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Horváth G, Sos T, Bóné G, Lőrincz CE, Pap PL, Herczeg G. Integrating behavioural thermoregulatory strategy into the animal personality framework using the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara as a model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14200. [PMID: 38902323 PMCID: PMC11189939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64305-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of consistent between-individual behavioural variation in single (animal personality) and across two or more behavioural traits (behavioural syndrome) is a central topic of behavioural ecology. Besides behavioural type (individual mean behaviour), behavioural predictability (environment-independent within-individual behavioural variation) is now also seen as an important component of individual behavioural strategy. Research focus is still on the 'Big Five' traits (activity, exploration, risk-taking, sociability and aggression), but another prime candidate to integrate to the personality framework is behavioural thermoregulation in small-bodied poikilotherms. Here, we found animal personality in thermoregulatory strategy (selected body temperature, voluntary thermal maximum, setpoint range) and 'classic' behavioural traits (activity, sheltering, risk-taking) in common lizards (Zootoca vivipara). Individual state did not explain the between-individual variation. There was a positive behavioural type-behavioural predictability correlation in selected body temperature. Besides an activity-risk-taking syndrome, we also found a risk-taking-selected body temperature syndrome. Our results suggest that animal personality and behavioural syndrome are present in common lizards, both including thermoregulatory and 'classic' behavioural traits, and selecting high body temperature with high predictability is part of the risk-prone behavioural strategy. We propose that thermoregulatory behaviour should be considered with equal weight to the 'classic' traits in animal personality studies of poikilotherms employing active behavioural thermoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Horváth
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Sos
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeş-Bolyai University, Clinicilor street 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, B-dul 1 Decembrie 1918 121, 540445, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Gábor Bóné
- "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, B-dul 1 Decembrie 1918 121, 540445, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Csanád Endre Lőrincz
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter László Pap
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeş-Bolyai University, Clinicilor street 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gábor Herczeg
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
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2
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Lovén Wallerius M, Moran V, Závorka L, Höjesjö J. Asymmetric competition over space use and territory between native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and invasive brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 100:1033-1043. [PMID: 35152425 PMCID: PMC9314817 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interference competition over food and territory can shape population structure and habitat use within and between species. The introduction of invasive species often leads to novel competitive interactions over shared resources and invaders can eventually exclude the native species from preferred habitats. Invasive brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) introduced to northern Europe have excluded native brown trout (Salmo trutta) from numerous headwater streams. The fact that invasive brook trout can displace the more aggressive brown trout is puzzling. However, the earlier spawning and hatching of brook trout, compared to brown trout, may lead to unequal competition due to size advantage and prior resident status of brook trout at the fry stage. In this study, we examine the effect of competition between brown trout and brook trout using the natural size distribution of the two species. In two consecutive experiments, we first measured space use and feeding of a fry (age 0+) in the presence of a juvenile (age 1+). In experiment 2, we assessed territorial interactions between the species at the fry stage (age 0+) and if smaller brown trout could compensate the disadvantage by manipulating residence duration. Fry of brook trout feed sooner and spend more time close to the larger individual than brown trout fry. We also found that brook trout fry won most territorial contests against brown trout, and that increased residence duration led to longer and more aggressive interactions. The results suggest that smaller brown trout are displaced to suboptimal habitats in the presence of a larger brook trout. Therefore, the later emergence from gravel beds resulting in the naturally occurring size disadvantage of brown trout at the fry stage may lead to unequal territorial interactions that could explain why brown trout are displaced from preferred habitats in sympatry with brook trout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Lovén Wallerius
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Vilhem Moran
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Libor Závorka
- WasserCluster Lunz–Inter‐University Centre for Aquatic Ecosystem ResearchLunz am SeeAustria
| | - Johan Höjesjö
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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3
