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Mitchell DJ, Beckmann C, Biro PA. Maintenance of Behavioral Variation under Predation Risk: Effects on Personality, Plasticity, and Predictability. Am Nat 2024; 203:347-361. [PMID: 38358809 DOI: 10.1086/728421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
AbstractClassic evolutionary theory predicts that predation will shift trait means and erode variance within prey species; however, several studies indicate higher behavioral trait variance and trait integration in high-predation populations. These results come predominately from field-sampled animals comparing low- and high-predation sites and thus cannot isolate the role of predation from other ecological factors, including density effects arising from higher predation. Here, we study the role of predation on behavioral trait (co)variation in experimental populations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) living with and without a benthic ambush predator (Jaguar cichlid) to better evaluate the role of predation and where density was equalized among replicates twice per year. At 2.5 years after introduction of the predators (∼10 overlapping generations), 40 males were sampled from each of the six replicate populations and extensively assayed for activity rates, water column use, and latency to feed following disturbance. Individual variation was pronounced in both treatments, with substantial individual variation in means, temporal plasticity, and predictability (inverse residual variance). Predators had little effect on mean behavior, although there was some evidence for greater use of the upper water column in predator-exposed fish. There was greater variance among individuals in water column use in predator-exposed fish, and they habituated more quickly over time; individuals higher in the water column fed slower and had a reduced positive correlation with activity, although again this effect was time specific. Predators also affected the integration of personality and plasticity-among-individual variances in water column use increased, and those in activity decreased, through time-which was absent in controls. Our results contrast with the extensive guppy literature showing rapid evolution in trait means, demonstrating either increases or maintenance of behavioral variance under predation.
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2
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Crespel A, Lindström J, Elmer KR, Killen SS. Evolutionary relationships between metabolism and behaviour require genetic correlations. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220481. [PMID: 38186274 PMCID: PMC10772607 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
As selection acts on multivariate phenotypes, the evolution of traits within populations not only depends on the genetic basis of each trait, but also on the genetic relationships among traits. As metabolic rate is often related to vital traits such as growth, physiology and behaviour, its variation and evolution is expected to have important repercussions on individual fitness. However, the majority of the correlations between metabolic rate and other traits has been based on phenotypic correlations, while genetic correlations, basis for indirect selection and evolution, have been overlooked. Using a case study, we explore the importance of properly estimating genetic correlations to understand and predict evolution of multivariate phenotypes. We show that selection on metabolic traits could result in indirect selection mainly on growth-related traits, owing to strong genetic correlations, but not on swimming or risk-taking and sociability behaviour even if they covary phenotypically. While phenotypic correlation can inform about genetic correlation direction, caution is needed in predicting the magnitude of genetic correlation. Therefore, even though phenotypic correlations among physiological and behavioural traits could be useful, deriving evolutionary conclusions based purely on them is not robust. In short, proper estimation of genetic correlations is needed when predicting evolutionary consequences. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary significance of variation in metabolic rates'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Crespel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jan Lindström
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kathryn R. Elmer
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Shaun S. Killen
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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3
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Hertel AG, Efrat R, Reznikov K, Sapir N, Berger-Tal O, Mueller T. Time constraints may pace the ontogeny of movement behaviour. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222429. [PMID: 37015276 PMCID: PMC10072934 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During early development, juvenile animals need to acquire a diverse behavioural repertoire to interact with their environment. The ontogeny of animal behaviour, is paced by the motivation to improve, e.g. internal clocks, and limited by external constraints, e.g. weather conditions. We here evaluate how naive Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) improve in locomotor performance, measured as daily maximum displacement, prior to their first migration under three different time constraint regimes: we compared wild hatched vultures, migrating one month after fledging, with captive-hatched vultures, released in spring four months or in winter nine months before migration. We found that the time until migration paced the development of movement behaviour: wild birds rapidly increased displacement distances within the first two weeks after fledging, while spring and winter released vultures delayed movement increases by two and four months, respectively. Under relaxed time constraints captive-hatched vultures displayed diverse functional forms of performance enhancements and therefore great variability in individual ontogeny of movement behaviour. While weather conditions in winter could limit flight movements, some birds indeed moved immediately after their release, indicating that weather may not be limiting. Our findings promote the idea that relaxed ecological constraints could uncover hidden phenotypic flexibility in ontogeny, which could present a greater potential for adaptability under environmental change than currently expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne G Hertel
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt (Main), Hessen, Germany
| | - Ron Efrat
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel
| | - Korin Reznikov
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Nir Sapir
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology and Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Oded Berger-Tal
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, Israel
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt (Main), Hessen, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt (Main), Germany
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Remacha C, Ramírez Á, Arriero E, Pérez-Tris J. Haemosporidian infections influence risk-taking behaviours in young male blackcaps, Sylvia atricapilla. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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5
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Prentice PM, Houslay TM, Wilson AJ. Exploiting animal personality to reduce chronic stress in captive fish populations. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1046205. [PMID: 36590805 PMCID: PMC9794626 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1046205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is a major source of welfare problems in many captive populations, including fishes. While we have long known that chronic stress effects arise from maladaptive expression of acute stress response pathways, predicting where and when problems will arise is difficult. Here we highlight how insights from animal personality research could be useful in this regard. Since behavior is the first line of organismal defense when challenged by a stressor, assays of shy-bold type personality variation can provide information about individual stress response that is expected to predict susceptibility to chronic stress. Moreover, recent demonstrations that among-individual differences in stress-related physiology and behaviors are underpinned by genetic factors means that selection on behavioral biomarkers could offer a route to genetic improvement of welfare outcomes in captive fish stocks. Here we review the evidence in support of this proposition, identify remaining empirical gaps in our understanding, and set out appropriate criteria to guide development of biomarkers. The article is largely prospective: fundamental research into fish personality shows how behavioral biomarkers could be used to achieve welfare gains in captive fish populations. However, translating potential to actual gains will require an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the expertise and viewpoints of researchers working across animal behavior, genetics, and welfare science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela M. Prentice
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom,Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas M. Houslay
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom,Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair J. Wilson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Alastair J. Wilson
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Godin JGJ, Le Roy A, Burns AL, Seebacher F, Ward AJ. Pace-of-life syndrome: linking personality, metabolism and colour ornamentation in male guppies. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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7
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Qu J, Wang Y, Kong Y, Zhu H, Yu Y, Zhong L. Effect of chronic traffic noise on behavior and physiology of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1065966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last two decades, numerous studies have shown the effects of traffic noise on animal vocal communication. However, studies on the influences of traffic noise on wildlife behavior and physiology are scarce. In the present study, we experimentally manipulated the traffic noise exposure of plateau pika, a native small mammal widely distributed in the alpine meadow of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, to explore the effects of traffic noise exposure on its behavior and physiology. We showed that noise exposure increased the pika’s exploration and cortisol concentration (CORT) but decreased the resting metabolic rate (RMR). In addition, the relationships between RMR and exploration or CORT appeared under traffic noise treatment. This study suggests that traffic noise plays a large role in the behavior and physiology of plateau pikas and may have a long-term negative effect on the fitness of rodent populations. Generalizing these non-lethal effects to different taxa is crucial for the conservation and management of biodiversity in this increasingly noisy world.
