1
|
Parise LF, Joseph Burnett C, Russo SJ. Early life stress and altered social behaviors: A perspective across species. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00200-6. [PMID: 37992997 PMCID: PMC11102940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Childhood and adolescent affiliations guide how individuals engage in social relationships throughout their lifetime and adverse experiences can promote biological alterations that facilitate behavioral maladaptation. Indeed, childhood victims of abuse are more likely to be diagnosed with conduct or mood disorders which are both characterized by altered social engagement. A key domain particularly deserving of attention is aggressive behavior, a hallmark of many disorders characterized by deficits in reward processing. Animal models have been integral in identifying both the short- and long-term consequences of stress exposure and suggest that whether it is disruption to parental care or social isolation, chronic exposure to early life stress increases corticosterone, changes the expression of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and facilitates structural alterations to the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, influencing how these brain regions communicate with other reward-related substrates. Herein, we describe how adverse early life experiences influence social behavioral outcomes across a wide range of species and highlight the long-term biological mechanisms that are most relevant to maladaptive aggressive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lyonna F Parise
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - C Joseph Burnett
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Icahn School of Medicine, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ogino M, Strauss ED, Farine DR. Challenges of mismatching timescales in longitudinal studies of collective behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220064. [PMID: 36802775 PMCID: PMC9939264 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
How individuals' prior experience and population evolutionary history shape emergent patterns in animal collectives remains a major gap in the study of collective behaviour. One reason for this is that the processes that can shape individual contributions to collective actions can happen over very different timescales from each other and from the collective actions themselves, resulting in mismatched timescales. For example, a preference to move towards a specific patch might arise from phenotype, memory or physiological state. Although providing critical context to collective actions, bridging different timescales remains conceptually and methodologically challenging. Here, we briefly outline some of these challenges, and discuss existing approaches that have already generated insights into the factors shaping individual contributions in animal collectives. We then explore a case study of mismatching timescales-defining relevant group membership-by combining fine-scaled GPS tracking data and daily field census data from a wild population of vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum). We show that applying different temporal definitions can produce different assignments of individuals into groups. These assignments can then have consequences when determining individuals' social history, and thus the conclusions we might draw on the impacts of the social environment on collective actions. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Collective behaviour through time'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mina Ogino
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Eli D. Strauss
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitatsstrasse 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 104 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ontogenetic change in social context as a cue for a behavioural switch in spiderlings. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
4
|
Mating experiences with the same partner enhanced mating activities of naïve male medaka fish. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19665. [PMID: 36385126 PMCID: PMC9668913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23871-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating experience shapes male mating behavior across species, from insects, fish, and birds, to rodents. Here, we investigated the effect of multiple mating experiences on male mating behavior in "naïve" (defined as sexually inexperienced) male medaka fish. The latency to mate with the same female partner significantly decreased after the second encounter, whereas when the partner was changed, the latency to mate was not decreased. These findings suggest that mating experiences enhanced the mating activity of naïve males for the familiar female, but not for an unfamiliar female. In contrast, the mating experiences of "experienced" (defined as those having mated > 7 times) males with the same partner did not influence their latency to mate. Furthermore, we identified 10 highly and differentially expressed genes in the brains of the naïve males after the mating experience and revealed 3 genes that are required for a functional cascade of the thyroid hormone system. Together, these findings suggest that the mating experience of naïve male medaka fish influences their mating behaviors, with neural changes triggered by thyroid hormone activation in the brain.
