (e.g. sex) have been neglected. Sexes often experience different selection pressures leading to sex-specific allocation between reproduction and self-maintenance, facilitating divergence in life-history. Sex-specific differences in means and possibly variances may therefore play a key role in the POLS framework. We investigate whether sexes differ in means and variances along the fast-slow pace-of-life continuum for life history and physiological and behavioral traits. In addition, we test whether social and environmental characteristics such as breeding strategy, mating system, and study environment explain heterogeneity between the sexes. Using meta-analytic methods, we found that populations with a polygynous mating system or for studies conducted on wild populations, males had a faster pace-of-life for developmental life-history traits (e.g., growth rate), behavior, and physiology. In contrast, adult life-history traits (e.g., lifespan) were shifted towards faster pace-of-life in females, deviating from the other trait categories. Phenotypic variances were similar between the sexes across trait categories and were not affected by mating system or study environment. Breeding strategy did not influence sex differences in variances or means. We discuss our results in the light of sex-specific selection that might drive sex-specific differences in pace-of-life and ultimately POLS.
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Fisher DN, David M, Rodríguez-Muñoz R, Tregenza T. Lifespan and age, but not residual reproductive value or condition, are related to behaviour in wild field crickets. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David N. Fisher
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall UK
- Department for Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph ON Canada
| | - Morgan David
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall UK
- Department of Biology-Ethology; Drie Eiken Campus; University of Antwerp; Wilrijk (Antwerpen) Belgium
- Drylaw House Gardens; Edinburgh UK
| | | | - Tom Tregenza
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall UK
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48
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Marting PR, Wcislo WT, Pratt SC. Colony personality and plant health in the Azteca-Cecropia mutualism. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
For interspecific mutualisms, the behavior of one partner can influence the fitness of the other, especially in the case of symbiotic mutualisms where partners live in close physical association for much of their lives. Behavioral effects on fitness may be particularly important if either species in these long-term relationships displays personality. We conducted a field study on collective personality in Azteca constructor colonies that live in Cecropia trees, one of the most successful and prominent mutualisms of the neotropics. These pioneer plants provide hollow internodes for nesting and nutrient-rich food bodies; in return, the ants provide protection from herbivores and encroaching vines. We tested the consistency and correlation of 5 colony-level behavioral traits, censused colonies, and measured the amount of leaf damage for each plant. Four of five traits were both consistent within colonies and correlated among colonies. This reveals a behavioral syndrome along a docile-aggressive axis, with higher-scoring colonies showing greater activity, aggression, and responsiveness. Scores varied substantially between colonies and were independent of colony size and age. Host plants of more active, aggressive colonies had less leaf damage, suggesting a link between a colony’s personality and effective defense of its host, though the directionality of this link remains uncertain. Our field study shows that colony personality is an ecologically relevant phenomenon and sheds light on the importance of behavioral differences within mutualism dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Marting
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancon, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - William T Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancon, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Stephen C Pratt
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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49
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Adriaenssens B. Bold perch live life in the fast lane. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:176-178. [PMID: 28169448 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A schematic summary showing the links between behaviour and life-history observed by Nakayama, Rapp & Arlinghaus in wild Eurasion perch (Perca fluviatilis). [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]. In Focus: Nakayama, S., Rapp, T. & Arlinghaus, R. (2017) Fast-slow life history is correlated with individual differences in movements and prey selection in an aquatic predator in the wild. Journal of Animal Ecology, 86, 192-201. The pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis (POLS) suggests that individual behavioural variation co-evolves with life-history variation, causing individuals on a fast life-history trajectory to display more active or bold personalities than individuals following a slow trajectory. In the present study, Nakayama, Rapp & Arlinghaus () followed the detailed movement patterns of wild Eurasian perch using acoustic telemetry and studied their relationships with life-history traits inferred from scale samples. Consistent with POLS, individuals with greater reproductive effort changed more often between active and passive behavioural modes. Moreover, individuals growing fast as a juvenile stayed active longer and moved over greater distances when adult. This study shows compelling evidence for covariance between personality and pace-of-life in a natural population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Adriaenssens
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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50
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Cognition in the field: comparison of reversal learning performance in captive and wild passerines. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12945. [PMID: 29021558 PMCID: PMC5636806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13179-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal cognitive abilities have traditionally been studied in the lab, but studying cognition in nature could provide several benefits including reduced stress and reduced impact on life-history traits. However, it is not yet clear to what extent cognitive abilities can be properly measured in the wild. Here we present the first comparison of the cognitive performance of individuals from the same population, assessed using an identical test, but in contrasting contexts: in the wild vs. in controlled captive conditions. We show that free-ranging great tits (Parus major) perform similarly to deprived, captive birds in a successive spatial reversal-learning task using automated operant devices. In both captive and natural conditions, more than half of birds that contacted the device were able to perform at least one spatial reversal. Moreover, both captive and wild birds showed an improvement of performance over successive reversals, with very similar learning curves observed in both contexts for each reversal. Our results suggest that it is possible to study cognitive abilities of wild animals directly in their natural environment in much the same way that we study captive animals. Such methods open numerous possibilities to study and understand the evolution and ecology of cognition in natural populations.
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