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Sánchez-Tójar A, Moiron M, Niemelä PT. Terminology use in animal personality research: a self-report questionnaire and a systematic review. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212259. [PMID: 35105238 PMCID: PMC8808088 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether animal personality studies provide insights of broader evolutionary and ecological relevance to the field of behavioural ecology is frequently questioned. One of the sources of controversy is the vast, but often vague terminology present in the field. From a statistical perspective, animal personality is defined as among-individual variance in behaviour. However, numerous conceptual definitions of animal personality are available in the literature. Here, we performed (i) a self-report questionnaire and (ii) a systematic literature review to quantify how researchers interpreted conceptual and statistical definitions commonly used in animal personality research. We also compared whether data obtained from the questionnaire matched with data from the literature review. Among the 430 self-reported researchers that participated in our questionnaire, we observed discrepancies in key questions such as the conceptual definition of animal personality or the interpretation of repeatability. Furthermore, our literature review generally confirmed the global patterns revealed by the questionnaire. Overall, we identified common disagreements within the field of animal personality and discussed potential solutions. We advocate for adopting a terminology that avoids ambiguous interpretations and helps to make more explicit the widespread connotations implicit in the label 'animal personality'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Moiron
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France,Life History Biology, Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Petri T. Niemelä
- Behavioral Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximillians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany,Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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4
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Gangloff EJ, Leos-Barajas V, Demuth G, Zhang H, Kelly CD, Bronikowski AM. Movement modeling and patterns of within- and among-individual behavioral variation across time scales in neonate garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03099-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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5
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Le Balle R, Cote J, Fernandez FAS. Evidence for animal personalities in two Brazilian tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus and Chelonoidis carbonarius) and insights for their conservation. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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6
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Male aggressiveness and risk-taking during reproduction are repeatable but not correlated in a wild bird population. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The existence of among-individual variation in behaviour within populations is poorly understood. Recent theory suggests that fine-scale individual differences in investment into current versus future reproduction may lead to a ‘slow-fast’-pace-of-life continuum, also referred to as the ‘pace-of-life-syndrome’ (POLS) hypothesis. According to this idea, individuals are predicted to differ in their level of risk-taking, which may drive among-individual variation and covariation of behaviours. Consistent individual differences in aggression, an ecologically relevant and potentially risky behaviour, have been reported across the animal kingdom. Here we test whether such individual differences in aggression are a manifestation of underlying differences in risk-taking. In a wild blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population, we used standard behavioural tests to investigate if male territorial aggressiveness and risk-taking during breeding are positively related. At the start of breeding, we simulated conspecific territorial intrusions to obtain repeated measures of male aggressiveness. Subsequently, we measured male risk-taking as their latency to resume brood provisioning after presenting two different predators at their nest: human and sparrowhawk, a common predator of adult songbirds. First, we found substantial repeatability for male aggressiveness (R = 0.56 ± 0.08 SE). Second, while males took longer to resume provisioning after presentation of a sparrowhawk mount as compared to a human observer, risk-taking was repeatable across these two predator contexts (R = 0.51 ± 0.13 SE). Finally, we found no evidence for a correlation between male aggressiveness and risk-taking, thereby providing little support to a main prediction of the POLS hypothesis.
Significance statement
Consistent, and often correlated, individual differences in basal behaviours, such as aggression, exploration and sociability, are found across the animal kingdom. Why individuals consistently differ in their behaviour is poorly understood, as behavioural traits would seem inherently flexible. The ‘pace-of-life syndrome’ (POLS) hypothesis proposes observed behavioural variation to reflect differences in risk-taking associated with individual reproductive strategies. We tested this idea in a wild blue tit population by investigating whether individual males that were more aggressive toward territorial intruders also took more risk when provisioning their nestlings under a threat of predation. While we found consistent individual differences in both aggressiveness and risk-taking, these behaviours were not significantly correlated. Therefore, our study demonstrates among-individual variation in ecologically relevant behaviours in wild blue tits but provides little support for the POLS hypothesis.