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8
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Torgerson-White L, Sánchez-Suárez W. Looking beyond the Shoal: Fish Welfare as an Individual Attribute. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192592. [PMID: 36230333 PMCID: PMC9559274 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The fish farming industry is characterized by settings where large numbers of fishes are raised together at high stocking densities, effectively obliterating the individual. Given that animal welfare is an individual attribute that refers to how an animal experiences her world, it follows that ensuring good welfare for the different individuals is difficult in fish farms. In this paper we review evidence supporting the notion that fishes are individuals and fish welfare should thus also be considered at the individual level, examine the ways that animal welfare is assessed in fish farms, evaluate these practices in light of individualized terrestrial animal welfare assessment methods, and make recommendations regarding research that could lead to a better understanding of how to provide each individual fish with good welfare in captivity. Abstract Welfare is an individual attribute. In general, providing captive nonhuman animals with conditions conducive to good welfare is an idea more easily applied when dealing with few individuals. However, this becomes much harder—if not impossible—under farming conditions that may imply high numbers of animals living in large group sizes. Although this is a problem inherent to intensive animal farming, it is possibly best exemplified in fish farming, for these practices often rely on extremely high numbers. In this paper we review evidence supporting the notion that fishes are individuals and fish welfare should thus also be considered at the individual level, examine the current state of welfare assessment in the aquaculture industry, evaluate these practices in light of individualized terrestrial animal welfare assessment methods, and make recommendations regarding research that could lead to a better understanding of how to provide each individual fish with good welfare in captivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauri Torgerson-White
- Department of Research, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, USA
- Correspondence: (L.T.-W.); (W.S.-S.); Tel.: +1-248-835-4770 (L.T.-W.)
| | - Walter Sánchez-Suárez
- Department of Research, Mercy For Animals, Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA
- Correspondence: (L.T.-W.); (W.S.-S.); Tel.: +1-248-835-4770 (L.T.-W.)
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9
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Reyes AS, Bittar A, Ávila LC, Botia C, Esmeral NP, Bloch NI. Divergence in brain size and brain region volumes across wild guppy populations. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212784. [PMID: 36000235 PMCID: PMC9399710 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex evolutionary dynamics have produced extensive variation in brain anatomy in the animal world. In guppies, Poecilia reticulata, brain size and anatomy have been extensively studied in the laboratory contributing to our understanding of brain evolution and the cognitive advantages that arise with brain anatomical variation. However, it is unclear whether these laboratory results can be translated to natural populations. Here, we study brain neuroanatomy and its relationship with sexual traits across 18 wild guppy populations in diverse environments. We found extensive variation in female and male relative brain size and brain region volumes across populations in different environment types and with varying degrees of predation risk. In contrast with laboratory studies, we found differences in allometric scaling of brain regions, leading to variation in brain region proportions across populations. Finally, we found an association between sexual traits, mainly the area of black patches and tail length, and brain size. Our results suggest differences in ecological conditions and sexual traits are associated with differences in brain size and brain regions volumes in the wild, as well as sexual dimorphisms in the brain's neuroanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie S. Reyes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Amaury Bittar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Laura C. Ávila
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Catalina Botia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Natalia P. Esmeral
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Natasha I. Bloch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
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10
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Among-individual variation of risk-taking behaviour in group and solitary context is uncorrelated but independently repeatable in a juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) aquaculture strain. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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11
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Gartland LA, Firth JA, Laskowski KL, Jeanson R, Ioannou CC. Sociability as a personality trait in animals: methods, causes and consequences. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:802-816. [PMID: 34894041 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12823] [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: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Within animal populations there is variation among individuals in their tendency to be social, where more sociable individuals associate more with other individuals. Consistent inter-individual variation in 'sociability' is considered one of the major axes of personality variation in animals along with aggressiveness, activity, exploration and boldness. Not only is variation in sociability important in terms of animal personalities, but it holds particular significance for, and can be informed by, two other topics of major interest: social networks and collective behaviour. Further, knowledge of what generates inter-individual variation in social behaviour also holds applied implications, such as understanding disorders of social behaviour in humans. In turn, research using non-human animals in the genetics, neuroscience and physiology of these disorders can inform our understanding of sociability. For the first time, this review brings together insights across these areas of research, across animal taxa from primates to invertebrates, and across studies from both the laboratory and field. We show there are mixed results in whether and how sociability correlates with other major behavioural traits. Whether and in what direction these correlations are observed may differ with individual traits such as sex and body condition, as well as ecological conditions. A large body of evidence provides the proximate mechanisms for why individuals vary in their social tendency. Evidence exists for the importance of genes and their expression, chemical messengers, social interactions and the environment in determining an individual's social tendency, although the specifics vary with species and other variables such as age, and interactions amongst these proximate factors. Less well understood is how evolution can maintain consistent variation in social tendencies within populations. Shifts in the benefits and costs of social tendencies over time, as well as the social niche hypothesis, are currently the best supported theories for how variation in sociability can evolve and be maintained in populations. Increased exposure to infectious diseases is the best documented cost of a greater social tendency, and benefits include greater access to socially transmitted information. We also highlight that direct evidence for more sociable individuals being safer from predators is lacking. Variation in sociability is likely to have broad ecological consequences, but beyond its importance in the spread of infectious diseases, direct evidence is limited to a few examples related to dispersal and invasive species biology. Overall, our knowledge of inter-individual variation in sociability is highly skewed towards the proximate mechanisms. Our review also demonstrates, however, that considering research from social networks and collective behaviour greatly enriches our understanding of sociability, highlighting the need for greater integration of these approaches into future animal personality research to address the imbalance in our understanding of sociability as a personality trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizzy A Gartland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Josh A Firth
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, U.K
| | - Kate L Laskowski
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, U.S.A
| | - Raphael Jeanson
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (UMR5169), Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Christos C Ioannou
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
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12
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Crespel A, Miller T, Rácz A, Parsons K, Lindström J, Killen S. Density influences the heritability and genetic correlations of fish behaviour under trawling-associated selection. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2527-2540. [PMID: 34745341 PMCID: PMC8549612 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Fishing-associated selection is one of the most important human-induced evolutionary pressures for natural populations. However, it is unclear whether fishing leads to heritable phenotypic changes in the targeted populations, as the heritability and genetic correlations of traits potentially under selection have received little attention. In addition, phenotypic changes could arise from fishing-associated environmental effects, such as reductions in population density. Using fish reared at baseline and reduced group density and repeatedly harvested by simulated trawling, we show that trawling can induce direct selection on fish social behaviour. As sociability has significant heritability and is also genetically correlated with activity and exploration, trawling has the potential to induce both direct selection and indirect selection on a variety of fish behaviours, potentially leading to evolution over time. However, while trawling selection was consistent between density conditions, the heritability and genetic correlations of behaviours changed according to the population density. Fishing-associated environmental effects can thus modify the evolutionary potential of fish behaviour, revealing the need to use a more integrative approach to address the evolutionary consequences of fishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Crespel
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
- Department of Biology University of Turku Turku Finland
| | - Toby Miller
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Anita Rácz
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
- Department of Genetics Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Kevin Parsons
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Jan Lindström
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Shaun Killen
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
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13
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Whittaker BA, Consuegra S, Garcia de Leaniz C. Personality profiling may help select better cleaner fish for sea-lice control in salmon farming. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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14