Collapse
|
5
|
Vora A, Nguyen AD, Spicer C, Li W. The impact of social isolation on health and behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and beyond. BRAIN SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.26599/bsa.2022.9050016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Many organisms, including humans, have evolved dynamic social behaviors to promote survival. Public health studies show that isolation from social groups is a major risk factor for adverse health outcomes in humans, but these studies lack mechanistic understanding. Animal models can provide insight into the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying how social isolation impacts health through investigations using genetic, genomic, molecular, and neuroscience methods. In this review, we discuss Drosophila melanogaster as a robust genetic model for studying the effects of social isolation and for developing a mechanistic understanding of the perception of social isolation and how it impacts health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aabha Vora
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Andrew D. Nguyen
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Carmen Spicer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Wanhe Li
- Department of Biology, Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schons RF, Vitt S, Thünken T. Environmental habituation and sexual composition affect juveniles' shoaling activity in a cichlid fish (Pelvicachromis taeniatus). JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1307-1317. [PMID: 34184282 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14836] [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: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Group living is widespread in animals, and many fishes form shoals. Examining within-group interactions in fishes may contribute to the general understanding of dynamic social structures in animals. The sex ratio of a group has been shown to influence grouping decisions of fishes and can be expected to affect behaviour at group level. Behavioural experiments usually involve relatively short acclimatisation times, although the establishment of environmental habituation in fishes is understudied. This study tests whether the sex ratio and long-term habituation to experimental conditions influence general shoal performance (activity parameters, density) and responses of shoals to an acoustic-mechanical disturbance cue in juveniles of the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus via individual tracking. The disturbance consisted of a defined hit against the experimental tank, which caused sudden noise and water movement. We found that a higher proportion of females increases shoal activity (swimming speed and distance covered), suggesting that female P. taeniatus are more active than males. Furthermore, shoal activity declined when shoals habituated to the experimental settings and with the time that the shoals were grouped together, which may reflect intensified group member familiarity. Moreover, behavioural changes after disturbance were weaker when individuals were kept with their group longer and more familiar to the experimental conditions. For prey species, lower activity might be beneficial under natural conditions due to lower conspicuousness of the group. We did not find any significant effects of the investigated factors on shoal density (mean interindividual distance) and speed synchronisation. The results indicate that sexual composition, familiarity between shoal members and habituation to the experimental environment affect shoal performance in a cichlid fish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rieke F Schons
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Simon Vitt
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Timo Thünken
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fischer S, Balshine S, Hadolt MC, Schaedelin FC. Siblings matter: Family heterogeneity improves associative learning later in life. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Fischer
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada
| | - Michaela C. Hadolt
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Franziska C. Schaedelin
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Taborsky
- Behavioural Ecology Division Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Groneberg AH, Marques JC, Martins AL, Diez Del Corral R, de Polavieja GG, Orger MB. Early-Life Social Experience Shapes Social Avoidance Reactions in Larval Zebrafish. Curr Biol 2020; 30:4009-4021.e4. [PMID: 32888479 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Social experiences greatly define subsequent social behavior. Lack of such experiences, especially during critical phases of development, can severely impede the ability to behave adequately in social contexts. To date, it is not well characterized how early-life social isolation leads to social deficits and impacts development. In many model species, it is challenging to fully control social experiences, because they depend on parental care. Moreover, complex social behaviors involve multiple sensory modalities, contexts, and actions. Hence, when studying social isolation effects, it is important to parse apart social deficits from general developmental effects, such as abnormal motor learning. Here, we characterized how social experiences during early development of zebrafish larvae modulate their social behavior at 1 week of age, when social avoidance reactions can be measured as discrete swim events. We show that raising larvae in social isolation leads to enhanced social avoidance, in terms of the distance at which larvae react to one another and the strength of swim movement they use. Specifically, larvae raised in isolation use a high-acceleration escape swim, the short latency C-start, more frequently during social interactions. These behavioral differences are absent in non-social contexts. By ablating the lateral line and presenting the fish with local water vibrations, we show that lateral line inputs are both necessary and sufficient to drive enhanced social avoidance reactions. Taken together, our results show that social experience during development is a critical factor in shaping mechanosensory avoidance reactions in larval zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonia H Groneberg
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João C Marques
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Lucas Martins
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ruth Diez Del Corral
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Michael B Orger
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Impact of social rearing-environment on performance in a complex maze in females of a cichlid fish. Behav Processes 2019; 167:103915. [PMID: 31349022 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Spatial orientation is an important skill as it improves, for example, foraging, localisation of recourses, predator avoidance or navigation. Habitat complexity positively affects spatial abilities in various fish species with a more complex environment promoting learning ability. However, to what extent a complex social environment affects cognitive abilities in fishes has received less attention. Here, we investigated differences in maze performance of adult females of the West African cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus, which had been reared and maintained either in a group or in isolation from an early age on. Fish had to master the route through a maze in order to gain a food reward. Our results indicate marked differences in performance contingent upon social rearing-environment: isolation fish ran successful trials (i.e. locating the food reward) significantly more often than group fish and were faster during trials, also in a reversed maze. However, the number of mistakes did not differ between isolation and group fish and the time needed to relocate the food reward did not diminish with elapsed training days. In a second experiment, the activity of group and isolation fish was analysed in an open field test. Here, isolation fish were less active than group fish. We discuss different possibilities for performance differences of group and isolation fish including enhanced cognitive abilities of isolation fish, motivational/emotional differences and hyperactivity.