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Kaiser A, Eymard M, Merckx T, Van Dyck H. Individual plasticity drives boldness senescence in a territorial butterfly. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Kaiser
- Behavioural Ecology & Conservation Group Earth & Life Institute UCLouvain Louvain‐la‐Neuve Belgium
| | - Manon Eymard
- Behavioural Ecology & Conservation Group Earth & Life Institute UCLouvain Louvain‐la‐Neuve Belgium
| | - Thomas Merckx
- Behavioural Ecology & Conservation Group Earth & Life Institute UCLouvain Louvain‐la‐Neuve Belgium
- Department of Ecology and Genetics University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Hans Van Dyck
- Behavioural Ecology & Conservation Group Earth & Life Institute UCLouvain Louvain‐la‐Neuve Belgium
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Závorka L, Koeck B, Armstrong TA, Soğanci M, Crespel A, Killen SS. Reduced exploration capacity despite brain volume increase in warm-acclimated common minnow. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb223453. [PMID: 32414873 PMCID: PMC7286289 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.223453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
While evidence suggests that warming may impact cognition of ectotherms, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. A possible but rarely considered mechanism is that the metabolic response of ectotherms to warming is associated with changes in brain morphology and function. Here, we compared aerobic metabolism, brain volume, boldness and accuracy of maze solving of common minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) acclimated for 8 months to either their current optimal natural (14°C) or warm (20°C) water temperature. Metabolic rates indicated increased energy expenditure in warm-acclimated fish, but also at least partial thermal compensation as warm-acclimated fish maintained high aerobic scope. Warm-acclimated fish had larger brains than cool-acclimated fish. The volume of the dorsal medulla relative to the overall brain size was larger in warm- than in cool-acclimated fish, but the proportion of other brain regions did not differ between the temperature treatments. Warm-acclimated fish did not differ in boldness but made more errors than cool-acclimated fish in exploring the maze across four trials. Inter-individual differences in the number of exploration errors were repeatable across the four trials of the maze test. Our findings suggest that in warm environments, maintaining a high aerobic scope, which is important for the performance of physically demanding tasks, can come at the cost of changes in brain morphology and impairment of the capacity to explore novel environments. This trade-off could have strong fitness implications for wild ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libor Závorka
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- WasserCluster Lunz-Inter-University Centre for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, A-3293 Lunz am See, Austria
| | - Barbara Koeck
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Tiffany A Armstrong
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Mustafa Soğanci
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Amélie Crespel
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Shaun S Killen
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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9
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Fanjul MS, Zenuto RR. Personality underground: evidence of behavioral types in the solitary subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8490. [PMID: 32110481 PMCID: PMC7034374 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8490] [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: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal personalities have been studied in a wide variety of taxa, but among rodents, available studies are relatively scarce and have focused mainly on social species. In this study, we evaluated the existence of personality in the solitary subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum. Specifically, we aimed to test individual differences in behavior that are stable over time and context in males of C. talarum captured in the wild. METHODS Our experimental design included two series of three behavioral tests each, carried out with a 35 day time interval. Each series included an Open Field test, a Social Encounter test, and an Open Field test with a predator stimulus. RESULTS Of the total recorded behaviors, 55.55% showed temporal consistency. Principal component analysis of consistent behaviors grouped them into four dimensions that explain inter individual behavioral variability, in order of importance: activity, socioaversion, boldness and exploration. Therefore, our results suggest that the concept of animal personality is applicable to C. talarum and the dimensions found are in accordance with the ecological and behavioral characteristics of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Sol Fanjul
- Grupo ‘Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento’, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roxana R. Zenuto
- Grupo ‘Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento’, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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10
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Allard S, Fuller G, Torgerson-White L, Starking MD, Yoder-Nowak T. Personality in Zoo-Hatched Blanding's Turtles Affects Behavior and Survival After Reintroduction Into the Wild. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2324. [PMID: 31681114 PMCID: PMC6813202 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Reintroduction programs in which captive-bred or reared animals are released into natural habitats are considered a key approach for conservation; however, success rates have generally been low. Accounting for factors that enable individual animals to have a greater chance of survival can not only improve overall conservation outcomes but can also impact the welfare of the individual animals involved. One such factor may be individual personality, and personality research is a growing field. We designed a project to ascertain the presence of personality traits in Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), a species of special concern in the state of Michigan, and to assess potential links between traits and post-release success. As hypothesized, the Blanding's turtles in this study displayed behavioral responses to modified open field tests indicative of distinct personality traits: exploration, boldness, and aggression. Additionally, the personality traits were correlated differently with survival and behavior patterns when the turtles were released into the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. More exploratory turtles had higher survival rates, while neither boldness nor aggression was related to survival. Exploratory turtles were also more likely to travel longer distances after release. The use of muskrat dens was related to increased survival, and both bolder and more exploratory turtles made higher use of this feature. Exploratory and aggressive turtles were found basking outside of water more often, while bold turtles were more likely to be found at the water surface. Both these basking behaviors may increase the risk of predation and may be reflective of a trade-off between the risk and behaviors related to physiological health. Understanding how personality affects behavior and survival post-release can be a critical tool for improving reintroduction success. Zoo animal welfare scientists and practitioners can implement approaches that improve the welfare of individuals within the context of conservation initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Allard
- Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI, United States
| | - Grace Fuller
- Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI, United States
| | - Lauri Torgerson-White
- Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI, United States
| | - Melissa D Starking
- Department of Biology, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI, United States
| | - Teresa Yoder-Nowak
- Department of Biology, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI, United States
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11
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Tilgar V, Koosa K. Hissing females of great tits (
Parus major
) have lower breeding success than non‐hissing individuals. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vallo Tilgar
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Kaarin Koosa
- Department of Zoology Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
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12
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Leclerc M, Zedrosser A, Swenson JE, Pelletier F. Hunters select for behavioral traits in a large carnivore. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12371. [PMID: 31451727 PMCID: PMC6710287 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Human harvest can induce selection on life history and morphological traits, leading to ecological and evolutionary responses. Our understanding of harvest-induced selection on behavioral traits is, however, very limited. Here, we assessed whether hunters harvest, consciously or not, individuals with specific behavioral traits. We used long-term, detailed behavioral and survival data of a heavily harvested brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in Sweden. We found that hunters harvested male bears that were less active during legal hunting hours and had lower movement rates. Also, hunters harvested male and female bears that used habitats closer to roads. We provide an empirical example that individual behavior can modulate vulnerability to hunting and that hunters could exert a selective pressure on wildlife behaviors. This study increases our understanding of the complex interactions between harvest method, human behavior, and animal behavior that are at play in harvest-induced selection and provides better insight into the full effects of human harvest on wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Leclerc
- Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation & Centre for Northern Studies, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K2R1, Canada.
| | - A Zedrosser
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, N-3800 Bø i, Telemark, Norway. .,Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, A - 1180, Vienna, Austria.
| | - J E Swenson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, NO - 1432 Ås, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - F Pelletier
- Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation & Centre for Northern Studies, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K2R1, Canada
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13
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Sasaki T, Mann RP, Warren KN, Herbert T, Wilson T, Biro D. Personality and the collective: bold homing pigeons occupy higher leadership ranks in flocks. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0038. [PMID: 29581403 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While collective movement is ecologically widespread and conveys numerous benefits on individuals, it also poses a coordination problem: who controls the group's movements? The role that animal 'personalities' play in this question has recently become a focus of research interest. Although many animal groups have distributed leadership (i.e. multiple individuals influence collective decisions), studies linking personality and leadership have focused predominantly on the group's single most influential individual. In this study, we investigate the relationship between personality and the influence of multiple leaders on collective movement using homing pigeons, Columba livia, a species known to display complex multilevel leadership hierarchies during flock flights. Our results show that more exploratory (i.e. 'bold') birds are more likely to occupy higher ranks in the leadership hierarchy and thus have more influence on the direction of collective movement than less exploratory (i.e. 'shy') birds during both free flights around their lofts and homing flights from a distant site. Our data also show that bold pigeons fly faster than shy birds during solo flights. We discuss our results in light of theories about the evolution of personality, with specific reference to the adaptive value of heterogeneity in animal groups.This article is part of the theme issue 'Collective movement ecology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Sasaki
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Richard P Mann
- Department of Statistics, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Katherine N Warren
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Tristian Herbert
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Tara Wilson
- University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Dora Biro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
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14
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Effect of preceding activity and multiple testing of Belgian police horses on behavior during personality tests. J Vet Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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15
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Závorka L, Brijs J, Wengström N, Wallerius ML, Näslund J, Koeck B, Aldvén D, Lassus R, Höjesjö J, Johnsson JI, Cucherousset J. Laboratory captivity can affect scores of metabolic rates and activity in wild brown trout. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Závorka
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - J. Brijs
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - N. Wengström
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - M. L. Wallerius
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. Näslund
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - B. Koeck
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - D. Aldvén
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - R. Lassus
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - J. Höjesjö
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. I. Johnsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - J. Cucherousset
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174) CNRS Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