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Zablocki-Thomas P, Lailvaux S, Aujard F, Pouydebat E, Herrel A. Maternal and genetic correlations between morphology and physical performance traits in a small captive primate, Microcebus murinus. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Physical performance traits are key components of fitness and direct targets of selection. Although maternal effects have important influences on integrated phenotypes, their contributions to variation in performance and to phenotypic traits associated with performance remain poorly understood. We used an animal model to quantify the contribution of maternal effects to performance trait variation, in addition to the genetic and maternal correlations between performance and the relevant underlying morphology in Microcebus murinus. We showed that bite force is heritable (h2 ≈ 0.23) and that maternal effects are an important source of variation, resulting in a medium inclusive heritability (IH2 ≈ 0.47). Bite force and head depth showed a significant genetic correlation (0.70), and other genetic correlations were generally high (0.63 for bite force and head width; 0.41 for pull strength and radius length, albeit not significant), as were the maternal correlations for bite force and head dimensions (0.44, 0.73 and 0.29). Finally, we found differences in evolvability for pull strength and bite force that were also consistent with a higher potential for evolutionary change in pull force. This demonstrates clear effects of the maternal environment on performance expression and on the relationships between morphology and performance. This illustrates the importance of accounting for maternal identity when considering the heritabilities of functional traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Zablocki-Thomas
- UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Simon Lailvaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Fabienne Aujard
- UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pouydebat
- UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
- Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat, Ghent, Belgium
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15
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Vila Pouca C, Mitchell DJ, Lefèvre J, Vega‐Trejo R, Kotrschal A. Early predation risk shapes adult learning and cognitive flexibility. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Vila Pouca
- Zoological Inst., Stockholm Univ. Stockholm Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen Univ. and Research Wageningen the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Alexander Kotrschal
- Zoological Inst., Stockholm Univ. Stockholm Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen Univ. and Research Wageningen the Netherlands
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16
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Kralj‐Fišer S, Schneider JM, Kuntner M, Laskowski K, Garcia‐Gonzalez F. The genetic architecture of behavioral traits in a spider. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5381-5392. [PMID: 34026014 PMCID: PMC8131798 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of consistent individual differences in behavior has been shown in a number of species, and several studies have found observable sex differences in these behaviors, yet their evolutionary implications remain unclear. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of behavioral traits requires knowledge of their genetic architectures and whether this architecture differs between the sexes. We conducted a quantitative genetic study in a sexually size-dimorphic spider, Larinioides sclopetarius, which exhibits sex differences in adult lifestyles. We observed pedigreed spiders for aggression, activity, exploration, and boldness and used animal models to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on these behaviors. We detected trends toward (i) higher additive genetic variances in aggression, activity, and exploration in males than females, and (ii) difference in variances due to common environment/maternal effects, permanent environment and residual variance in aggression and activity with the first two variances being higher in males for both behaviors. We found no sex differences in the amount of genetic and environmental variance in boldness. The mean heritability estimates of aggression, activity, exploration, and boldness range from 0.039 to 0.222 with no sizeable differences between females and males. We note that the credible intervals of the estimates are large, implying a high degree of uncertainty, which disallow a robust conclusion of sex differences in the quantitative genetic estimates. However, the observed estimates suggest that sex differences in the quantitative genetic architecture of the behaviors cannot be ruled out. Notably, the present study suggests that genetic underpinnings of behaviors may differ between sexes and it thus underscores the importance of taking sex differences into account in quantitative genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Kralj‐Fišer
- Scientific and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsInstitute of BiologyEvolutionary Zoology LaboratoryLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Jutta M. Schneider
- Institut für ZoologieFachbereich BiologieUniversität HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Scientific and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsInstitute of BiologyEvolutionary Zoology LaboratoryLjubljanaSlovenia
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems ResearchEvolutionary Zoology LaboratoryNational Institute of BiologyLjubljanaSlovenia
| | | | - Francisco Garcia‐Gonzalez
- Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSICSevilleSpain
- Centre for Evolutionary BiologySchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaAustralia
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17
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Prokkola JM, Alioravainen N, Mehtätalo L, Hyvärinen P, Lemopoulos A, Metso S, Vainikka A. Does parental angling selection affect the behavior or metabolism of brown trout parr? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2630-2644. [PMID: 33767825 PMCID: PMC7981205 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7220] [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: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavior of organisms can be subject to human-induced selection such as that arising from fishing. Angling is expected to induce mortality on fish with bold and explorative behavior, which are behaviors commonly linked to a high standard metabolic rate. We studied the transgenerational response of brown trout (Salmo trutta) to angling-induced selection by examining the behavior and metabolism of 1-year-old parr between parents that were or were not captured by experimental fly fishing. We performed the angling selection experiment on both a wild and a captive population, and compared the offspring for standard metabolic rate and behavior under predation risk in common garden conditions. Angling had population-specific effects on risk taking and exploration tendency, but no effects on standard metabolic rate. Our study adds to the evidence that angling can induce transgenerational responses on fish personality. However, understanding the mechanisms of divergent responses between the populations requires further study on the selectivity of angling in various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni M. Prokkola
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Present address:
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research ProgrammeUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Nico Alioravainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Lauri Mehtätalo
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Pekka Hyvärinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Kainuu Fisheries Research StationPaltamoFinland
| | - Alexandre Lemopoulos
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Sara Metso
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Anssi Vainikka
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
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18
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Krenhardt K, Markó G, Jablonszky M, Török J, Garamszegi LZ. Sex-dependent risk-taking behaviour towards different predatory stimuli in the collared flycatcher. Behav Processes 2021; 186:104360. [PMID: 33609633 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Prey animals may react differently to predators, which can thus raise plasticity in risk-taking behaviour. We assessed the behavioural responses of nestling-feeding collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) parents towards different avian predator species (Eurasian sparrowhawk, long-eared owl) and a non-threatening songbird (song thrush) by measuring the latency to resume feeding activity. We found that the sexes differed in their responses towards the different stimuli, as males resumed nestling-provisioning sooner after the songbird than after the predator stimuli, while latency of females was not affected by the type of stimulus. Parents breeding later in the season took less risk than early breeders, and mean response also varied across the study years. We detected a considerable repeatability at the within-brood level across stimuli, and a correlation between the latency of parents attending the same nest, implying that they may adjust similarly their risk-taking behaviour to the brood value. Repeated measurements at the same brood suggested that risk-taking behaviour of flycatcher parents is a plastic trait, and sex-specific effects might be the result of sex-specific adjustments of behaviour to the perceived environmental challenge as exerted by different predators. Furthermore, the nest-specific effects highlighted that environmental effects can render consistently similar responses between the parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Krenhardt
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary; Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Markó
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ménesi út 44, 1118, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Mónika Jablonszky
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary; Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - László Zsolt Garamszegi
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
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19
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Tigreros N, Agrawal AA, Thaler JS. Genetic Variation in Parental Effects Contributes to the Evolutionary Potential of Prey Responses to Predation Risk. Am Nat 2021; 197:164-175. [PMID: 33523783 DOI: 10.1086/712341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDespite the ubiquity of parental effects and their potential effect on evolutionary dynamics, their contribution to the evolution of predator-prey interactions remains poorly understood. Using quantitative genetics, here we demonstrate that parental effects substantially contribute to the evolutionary potential of larval antipredator responses in a leaf beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Previous research showed that larger L. decemlineata larvae elicit stronger antipredator responses, and mothers perceiving predators improved offspring responses by increasing intraclutch cannibalism-an extreme form of offspring provisioning. We now report substantial additive genetic variation underlying maternal ability to induce intraclutch cannibalism, indicating the potential of this adaptive maternal effect to evolve by natural selection. We also show that paternal size, a heritable trait, affected larval responses to predation risk but that larval responses themselves had little additive genetic variation. Together, these results demonstrate how larval responses to predation risk can evolve via two types of parental effects, both of which provide indirect sources of genetic variation for offspring traits.
