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Frynta D, Tomanová L, Holubová K, Vobrubová B, Štolhoferová I, Rudolfová V. Structural consistency of exploratory behaviour of sub-adult and adult spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) in seven different tests. Behav Processes 2024; 216:105003. [PMID: 38336236 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The genus Acomys is of growing importance to many research fields. Previous research has shown that individuals differ when exploring new environments and that these behavioural strategies are consistent in time. In this study, we subjected 60 commensal Acomys cahirinus (37 males, 23 females) to a series of seven tests (free exploration, forced exploration under bright illumination, forced exploration under low illumination, hole board test, vertical activity test, elevated plus maze, and voluntary wheel running) to acquire independent behavioural traits and investigate whether and how personality develops in spiny mice. The full series of experiments was performed twice during ontogeny: once in the sub-adult stage (tested at 62-72 days of age) and once in the adult stage (102-112 days of age). We found that behaviour of the animals was repeatable both within (range of R values from 0.155 to 0.726) and across the two life-stages (0.238 to 0.563). While the structure of behaviour in adults was rather clear, it had not been fully crystalized in sub-adults, suggesting personality changes during maturation, even though some individual traits might be repeatable across ontogeny. Notably, the most consistent behavioural traits across the different tests were jumping and rearing, which are not commonly reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia
| | - Lenka Tomanová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia
| | - Kristína Holubová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany 250 67, Czechia
| | - Barbora Vobrubová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia
| | - Iveta Štolhoferová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia.
| | - Veronika Rudolfová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 128 00, Czechia; National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany 250 67, Czechia
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Rowell MK, Rymer TL. The consistency of exploration behaviours across life stages in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Behav Processes 2023; 207:104857. [PMID: 36914016 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Many species show inter-individual variation in exploratory behaviours that are consistent over time, reflecting a personality. Differences in exploration can affect how individuals acquire resources and use their environment. However, few studies have considered whether exploratory behaviours are consistent across developmental life stages, such as when individuals disperse out the natal territory or when they become sexually mature. We therefore investigated the consistency of exploration behaviours towards a novel object and novel environment in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes across development. Individuals were tested in an open field test and novel object test for five trials across four different life stages (pre-weaning, recently weaned, independent juvenile, sexually mature adult). We found that individual mosaic-tailed rats were consistent in their exploration of novel objects over these life stages, as these behaviours were repeatable and did not change across testing replicates. However, how individuals explored novel environments was not repeatable and changed across development, with exploration peaking during the independent juvenile stage. These results suggest that the way an individual interacts with novel objects may be somewhat constrained by genetic or epigenetic effects early in development, whereas spatial exploration could be more flexible to facilitate developmental shifts, such as dispersal. The life stage of an animal should therefore be taken into consideration when assessing personality in different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misha K Rowell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia; Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia.
| | - Tasmin L Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia; Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
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Rowell MK, Rymer TL. Problem solving of wild animals in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Misha K. Rowell
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
| | - Tasmin L. Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences James Cook University Cairns Queensland Australia
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Both age and experience are important for successful problem solving in juvenile fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes. Anim Cogn 2022; 26:781-789. [PMID: 36401051 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01718-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Problem solving ability is affected by many factors, including physiology, personality, and cognition. However, how age and experience influence problem-solving ability during development is harder to untangle. We tested how age and experience affected problem solving in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Juveniles were divided into two groups (different ages at start of testing) and then received a food-baited cardboard matchbox every 10 days for a total of three tests. We compared the problem-solving ability of individuals from both groups, which allowed us to separate the effects of age and experience. Juveniles with more experience solved the task faster than juveniles with less experience. Furthermore, inexperienced older juveniles interacted with the problems more than inexperienced younger juveniles. Previous solving experience may be important for short-term solving success, while age, in the absence of experience, might be associated with increased exploration, leading to increased investigation of novel problems. Previous experience at manipulating objects generally may also be important for problem-solving success, which likely provides an advantage as resources and habitats change seasonally and annually.