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Finkemeier MA, Langbein J, Puppe B. Personality Research in Mammalian Farm Animals: Concepts, Measures, and Relationship to Welfare. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:131. [PMID: 30003083 PMCID: PMC6031753 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Measuring and understanding personality in animals is a rising scientific field. Much research has been conducted to assess distinctive individual differences in behavior in a large number of species in the past few decades, and increasing numbers of studies include farm animals. Nevertheless, the terminology and definitions used in this broad scientific field are often confusing because different concepts and methods are used to explain often synonymously applied terms, such as personality, temperament and coping style. In the present review we give a comprehensive overview of the concepts and terms currently used in animal personality research and critically reveal how they are defined and what they measure. First, we shortly introduce concepts describing human personality and how these concepts are used to explain animal personality. Second, we present which concepts, methods and measures are applied in farm animal personality research and show that the terminology used seems to be somehow species-related. Finally, we discuss some findings on the possible impact of personality on the welfare of farm animals. The assessment of personality in farm animals is of growing scientific and practical interest. Differences in theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches may also entail the diverse use of the different concepts between basic and applied research approaches. We conclude that more consistency is needed in using different theoretical concepts, terms and measures, especially in farm animal personality research. The terms coping style and temperament, which are used in different ways, should not be examined as independent concepts, but rather should be considered as different aspects of the whole personality concept. Farm animal personality should be increasingly considered for the improvement of animal housing, management, breeding and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Antonine Finkemeier
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.,Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan Langbein
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Birger Puppe
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.,Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Amat I, Desouhant E, Gomes E, Moreau J, Monceau K. Insect personality: what can we learn from metamorphosis? CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 27:46-51. [PMID: 30025634 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ontogeny of animal personality is still an open question. Testing whether personality traits correlated with state variables (e.g. metabolic rate, hormones) and/or life history traits, and which ones are involved, requires more empirical studies. Insects with metamorphosis represent a good opportunity to tackle this question. Because of the various degrees of internal (physiological, nervous) and environmental changes linked to metamorphosis they allow testing whether these modifications drive consistency in personality traits between immature and adult stages. In this review, we establish general predictions for the effects of metamorphosis on personality in insects with complete or incomplete metamorphosis and suffering from a strong or weak niche shift after metamorphosis. We then reviewed the still rare empirical literature and discuss future research axes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Amat
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, 69100 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Emmanuel Desouhant
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Elisa Gomes
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jérôme Moreau
- UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Equipe Ecologie Evolutive, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Karine Monceau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS, Université de la Rochelle, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
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18
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Litchfield CA, Quinton G, Tindle H, Chiera B, Kikillus KH, Roetman P. The 'Feline Five': An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis catus). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183455. [PMID: 28832622 PMCID: PMC5568325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea of animals possessing personalities was once dismissed by the scientific community, but has since gained traction with evidence for potential application to improve captive animal management and welfare. Although domestic cats are popular companion animals, research has tended to overlook the value of personality assessment for management and care of pet cats. The aim of this study was to investigate personality in a large sample of pet cats with a view to understanding practical implications for pet cats in the home. Personality of 2,802 pet cats, from South Australia and New Zealand, was rated by their owners utilising a survey measuring 52 personality traits. Five reliable personality factors were found using principal axis factor analysis: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness and Agreeableness. Implications for the 'Feline Five' are discussed in relation to their potential application to improving the management and welfare of pet cats. Highly Impulsive cats for example, may be reacting to something stressful in their environment, whereas cats with low Agreeableness scores, showing irritability may indicate underlying pain or illness. Thus, the need for a systematic and holistic approach to personality that includes both the individual pet cat and its environment is recommended, and opens the door to future interdisciplinary intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla A. Litchfield
- Centre for Social Change, School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Gillian Quinton
- Centre for Social Change, School of Psychology, Social Work & Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Hayley Tindle
- Discovery Circle, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Belinda Chiera
- School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - K. Heidy Kikillus
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Philip Roetman
- Discovery Circle, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Delnat V, Debecker S, Stoks R. Integrating trait multidimensionality, predation and autotomy to explain the maintenance of boldness. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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20
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Multi-scale Modeling of Animal Movement and General Behavior Data Using Hidden Markov Models with Hierarchical Structures. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13253-017-0282-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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22
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Moura RR, Gonzaga MO. Temporal variation in size-assortative mating and male mate choice in a spider with amphisexual care. Naturwissenschaften 2017; 104:28. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1448-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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23
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24
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Monceau K, Moreau J, Richet J, Motreuil S, Moret Y, Dechaume-Moncharmont FX. Larval personality does not predict adult personality in a holometabolous insect. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blw015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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25