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20
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Mitchell DJ, Houslay TM. Context-dependent trait covariances: how plasticity shapes behavioral syndromes. Behav Ecol 2020; 32:25-29. [PMID: 33708005 PMCID: PMC7937033 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of behavioral syndromes aims to understand among-individual correlations of behavior, yielding insights into the ecological factors and proximate constraints that shape behavior. In parallel, interest has been growing in behavioral plasticity, with results commonly showing that animals vary in their behavioral response to environmental change. These two phenomena are inextricably linked—behavioral syndromes describe cross-trait or cross-context correlations, while variation in behavioral plasticity describes variation in response to changing context. However, they are often discussed separately, with plasticity analyses typically considering a single trait (univariate) across environments, while behavioral trait correlations are studied as multiple traits (multivariate) under one environmental context. Here, we argue that such separation represents a missed opportunity to integrate these concepts. Through observations of multiple traits while manipulating environmental conditions, we can quantify how the environment shapes behavioral correlations, thus quantifying how phenotypes are differentially constrained or integrated under different environmental conditions. Two analytical options exist which enable us to evaluate the context dependence of behavioral syndromes—multivariate reaction norms and character state models. These models are largely two sides of the same coin, but through careful interpretation we can use either to shift our focus to test how the contextual environment shapes trait covariances.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Mitchell
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 18B., Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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MÖller KO, St. John M, Temming A, Diekmann R, Peters J, Floeter J, Sell AF, Herrmann JP, Gloe D, Schmidt JO, Hinrichsen HH, MÖllmann C. Predation risk triggers copepod small-scale behavior in the Baltic Sea. JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH 2020; 42:702-713. [PMID: 33239965 PMCID: PMC7677935 DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Predators not only have direct impact on biomass but also indirect, non-consumptive effects on the behavior their prey organisms. A characteristic response of zooplankton in aquatic ecosystems is predator avoidance by diel vertical migration (DVM), a behavior which is well studied on the population level. A wide range of behavioral diversity and plasticity has been observed both between- as well as within-species and, hence, investigating predator-prey interactions at the individual level seems therefore essential for a better understanding of zooplankton dynamics. Here we applied an underwater imaging instrument, the video plankton recorder (VPR), which allows the non-invasive investigation of individual, diel adaptive behavior of zooplankton in response to predators in the natural oceanic environment, providing a finely resolved and continuous documentation of the organisms' vertical distribution. Combing observations of copepod individuals observed with the VPR and hydroacoustic estimates of predatory fish biomass, we here show (i) a small-scale DVM of ovigerous Pseudocalanus acuspes females in response to its main predators, (ii) in-situ observations of a direct short-term reaction of the prey to the arrival of the predator and (iii) in-situ evidence of pronounced individual variation in this adaptive behavior with potentially strong effects on individual performance and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael St. John
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Axel Temming
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rabea Diekmann
- University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, An der Karlstadt 8, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Janna Peters
- Deutsches Zentrum für Marine Biodiversitätsforschung, Senckenberg am Meer, Südstrand 44, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstrasse 133, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Floeter
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstrasse 133, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne F Sell
- Thünen Institute, Institute of Sea Fisheries, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Jens-Peter Herrmann
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Gloe
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstrasse 133, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörn O Schmidt
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Science Committee, H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46, 1553 Copenhagen V, Denmark
- Kiel University, Center for Ocean and Society, Neufeldtstrasse 10, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Hans H Hinrichsen
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Marine Ecology, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian MÖllmann
- Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science, University of Hamburg, Große Elbstrasse 133, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, Große Elbstraße 133, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
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22
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Local adaptation of antipredator behaviors in populations of a temperate reef fish. Oecologia 2020; 194:571-584. [PMID: 32964291 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04757-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The temperament of animals can vary among individuals and among populations, but it is often unclear whether spatial variation in temperament is the result of acclimation to local environmental conditions or genetic adaptation to spatial differences in natural selection. This study tested whether populations of a marine fish that experience different levels of mortality and fishing exhibited local adaptation in behaviors related to predator avoidance and evasion. First, we measured variation in reactivity to perceived risk in wild populations of black surfperch (Embiotoca jacksoni). We compared flight initiation distances (FID) between populations with significantly different mortality rates. After finding that FID values were substantially lower in the low-risk locations, we tested for local adaptation by rearing lab-born offspring from both high- and low-risk populations in a common environment before measuring their behavior. Lab-reared offspring from high- and low-risk populations exhibited significant differences in several behaviors related to reactivity. Between 23 and 43% of the total variation in behaviors we measured could be attributed to source population. These results thus suggest that a substantial amount of spatial variation in behaviors related to predator evasion may represent local adaptation. In addition, behaviors we measured had an average, broad-sense heritability of 0.24, suggesting that the behavioral tendencies of these populations have some capacity to evolve further in response to any changes in selection.