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang Y, Fu SJ, Fu C. Behavioral adjustments to prior predation experience and food deprivation of a common cyprinid fish species vary between singletons and a group. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7236. [PMID: 31328032 PMCID: PMC6622156 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish often undergo predation stress and food shortages in nature, and living in groups may provide the ecological benefits of decreased predator risk but the costs of increased food competition. The main aim of the present study was to test whether the behavioral response of qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis) to predators and/or starvation differed between a singleton and a group. We measured the locomotor activity and distance to a predator and/or food item of prior predator-experienced, starved, double-treated and control qingbo; the qingbo were tested both as singletons and in a group (five individuals). Fish from all groups showed increased activity when tested collectively compared to individually. The predator-experienced fish showed decreased locomotor activity to predators as an antipredator strategy when tested as singletons; however, increased locomotor activity occurred when tested in a group, which might be partially due to the decreased predator risk when living in a group and thus higher levels of boldness. As expected, starvation elicited increased activity indicating increased foraging willingness when tested in a group; however, the difference between starved and normal-fed fish was no longer significant when they were tested as singletons, possibly due to the increased predation risk and decreased food competition when living individually and higher behavioral variation among individual fish than among those in a shoal. Compared with the control fish, the double-treated fish showed no difference in activity when tested both individually and collectively (except a slower speed when tested in a group). The reason for the results from the singletons might be an offset of the effect of predator exposure and starvation. The reason for this difference in the group might be due to the impaired body condition indicated by a slower swimming speed as a consequence of severe stress. The present study demonstrated that behavioral adjustment was closely related to the size of the group, which might be due to differences in the predation risk and food competition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya Wang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shi-Jian Fu
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Fu
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lucon-Xiccato T, Anastasia N, Mazzoldi C, Griggio M. Familiarity and sex modulate size-dependent following behaviour in the Mediterranean killifish. Naturwissenschaften 2019; 106:31. [PMID: 31161277 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-019-1630-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Living in a group offers the chance to follow the choices and the behaviours of other individuals. Following a group mate might confer fitness advantages if the group mate knows about resources such as food or shelters. Shoaling fish often follow larger group mates which, in most species, are generally older and therefore more experienced. Yet, the effect of individuals' characteristics other than size on following behaviour remains to be understood. For example, familiar fish and female shoals have been reported as more cohesive, which might be due to a differential tendency to follow in relation to familiarity and sex. Here, we investigated whether size, familiarity, sex, and the interaction between these factors affect fish following behaviour. We observed pairs of differently sized Mediterranean killifish, Aphanius fasciatus, exploring a new environment, and we recorded whether the rear fish followed the front fish when the latter changed swimming direction. In female and male pairs, and in unfamiliar pairs, smaller fish were more likely to follow the directional change of the larger fish than vice versa. In mixed-sex pairs and in familiar pairs, however, size did not affect following behaviour and larger fish followed as much as smaller fish did. Our results revealed that killifish's following decisions are determined by the size of the individuals, their level of familiarity, and their sex. These characteristics may have a notable impact on the behaviour of fish groups in nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | | | | | - Matteo Griggio
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bailey NW, Moore AJ. Evolutionary Consequences of Social Isolation. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:595-607. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
14
|
Tang ZH, Wu Q, Fu SJ. Inspection behaviour and inter-individual cooperation in juvenile qingbo: the effects of prior predator exposure and food deprivation. J ETHOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-018-0550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
15
|
Kraft B, Lemakos VA, Travis J, Hughes KA. Pervasive indirect genetic effects on behavioral development in polymorphic eastern mosquitofish. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Kraft