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Roche DG, Careau V, Binning SA. Demystifying animal 'personality' (or not): why individual variation matters to experimental biologists. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:3832-3843. [PMID: 27852750 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.146712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Animal 'personality', defined as repeatable inter-individual differences in behaviour, is a concept in biology that faces intense controversy. Critics argue that the field is riddled with terminological and methodological inconsistencies and lacks a sound theoretical framework. Nevertheless, experimental biologists are increasingly studying individual differences in physiology and relating these to differences in behaviour, which can lead to fascinating insights. We encourage this trend, and in this Commentary we highlight some of the benefits of estimating variation in (and covariation among) phenotypic traits at the inter- and intra-individual levels. We focus on behaviour while drawing parallels with physiological and performance-related traits. First, we outline some of the confusion surrounding the terminology used to describe repeatable inter-individual differences in behaviour. Second, we argue that acknowledging individual behavioural differences can help researchers avoid sampling and experimental bias, increase explanatory power and, ultimately, understand how selection acts on physiological traits. Third, we summarize the latest methods to collect, analyse and present data on individual trait variation. We note that, while measuring the repeatability of phenotypic traits is informative in its own right, it is only the first step towards understanding how natural selection and genetic architecture shape intra-specific variation in complex, labile traits. Thus, understanding how and why behavioural traits evolve requires linking repeatable inter-individual behavioural differences with core aspects of physiology (e.g. neurophysiology, endocrinology, energy metabolism) and evolutionary biology (e.g. selection gradients, heritability).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique G Roche
- Département d'Éco-Éthologie, Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel CH 2000, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Careau
- Canada Research Chair in Functional Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Sandra A Binning
- Département d'Éco-Éthologie, Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel CH 2000, Switzerland
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Goold C, Vas J, Olsen C, Newberry RC. Using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes: an example using domestic dogs. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160268. [PMID: 27853544 PMCID: PMC5098969 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic integration describes the complex interrelationships between organismal traits, traditionally focusing on morphology. Recently, research has sought to represent behavioural phenotypes as composed of quasi-independent latent traits. Concurrently, psychologists have opposed latent variable interpretations of human behaviour, proposing instead a network perspective envisaging interrelationships between behaviours as emerging from causal dependencies. Network analysis could also be applied to understand integrated behavioural phenotypes in animals. Here, we assimilate this cross-disciplinary progression of ideas by demonstrating the use of network analysis on survey data collected on behavioural and motivational characteristics of police patrol and detection dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Networks of conditional independence relationships illustrated a number of functional connections between descriptors, which varied between dog types. The most central descriptors denoted desirable characteristics in both patrol and detection dog networks, with 'Playful' being widely correlated and possessing mediating relationships between descriptors. Bootstrap analyses revealed the stability of network results. We discuss the results in relation to previous research on dog personality, and benefits of using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes. We conclude that a network perspective offers widespread opportunities for advancing the understanding of phenotypic integration in animal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Goold
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Judit Vas
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Christine Olsen
- Section of Public Health, Department of Landscape, Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Ruth C. Newberry
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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27
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Goold C, Vas J, Olsen C, Newberry RC. Using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes: an example using domestic dogs. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160268. [PMID: 27853544 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.81k11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic integration describes the complex interrelationships between organismal traits, traditionally focusing on morphology. Recently, research has sought to represent behavioural phenotypes as composed of quasi-independent latent traits. Concurrently, psychologists have opposed latent variable interpretations of human behaviour, proposing instead a network perspective envisaging interrelationships between behaviours as emerging from causal dependencies. Network analysis could also be applied to understand integrated behavioural phenotypes in animals. Here, we assimilate this cross-disciplinary progression of ideas by demonstrating the use of network analysis on survey data collected on behavioural and motivational characteristics of police patrol and detection dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Networks of conditional independence relationships illustrated a number of functional connections between descriptors, which varied between dog types. The most central descriptors denoted desirable characteristics in both patrol and detection dog networks, with 'Playful' being widely correlated and possessing mediating relationships between descriptors. Bootstrap analyses revealed the stability of network results. We discuss the results in relation to previous research on dog personality, and benefits of using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes. We conclude that a network perspective offers widespread opportunities for advancing the understanding of phenotypic integration in animal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Goold
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Ås , Norway
| | - Judit Vas
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Ås , Norway
| | - Christine Olsen
- Section of Public Health, Department of Landscape, Architecture and Spatial Planning , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Ås , Norway
| | - Ruth C Newberry
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Ås , Norway
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Michelangeli M, Chapple DG, Wong BBM. Are behavioural syndromes sex specific? Personality in a widespread lizard species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2197-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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