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23
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Daniel DK, Bhat A. Bolder and Brighter? Exploring Correlations Between Personality and Cognitive Abilities Among Individuals Within a Population of Wild Zebrafish, Danio rerio. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:138. [PMID: 32903664 PMCID: PMC7438763 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Within populations, individual differences in behavioral and cognitive traits are dependent on the habitat and specific contexts, such as the presence of a predator or other risks. The ability to show variable responses to changing conditions can be of immense survival advantage to organisms. We studied individual differences in specific personality traits, such as boldness, exploration, and spatial ability, and the effect of these traits on learning ability and memory in the presence of a predatory threat, among wild caught zebrafish (Danio rerio). Under laboratory conditions, individuals were trained to perform a simple navigation task, and their performance, exploration, boldness traits were measured, along with learning and memory abilities under two contexts (i.e., in the presence and absence of a predator). Our results revealed that fish showed a clear decline in emergence time, exploration time, and feeding latency over trials, indicative of learning, and further tests for memory also showed memory retention. While the presence of a predator increased emergence time and latencies for navigating, indicating declines in boldness and exploration, these were found to be correlated to different personalities among the individuals and dependent on their sex. While females tended to be bolder and learned the spatial task faster, they showed lower memory retention abilities than males. Personality traits were also found to affect cognitive abilities among individuals. In general, the presence of a predator decreased performance latencies. However, bolder individuals were less affected and emerged more quickly from the refuge chamber than shy individuals. Our results point to the complex interplay of ecological context along with inherent correlations across personality traits that decide the overall personality and cognitive responses among individuals even within populations. These findings thus highlight the importance of an inclusive approach that combines personality and cognition studies for understanding variations within populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danita K Daniel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Kolkata, India
| | - Anuradha Bhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Kolkata, India
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24
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Dammhahn M, Mazza V, Schirmer A, Göttsche C, Eccard JA. Of city and village mice: behavioural adjustments of striped field mice to urban environments. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13056. [PMID: 32747632 PMCID: PMC7400609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question of current ecological research concerns the drives and limits of species responses to human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC). Behavioural responses to HIREC are a key component because behaviour links individual responses to population and community changes. Ongoing fast urbanization provides an ideal setting to test the functional role of behaviour for responses to HIREC. Consistent behavioural differences between conspecifics (animal personality) may be important determinants or constraints of animals’ adaptation to urban habitats. We tested whether urban and rural populations of small mammals differ in mean trait expression, flexibility and repeatability of behaviours associated to risk-taking and exploratory tendencies. Using a standardized behavioural test in the field, we quantified spatial exploration and boldness of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius, n = 96) from nine sub-populations, presenting different levels of urbanisation and anthropogenic disturbance. The level of urbanisation positively correlated with boldness, spatial exploration and behavioural flexibility, with urban dwellers being bolder, more explorative and more flexible in some traits than rural conspecifics. Thus, individuals seem to distribute in a non-random way in response to human disturbance based on their behavioural characteristics. Animal personality might therefore play a key role in successful coping with the challenges of HIREC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Dammhahn
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Valeria Mazza
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Annika Schirmer
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Claudia Göttsche
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jana A Eccard
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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25
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Roth TC, Rosier M, Krochmal AR, Clark L. A multi‐trait, field‐based examination of personality in a semi‐aquatic turtle. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy C. Roth
- Department of Psychology Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster PA USA
| | - Maxwell Rosier
- Department of Psychology Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster PA USA
- 18 Rose Lane PA USA
| | | | - Lisa Clark
- Department of Psychology Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster PA USA
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26
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Nagano M, Doi H. Ecological and evolutionary factors of intraspecific variation in inducible defenses: Insights gained from Daphnia experiments. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8554-8562. [PMID: 32884639 PMCID: PMC7452781 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation among individuals and species is a fundamental principle of natural selection. In this review, we focus on numerous experiments involving the model species Daphnia (Crustacea) and categorize the factors, especially secondary ones, affecting intraspecific variations in inducible defense. Primary factors, such as predator type and density, determine the degree to which inducible defense expresses and increases or decreases. Secondary factors, on the other hand, act together with primary factors to inducible defense or without primary factors on inducible defense. The secondary factors increase intraspecies variation in inducible defense, and thus, the level of adaptation of organisms varies within species. Future research will explore the potential for new secondary factors, as well as the relative importance between factors needs to be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Nagano
- Graduate School of Simulation StudiesUniversity of HyogoKobeJapan
| | - Hideyuki Doi
- Graduate School of Simulation StudiesUniversity of HyogoKobeJapan
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27
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Class B, Brommer JE. Can dominance genetic variance be ignored in evolutionary quantitative genetic analyses of wild populations? Evolution 2020; 74:1540-1550. [PMID: 32510608 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Accurately estimating genetic variance components is important for studying evolution in the wild. Empirical work on domesticated and wild outbred populations suggests that dominance genetic variance represents a substantial part of genetic variance, and theoretical work predicts that ignoring dominance can inflate estimates of additive genetic variance. Whether this issue is pervasive in natural systems is unknown, because we lack estimates of dominance variance in wild populations obtained in situ. Here, we estimate dominance and additive genetic variance, maternal variance, and other sources of nongenetic variance in eight traits measured in over 9000 wild nestlings linked through a genetically resolved pedigree. We find that dominance variance, when estimable, does not statistically differ from zero and represents a modest amount (2-36%) of genetic variance. Simulations show that (1) inferences of all variance components for an average trait are unbiased; (2) the power to detect dominance variance is low; (3) ignoring dominance can mildly inflate additive genetic variance and heritability estimates but such inflation becomes substantial when maternal effects are also ignored. These findings hence suggest that dominance is a small source of phenotypic variance in the wild and highlight the importance of proper model construction for accurately estimating evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Class
- Global Change Ecology Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, University Hill, Turku, 20014, Finland
| | - Jon E Brommer
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, University Hill, Turku, 20014, Finland
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28
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Han CS, Brooks RC, Dingemanse NJ. Condition-Dependent Mutual Mate Preference and Intersexual Genetic Correlations for Mating Activity. Am Nat 2020; 195:997-1008. [PMID: 32469657 DOI: 10.1086/708497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Although mating represents a mutual interaction, the study of mate preferences has long focused on choice in one sex and preferred traits in the other. This has certainly been the case in the study of the costs and condition-dependent expression of mating preferences, with the majority of studies concerning female preference. The condition dependence and genetic architecture of mutual mate preferences remain largely unstudied, despite their likely relevance for the evolution of preferences and of mating behavior more generally. Here we measured (a) male and female mate preferences and (b) intersexual genetic correlations for the mating activity in pedigreed populations of southern field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) raised on a favorable (free-choice) or a stressful (protein-deprived) diet. In the favorable dietary environment, mutual mate preferences were strong, and the intersexual genetic covariance for mating activity was not different from one. However, in the stressful dietary environment, mutual mate preferences were weak, and the intersexual genetic covariance for mating activity was significantly smaller than one. Altogether, our results show that diet environments affect the expression of genetic variation in mating behaviors: when the environment is stressful, both (a) the strength of mutual mate preference and (b) intersexual genetic covariance for mating activity tend to be weaker. This implies that mating dynamics strongly vary across environments.
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29
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Radiotracking invasive spread: Are common mynas more active and exploratory on the invasion front? Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02269-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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30
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Wang Y, Shi B, Zhao X, Feng J, Jiang T. Morphological Correlates of Personality in Female Asian Particolored Bats (Vespertilio sinensis). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10020289. [PMID: 32059520 PMCID: PMC7070271 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Personality emerges because of individual differences in repeatable state variables, such as metabolic rate, age, sex, or body size. Personality and its correlation with body size, however, have been relatively unexplored in bats. Our study showed that the exploration of female Asian particolored bats was significantly repeatable, but we did not find significant correlations among exploration, activity, and aggression. This finding suggested that female Asian particolored bats may not have a behavioral syndrome. Additionally, the body mass of female Asian particolored bats was correlated with aggression and activity, suggesting that body mass may have an impact on the behavioral characteristics of bats. Our findings not only added to the literature concerning personality in bats but are also helpful for understanding the maintenance of an animal’s personality. Abstract Personality traits represent a leading edge in the evolutionary process, as natural selection acts directly on variations in individual phenotypes within populations. Recent theoretical models have focused on the concept of adaptive state-dependent behavior, proposing that repeatable differences in behavior emerge because of individual differences in repeatable state variables, such as metabolic rate, age, sex, or body size. Personality and its correlation with body size, however, have been relatively unexplored in bats. We used female Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) to investigate three personality characteristics (exploration, activity, and aggression) using the classic hole-board test and examined their relationships with body size using an information-theoretical approach. Our results showed that the exploration of female Asian particolored bats was significantly repeatable, but we did not find significant correlations among the three personality traits. This finding suggested that the female Asian particolored bat may not have a behavioral syndrome. In addition, the body mass of female Asian particolored bats was positively correlated with aggression but was negatively correlated with activity, suggesting that body mass was an important physiological basis affecting the behavioral characteristics of female Asian particolored bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuze Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China; (Y.W.); (B.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Biye Shi
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China; (Y.W.); (B.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- School of Psychology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010000, China;
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China; (Y.W.); (B.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng Street, Changchun 130118, China
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (T.J.); Tel.: +86-0431-8916-5610 (J.F. & T.J.)
| | - Tinglei Jiang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China; (Y.W.); (B.S.)