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Valerie A Lemakos
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Travis
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Kimberly A Hughes
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Scherer U, Godin JGJ, Schuett W. Validation of 2D-animated pictures as an investigative tool in the behavioural sciences: A case study with a West African cichlid fish,Pelvicachromis pulcher. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Scherer
- Biocentre Grindel; Zoological Institute; University of Hamburg; Hamburg Germany
| | | | - Wiebke Schuett
- Biocentre Grindel; Zoological Institute; University of Hamburg; Hamburg Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bierbach D, Laskowski KL, Wolf M. Behavioural individuality in clonal fish arises despite near-identical rearing conditions. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15361. [PMID: 28513582 PMCID: PMC5442312 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioural individuality is thought to be caused by differences in genes and/or environmental conditions. Therefore, if these sources of variation are removed, individuals are predicted to develop similar phenotypes lacking repeatable individual variation. Moreover, even among genetically identical individuals, direct social interactions are predicted to be a powerful factor shaping the development of individuality. We use tightly controlled ontogenetic experiments with clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), to test whether near-identical rearing conditions and lack of social contact dampen individuality. In sharp contrast to our predictions, we find that (i) substantial individual variation in behaviour emerges among genetically identical individuals isolated directly after birth into highly standardized environments and (ii) increasing levels of social experience during ontogeny do not affect levels of individual behavioural variation. In contrast to the current research paradigm, which focuses on genes and/or environmental drivers, our findings suggest that individuality might be an inevitable and potentially unpredictable outcome of development. Genetically-identical animals experiencing the same environmental conditions should develop, in theory, identical behavioral traits. However, Bierbach et al. show here that behavioral differences still emerge among cloned fish under tightly controlled experimental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Bierbach
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kate L Laskowski
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Max Wolf
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Schausberger P, Gratzer M, Strodl MA. Early social isolation impairs development, mate choice and grouping behaviour of predatory mites. Anim Behav 2017; 127:15-21. [PMID: 28502987 PMCID: PMC5426552 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The social environment early in life is a key determinant of developmental, physiological and behavioural trajectories across vertebrate and invertebrate animals. One crucial variable is the presence/absence of conspecifics. For animals usually reared in groups, social isolation after birth or hatching can be a highly stressful circumstance, with potentially long-lasting consequences. Here, we assessed the effects of social deprivation (isolation) early in life, that is, absence of conspecifics, versus social enrichment, that is, presence of conspecifics, on developmental time, body size at maturity, mating behaviour and group-living in the plant-inhabiting predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. Socially deprived protonymphs developed more slowly and were less socially competent in grouping behaviour than socially enriched protonymphs. Compromised social competence in grouping behaviour was evident in decreased activity, fewer mutual encounters and larger interindividual distances, all of which may entail severe fitness costs. In female choice/male competition, socially deprived males mated earlier than socially enriched males; in male choice/female competition, socially deprived females were more likely to mate than socially enriched females. In neither mate choice situation did mating duration or body size at maturity differ between socially deprived and enriched mating opponents. Social isolation-induced shifts in mating behaviour may be interpreted as increased attractiveness or competitiveness or, more likely, as hastiness and reduced ability to assess mate quality. Overall, many of the social isolation-induced behavioural changes in P. persimilis are analogous to those observed in other animals such as cockroaches, fruit flies, fishes or rodents. We argue that, due to their profound and persistent effects, early social deprivation or enrichment may be important determinants in shaping animal personalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schausberger
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marian Gratzer
- Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus A Strodl
- Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ab Ghani NI, Herczeg G, Merilä J. Effects of perceived predation risk and social environment on the development of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) morphology. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nurul I. Ab Ghani