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Rowell MK, Rymer TL. Problem solving in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes is not significantly influenced by maternal care or genetic effects. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:802-811. [PMID: 35754194 PMCID: PMC9796929 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Innovative problem solving is thought to be a flexible trait that allows animals to adjust to changing or challenging environmental conditions. However, it is not known how problem solving develops during an animal's early life, or whether it may have a heritable component. We investigated whether maternal genetic and nongenetic effects influenced problem-solving ability in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. We measured direct (time spent grooming and huddling), indirect (time spent nesting), and total amount of maternal care received across pup development (postnatal Days 1-13). We measured problem solving in juveniles using matchbox tasks, and in mothers and adult offspring using six tasks of varying complexity (matchbox, cylinder, obstruction, pillar, tile, and lever tasks). We found no relationship between any maternal care measures and problem-solving abilities across multiple tests, suggesting limited (if any) maternal nongenetic effects. We also found that, as shown by low heritability estimates, problem solving only had a small heritable component in some tasks, but this was nonsignificant and requires further investigation. These results suggest that problem solving is unlikely to be constrained by maternal effects experienced during early development, and is, instead, more likely to be influenced by other factors (e.g., experience) later in an individual's lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misha K. Rowell
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia,Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability SciencesJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia
| | - Tasmin L. Rymer
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia,Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability SciencesJames Cook UniversityCairnsQueenslandAustralia
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Rowell MK, Santymire RM, Rymer TL. Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat Melomys Cervinipes. Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010082. [PMID: 35011188 PMCID: PMC8749903 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition are well documented, results are equivocal, suggesting species-specific responses. We investigated whether adrenocortical activity, measured using corticosterone metabolite concentration, was related to problem solving in an Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Mosaic-tailed rats live in complex environments that are prone to disturbance, suggesting a potential need to solve novel problems, and have been found to show relationships between physiology and other behaviours. We measured problem solving using five food-baited puzzles (matchbox and cylinder in the home cage, and activity board with pillars to push, tiles to slide and levers to lift in an open field), and an escape-motivated obstruction task in a light/dark box. Faecal samples were collected from individuals during routine cage cleaning. Adrenocortical activity was evaluated non-invasively by measuring faecal corticosterone metabolites using an enzyme immunoassay, which was biochemically and biologically validated. Despite varying over time, adrenocortical activity was not significantly related to problem solving success or time spent interacting for any task. However, as adrenocortical activity is reflective of multiple physiological processes, including stress and metabolism, future studies should consider how other measures of physiology are also linked to problem solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misha K. Rowell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia;
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Tasmin L. Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia;
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
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Rowell MK, Rymer TL. Memory enhances problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Anim Cogn 2021; 25:347-358. [PMID: 34453668 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01556-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Problem solving is important for survival, allowing animals to access novel food resources or escape from predators. It was originally thought to rely on an animal's intelligence; however, studies examining the relationship between individual cognitive ability and problem solving performance show mixed results, and studies are often restricted to only one cognitive and one problem solving task. We investigated the relationship between general cognitive ability and problem solving across multiple tasks in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. We measured general cognitive ability across different domains (memory in an odour learning association task, recognition in a novel object recognition task, size discrimination using different sized pieces of food, and learning across multiple presentations of a food-baited activity board). We also measured problem solving across different contexts (food-baited puzzle boxes in home cage, obstruction task, and food-baited activity board in a novel arena). Mosaic-tailed rats showed a general cognitive ability, with average problem solving latency, memory ability, and learning in the tile task being correlated. As such, individuals that were able to remember an association and learned to solve the tile task solved the problems faster than individuals that could not remember or learn. Our results suggest that problem solving in mosaic-tailed rats likely relies on some forms of simple cognition, particularly memory, but could also depend on other traits, such as an individual's persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misha K Rowell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. .,Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
| | - Tasmin L Rymer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.,Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
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