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun 130117, China
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (T.J.); Tel.: +86-0431-8916-5610 (J.F. & T.J.)
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31
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Dingemanse NJ, Barber I, Dochtermann NA. Non-consumptive effects of predation: does perceived risk strengthen the genetic integration of behaviour and morphology in stickleback? Ecol Lett 2019; 23:107-118. [PMID: 31646755 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Predators can shape genetic correlations in prey by altering prey perception of risk. We manipulated perceived risk to test whether such non-consumptive effects tightened behavioural trait correlations in wild-caught stickleback from high- compared to low-risk environments due to genetic variation in plasticity. We expected tighter genetic correlations within perceived risk treatments than across them, and tighter genetic correlations in high-risk than in low-risk treatments. We identified genetic variation in plasticity, with genetic correlations between boldness, sociality, and antipredator morphology, as expected, being tighter within treatments than across them, for both of two populations. By contrast, genetic correlations did not tighten with exposure to risk. Tighter phenotypic correlations in wild stickleback may thus arise because predators induce correlational selection on environmental components of these traits, or because predators tighten residual correlations by causing environmental heterogeneity that is controlled in the laboratory. Our study places phenotypic integration firmly into an ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Iain Barber
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Brackenhurst Ln, Southwell NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Ned A Dochtermann
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1340 Bolley Drive, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
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Hutfluss A, Dingemanse NJ. Human recreation reduces clutch size in great tits Parus major regardless of risk-taking personality. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractRecreation negatively affects wildlife by influencing animal behavior vital to reproduction and survival. Such nonconsumptive effects of perceived predation risk are mainly studied in ground-breeding birds. However, if antipredator responses characterize bird species generally, so should nonconsumptive effects of perceived predation associated with human recreation. Moreover, as individuals consistently differ in behaviors linked to antipredator responses, they should also differ in responses to recreation, with bolder birds being less affected. To test this key prediction, we quantified effects of human recreation pressure on a cavity-breeding passerine. We uniquely quantified human recreation pressure over a substantial (8-year) period within 12 nest box populations of the great tit Parus major, assayed annually for reproductive parameters. We detected considerable spatial variation in recreation pressure. In plots with high recreation pressure, we found strong support for birds breeding further away from highly frequented paths and birds producing smaller clutches; we also found moderate support for birds producing fewer fledglings. These detrimental effects did not vary with behavioral proxies of an individual’s risk-taking phenotype (exploratory activity). This implies that effects of recreation pressure apply to the average bird, and extend to species (like forest birds) not previously considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Hutfluss
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Munich, Germany
| | - N J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Munich, Germany
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33
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Ros A, Dunst J, Gugele S, Brinker A. Anti‐predator mechanisms in evolutionarily predator‐naïve vs. adapted fish larvae. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ros
- Fisheries Research Station Baden‐Württemberg LAZBW Langenargen Germany
| | - Julian Dunst
- Fisheries Research Station Baden‐Württemberg LAZBW Langenargen Germany
| | - Sarah Gugele
- Fisheries Research Station Baden‐Württemberg LAZBW Langenargen Germany
| | - Alexander Brinker
- Fisheries Research Station Baden‐Württemberg LAZBW Langenargen Germany
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34
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Moody KN, Wren JLK, Kobayashi DR, Blum MJ, Ptacek MB, Blob RW, Toonen RJ, Schoenfuss HL, Childress MJ. Evidence of local adaptation in a waterfall-climbing Hawaiian goby fish derived from coupled biophysical modeling of larval dispersal and post-settlement selection. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:88. [PMID: 30975077 PMCID: PMC6458715 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1413-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Local adaptation of marine and diadromous species is thought to be a product of larval dispersal, settlement mortality, and differential reproductive success, particularly in heterogeneous post-settlement habitats. We evaluated this premise with an oceanographic passive larval dispersal model coupled with individual-based models of post-settlement selection and reproduction to infer conditions that underlie local adaptation in Sicyopterus stimpsoni, an amphidromous Hawaiian goby known for its ability to climb waterfalls. Results Our model results demonstrated that larval dispersal is spatio-temporally asymmetric, with more larvae dispersed from the southeast (the Big Island) to northwest (Kaua‘i) along the archipelago, reflecting prevailing conditions such as El Niño/La Niña oscillations. Yet connectivity is nonetheless sufficient to result in homogenous populations across the archipelago. We also found, however, that ontogenetic shifts in habitat can give rise to adaptive morphological divergence when the strength of predation-driven post-settlement selection crosses a critical threshold. Notably, our simulations showed that larval dispersal is not the only factor determining the likelihood of morphological divergence. We found adaptive potential and evolutionary trajectories of S. stimpsoni were greater on islands with stronger environmental gradients and greater variance in larval cohort morphology due to fluctuating immigration. Conclusions Contrary to expectation, these findings indicate that immigration can act in concert with selection to favor local adaptation and divergence in species with marine larval dispersal. Further development of model simulations, parameterized to reflect additional empirical estimates of abiotic and biotic factors, will help advance our understanding of the proximate and ultimate mechanisms driving adaptive evolution, population resilience, and speciation in marine-associated species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1413-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine N Moody
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA. .,The ByWater Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
| | - Johanna L K Wren
- Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.,Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS, NOAA IRC, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - Donald R Kobayashi
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS, NOAA IRC, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - Michael J Blum
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.,The ByWater Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Margaret B Ptacek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Richard W Blob
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Robert J Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Heiko L Schoenfuss
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, St Cloud, MN, 56301, USA
| | - Michael J Childress
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
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35
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Jäger HY, Han CS, Dingemanse NJ. Social experiences shape behavioral individuality and within-individual stability. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Individual repeatability characterizes many behaviors. Repeatable behavior may result from repeated social interactions among familiar group members, owing to adaptive social niche specialization. In the context of aggression, in species like field crickets, social niche specialization should also occur when individuals repeatedly interact with unfamiliar individuals. This would require the outcome of social interactions to have carry-over effects on fighting ability and aggressiveness in subsequent interactions, leading to long-term among-individual differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we randomly assigned freshly emerged adult males of the southern field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus to either a solitary or social treatment. In social treatment, males interacted with a same-sex partner but experienced a new partner every 3 days. After 3 weeks of treatment, we repeatedly subjected treated males to dyadic interactions to measure aggression. During this time, we also continuously measured the 3-daily rate of carbohydrate and protein consumption. Individual differentiation was considerably higher among males reared in the social versus solitary environment for aggressiveness but not for nutrient intake. Simultaneously, social experience led to lower within-individual stability (i.e., increased within-individual variance) in carbohydrate intake. Past social experiences, thus, shaped both behavioral individuality and stability. While previous research has emphasized behavioral individuality resulting from repeated interactions among familiar individuals, our study implies that behavioral individuality, in the context of aggression, may generally result from social interactions, whether with familiar or unfamiliar individuals. Our findings thus imply that social interactions may have a stronger effect on individual differentiation than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Y Jäger
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Chang S Han
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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36
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Feldman M, Ferrandiz-Rovira M, Espelta JM, Muñoz A. Evidence of high individual variability in seed management by scatter-hoarding rodents: does ‘personality’ matter? Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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37
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Does acoustic environment modify boldness and related life-history traits in field cricket nymphs? Acta Ethol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-019-00311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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38