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit; Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; PO Box 65 FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; University of Putra Malaysia; 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
| | - Gábor Herczeg
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit; Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; PO Box 65 FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
- Behavioural Ecology Group; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology; Eötvös Loránd University; Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c H-1117 Budapest Hungary
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit; Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; PO Box 65 FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Barbosa M, Camacho-Cervantes M, Ojanguren AF. Phenotype Matching and Early Social Conditions Affect Shoaling and Exploration Decisions. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Barbosa
- CESAM; Department of Biology; Universidade de Aveiro; Aveiro Portugal
- Scottish Oceans Institute; School of Biology; University of St Andrews; St Andrews UK
| | | | - Alfredo F. Ojanguren
- Scottish Oceans Institute; School of Biology; University of St Andrews; St Andrews UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hesse S, Bakker TC, Baldauf SA, Thünken T. Impact of social environment on inter- and intrasexual selection in a cichlid fish with mutual mate choice. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
22
|
Abstract
Predation is an important but often fluctuating selection factor for prey animals. Accordingly, individuals plastically adopt antipredator strategies in response to current predation risk. Recently, it was proposed that predation risk also plastically induces neophobia (an antipredator response towards novel cues). Previous studies, however, do not allow a differentiation between general neophobia and sensory channel-specific neophobic responses. Therefore, we tested the neophobia hypothesis focusing on adjustment in shoaling behavior in response to a novel cue addressing a different sensory channel than the one from which predation risk was initially perceived. From hatching onwards, juveniles of the cichlid Pelvicachromis taeniatus were exposed to different chemical cues in a split-clutch design: conspecific alarm cues which signal predation risk and heterospecific alarm cues or distilled water as controls. At 2 months of age, their shoaling behavior was examined prior and subsequent to a tactical disturbance cue. We found that fish previously exposed to predation risk formed more compact shoals relative to the control groups in response to the novel disturbance cue. Moreover, the relationship between shoal density and shoal homogeneity was also affected by experienced predation risk. Our findings indicate predator-induced, increased cross-sensory sensitivity towards novel cues making neophobia an effective antipredator mechanism.
Collapse
|
23
|
Thünken T, Hesse S, Bakker TC, Baldauf SA. Benefits of kin shoaling in a cichlid fish: familiar and related juveniles show better growth. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
24
|
Hesse S, Anaya-Rojas JM, Frommen JG, Thünken T. Kinship reinforces cooperative predator inspection in a cichlid fish. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:2088-96. [PMID: 26299423 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Kin selection theory predicts that cooperation is facilitated between genetic relatives, as by cooperating with kin an individual might increase its inclusive fitness. Although numerous theoretical papers support Hamilton's inclusive fitness theory, experimental evidence is still underrepresented, in particular in noncooperative breeders. Cooperative predator inspection is one of the most intriguing antipredator strategies, as it implies high costs on inspectors. During an inspection event, one or more individuals leave the safety of a group and approach a potential predator to gather information about the current predation risk. We investigated the effect of genetic relatedness on cooperative predator inspection in juveniles of the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus, a species in which juveniles live in shoals under natural conditions. We show that relatedness significantly influenced predator inspection behaviour with kin dyads being significantly more cooperative. Thus, our results indicate a higher disposition for cooperative antipredator behaviour among kin as predicted by kin selection theory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Hesse
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jaime M Anaya-Rojas
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland.,Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Joachim G Frommen
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Institute for Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Timo Thünken
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Behavioural Ecology, Institute for Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|