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Wey TW, Réale D, Kelly CD. Developmental and genetic effects on behavioral and life-history traits in a field cricket. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3434-3445. [PMID: 30962903 PMCID: PMC6434558 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental goal of evolutionary ecology is to identify the sources underlying trait variation on which selection can act. Phenotypic variation will be determined by both genetic and environmental factors, and adaptive phenotypic plasticity is expected when organisms can adjust their phenotypes to match environmental cues. Much recent research interest has focused on the relative importance of environmental and genetic factors on the expression of behavioral traits, in particular, and how they compare with morphological and life-history traits. Little research to date examines the effect of development on the expression of heritable variation in behavioral traits, such as boldness and activity. We tested for genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment differences in body mass, development time, boldness, and activity, using developmental density treatments combined with a quantitative genetic design in the sand field cricket (Gryllus firmus). Similar to results from previous work, animals reared at high densities were generally smaller and took longer to mature, and body mass and development time were moderately heritable. In contrast, neither boldness nor activity responded to density treatments, and they were not heritable. The only trait that showed significant genotype-by-environment differences was development time. It is possible that adaptive behavioral plasticity is not evident in this species because of the highly variable social environments it naturally experiences. Our results illustrate the importance of validating the assumption that behavioral phenotype reflects genetic patterns and suggest questions about the role of environmental instability in trait variation and heritability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina W. Wey
- Université du Québec à MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
- Université de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
| | - Denis Réale
- Université du Québec à MontréalMontréalQuébecCanada
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39
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Mackay MK, Pillay N. Anxiety and exploratory behavior in the African striped mouse, Rhabdomys, taxa are partially modified by the physical rearing environment. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 61:179-190. [PMID: 30552675 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The environment may modulate genetic influences on behavioral expression. We investigated whether the physical rearing environment modulates anxiety and exploratory behavior in four populations, representing three species, of the striped mouse Rhabdomys. One population originated from an arid, open habitat and the others from grassy, covered habitats, and two species occurred in sympatry. We raised captive individuals of all populations in treatments that simulated cover or no cover for two generations and investigated the behavior of resulting adults in an open-field, light-dark and startle response tests. We expected that, when raised without cover, the arid population would be less anxious and more exploratory than grassland populations, but found the opposite in the open-field test only. We also expected that all individuals would be anxious and less exploratory when raised under cover, which was the case for anxiety in a light-dark test, but individuals from the no cover treatment were more anxious in the open-field test. Only one population × treatment interaction was detected in which the arid population was least exploratory. Therefore, the physical rearing environment had less of an influence than phylogeny on the development of anxiety and exploration in Rhabdomys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Mackay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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40
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Touchon JC, Robertson JM. You cannot have it all: Heritability and constraints of predator‐induced developmental plasticity in a Neotropical treefrog. Evolution 2018; 72:2758-2772. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Charles Touchon
- Biology Department Boston University Boston Massachusetts 02215
- Current Address: Biology Department Vassar College Poughkeepsie New York 12604
| | - Jeanne Marie Robertson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14853
- Current Address: Department of Biology California State University Northridge California 91330
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41
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Han CS, Tuni C, Ulcik J, Dingemanse NJ. Increased developmental density decreases the magnitude of indirect genetic effects expressed during agonistic interactions in an insect. Evolution 2018; 72:2435-2448. [PMID: 30221347 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The expression of aggression depends not only on the direct genetic effects (DGEs) of an individual's genes on its own behavior, but also on indirect genetic effects (IGEs) caused by heritable phenotypes expressed by social partners. IGEs can affect the amount of heritable variance on which selection can act. Despite the important roles of IGEs in the evolutionary process, it remains largely unknown whether the strength of IGEs varies across life stages or competitive regimes. Based on manipulations of nymphal densities and > 3000 pair-wise aggression tests across multiple life stages, we experimentally demonstrate that IGEs on aggression are stronger in field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) that develop at lower densities than in those that develop at higher densities, and that these effects persist with age. The existence of density-dependent IGEs implies that social interactions strongly determine the plastic expression of aggression when competition for resources is relaxed. A more competitive (higher density) rearing environment may fail to provide crickets with sufficient resources to develop social cognition required for strong IGEs. The contribution of IGEs to evolutionary responses was greater at lower densities. Our study thereby demonstrates the importance of considering IGEs in density-dependent ecological and evolutionary processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang S Han
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.,Current Address: School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jakob Ulcik
- 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
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42
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Effects of acclimatisation on behavioural repeatability in two behaviour assays of the guppy Poecilia reticulata. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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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43
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Vargas R, Mackenzie S, Rey S. 'Love at first sight': The effect of personality and colouration patterns in the reproductive success of zebrafish (Danio rerio). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203320. [PMID: 30231039 PMCID: PMC6145548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in animal personality and external appearance such as colouration patterns have both been extensively studied separately. A significant body of research has explored many of pertinent ecological and biological aspects that can be affected by them and their impact upon fitness. Currently little is known about how both factors interact and their effect on reproductive success. In this study, we evaluated two major parameters contributing to the fitness of the species: reproduction and offspring survival. We selected two different phenotypes of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) selected by their colouration patterns: phenotype 1) named Wild type, UAB line (WT-UAB) with a homogeneous colouration pattern (clear and defined lateral stripes) and phenotype 2) Wild type indefinite (WT-I) had a heterogeneous colouration pattern and different degrees of lateral stripe definition. All animals were also screened for personality. We then compared their reproductive success (spawning rate) and offspring survival at different stages, from egg to larvae, and for 2 successive generations (parental generation was G0; First and second generations were G1 and G2 respectively). Our results show that personality traits were the main source of variability between the fitness components measured: both personalities had similar total numbers of eggs spawned but proactive animals, for both colour phenotypes, had higher reproductive success. This was reflected in a higher percentage of spawning viability at 1day post fertilization (dpf), higher total survival and growth rates at larval stages. Proactive phenotypes from WT-UAB population had a higher overall fitness in comparison to the other phenotypes studied. Our findings imply that fitness of this species when kept under similar husbandry conditions is significantly influenced by parental personality and not by their external appearance. Under these conditions the reproductive success is enhanced. The implications of this study are important for zebrafish breeding and husbandry in captivity and are relevant toward understanding the underlying drivers of trait selection in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reynaldo Vargas
- Departamento de Biología Marina y Limnología, Extensión Universitaria de Aguadulce, Universidad de Panamá, Aguadulce, Coclé, República de Panamá
| | - Simon Mackenzie
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Rey
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
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44
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45
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Paulino R, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Nogueira SSDC. The role of individual behavioral distinctiveness in exploratory and anti-predatory behaviors of red-browed Amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha) during pre-release training. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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46
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Ørsted M, Hoffmann AA, Rohde PD, Sørensen P, Kristensen TN. Strong impact of thermal environment on the quantitative genetic basis of a key stress tolerance trait. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:315-325. [PMID: 30050062 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Most organisms experience variable and sometimes suboptimal environments in their lifetime. While stressful environmental conditions are normally viewed as a strong selective force, they can also impact directly on the genetic basis of traits such as through environment-dependent gene action. Here, we used the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel to investigate the impact of developmental temperature on variance components and evolutionary potential of cold tolerance. We reared 166 lines at five temperatures and assessed cold tolerance of adult male flies from each line and environment. We show (1) that the expression of genetic variation for cold tolerance is highly dependent on developmental temperature, (2) that the genetic correlation of cold tolerance between environments decreases as developmental temperatures become more distinct, (3) that the correlation between cold tolerance at individual developmental temperatures and plasticity for cold tolerance differs across developmental temperatures, and even switches sign across the thermal developmental gradient, and (4) that evolvability decrease with increasing developmental temperatures. Our results show that the quantitative genetic basis of low temperature tolerance is environment specific. This conclusion is important for the understanding of evolution in variable thermal environments and for designing experiments aimed at pinpointing candidate genes and performing functional analyses of thermal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ørsted
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Aalborg E, 9220, Denmark. .,Department of Bioscience, Section of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark.
| | - Ary Anthony Hoffmann
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Aalborg E, 9220, Denmark.,School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Palle Duun Rohde
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Tjele, 8830, Denmark
| | - Peter Sørensen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Tjele, 8830, Denmark
| | - Torsten Nygaard Kristensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Aalborg E, 9220, Denmark.,Department of Bioscience, Section of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
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47
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Urszán TJ, Garamszegi LZ, Nagy G, Hettyey A, Török J, Herczeg G. Experience during development triggers between-individual variation in behavioural plasticity. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:1264-1273. [PMID: 29752882 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural consistency within and across behaviours (animal personality and behavioural syndrome, respectively) has been vigorously studied in the last decade, leading to the emergence of "animal personality" research. It has been proposed recently that not only mean behaviour (behavioural type), but the environmentally induced behavioural change (behavioural plasticity) might also differ between individuals within populations. While case studies presenting between-individual variation in behavioural plasticity have started to accumulate, the mechanisms behind its emergence are virtually unknown. We have recently demonstrated that ecologically relevant environmental stimuli during ontogeny are necessary for the development of animal personality and behavioural syndromes. However, it is unknown whether between-individual variation in behavioural plasticity is hard-wired or induced. Here, we tested whether experience with predation during development affected predator-induced behavioural plasticity in Rana dalmatina tadpoles. We ran a common garden experiment with two ontogenetic predation treatments: tadpoles developed from hatching in either the presence or absence of olfactory predator stimuli. Then, we assayed all tadpoles repeatedly for activity and risk-taking both in the absence and presence of olfactory predator stimuli. We found that (a) between-individual variation in predator-induced behavioural plasticity was present only in the group that developed in the presence of olfactory stimuli from predators and (b) previous experience with predatory stimuli resulted in lower plastic response at the group level. The latter pattern resulted from increased between-individual variation and not from universally lower individual responses. We also found that experience with predation during development increased the predictability (i.e. decreased the within-individual variation unrelated to environmental change) of activity, but not risk-taking. In line with this, tadpoles developing under perceived predatory risk expressed their activity with higher repeatability. We suggest that ecologically relevant environmental stimuli are not only fundamental for the development of animal personality and behavioural syndromes, but also for individual variation in behavioural plasticity. Thus, experience is of central importance for the emergence of individual behavioural variation at many levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás János Urszán
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Zsolt Garamszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estacion Biologica de Donana - CSIC, Seville, Spain.,MTA-ELTE, Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Nagy
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, MTA ATK NÖVI, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Herczeg
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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48
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White SJ, Wilson AJ. Evolutionary genetics of personality in the Trinidadian guppy I: maternal and additive genetic effects across ontogeny. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:1-14. [PMID: 29773896 PMCID: PMC6288082 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0082-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Among-individual variation in behaviour is a widespread phenomenon, with several frameworks developed to explain its existence. Maternal effects, which can have significant influence over evolutionary processes, are an understudied source of behavioural variation. Maternal effects are not necessarily static, however, since their importance can change over offspring ontogeny, typically declining with age relative to additive genetic effects. Here, using a quantitative genetics approach, we test the prediction that maternal effects will influence age-specific risk-taking behaviour in Trinidadian guppies, Poecilia reticulata. Individuals were subject to a single open-field trial as juveniles and up to four repeat trials as adults, with five traits indicative of risk-taking behaviour measured in each trial. We then partitioned phenotypic variance into additive genetic (VA) and maternal identity (VM) components, in addition to testing brood size and maternal weight as specific sources of maternal effects. We found that VM had significant influence over juvenile traits, with very low VA estimates. Whereas, in adults, all traits were significantly heritable, with little support for VM. We also found a strong influence of maternal traits on juvenile behaviours as predicted, with significant, albeit smaller, effects found in adults. Maternal weight was heritable and itself subject to maternal effects. Thus, maternal weight is a likely source of maternal genetic effects that are expected to alter response to selection on personality in this system. More generally, our study highlights that while maternal effects can be an important source of personality variation, this varies over ontogeny of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen John White
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter (Penryn Campus), Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK.
| | - Alastair James Wilson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter (Penryn Campus), Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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Han CS, Dingemanse NJ. Sex-dependent expression of behavioural genetic architectures and the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1658. [PMID: 28978735 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Empirical studies imply that sex-specific genetic architectures can resolve evolutionary conflicts between males and females, and thereby facilitate the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Sex-specificity of behavioural genetic architectures has, however, rarely been considered. Moreover, as the expression of genetic (co)variances is often environment-dependent, general inferences on sex-specific genetic architectures require estimates of quantitative genetics parameters under multiple conditions. We measured exploration and aggression in pedigreed populations of southern field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) raised on either naturally balanced (free-choice) or imbalanced (protein-deprived) diets. For each dietary condition, we measured for each behavioural trait (i) level of sexual dimorphism, (ii) level of sex-specificity of survival selection gradients, (iii) level of sex-specificity of additive genetic variance, and (iv) strength of the cross-sex genetic correlation. We report here evidence for sexual dimorphism in behaviour as well as sex-specificity in the expression of genetic (co)variances as predicted by theory. The additive genetic variances of exploration and aggression were significantly greater in males compared with females. Cross-sex genetic correlations were highly positive for exploration but deviating (significantly) from one for aggression; findings were consistent across dietary treatments. This suggests that genetic architectures characterize the sexually dimorphic focal behaviours across various key environmental conditions in the wild. Our finding also highlights that sexual conflict can be resolved by evolving sexually independent genetic architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang S Han
- 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
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Scott AM, Dworkin I, Dukas R. Sociability in Fruit Flies: Genetic Variation, Heritability and Plasticity. Behav Genet 2018; 48:247-258. [PMID: 29682673 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9901-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sociability, defined as individuals' propensity to participate in non-aggressive activities with conspecifics, is a fundamental feature of behavior in many animals including humans. However, we still have a limited knowledge of the mechanisms and evolutionary biology of sociability. To enhance our understanding, we developed a new protocol to quantify sociability in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). In a series of experiments with 59 F1 hybrids derived from inbred lines, we documented, first, significant genetic variation in sociability in both males and females, with broad-sense heritabilities of 0.24 and 0.21 respectively. Second, we observed little genetic correlation in sociability between the sexes. Third, we found genetic variation in social plasticity among the hybrids, with a broad-sense heritability of ~0.24. That is, genotypes differed in the degree of sociability after experiencing the same relevant social experience. Our data pave the way for further research on the mechanisms that underlie sociability as well as its ecological and evolutionary consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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