1
|
Brand JA, Henry J, Melo GC, Wlodkowic D, Wong BBM, Martin JM. Sex differences in the predictability of risk-taking behavior. Behav Ecol 2022; 34:108-116. [PMID: 36789395 PMCID: PMC9918862 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has found that individuals often vary in how consistently they express their behavior over time (i.e., behavioral predictability) and suggested that these individual differences may be heritable. However, little is known about the intrinsic factors that drive variation in the predictability of behavior. Indeed, whether variation in behavioral predictability is sex-specific is not clear. This is important, as behavioral predictability has been associated with vulnerability to predation, suggesting that the predictability of behavioral traits may have key fitness implications. We investigated whether male and female eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) differed in the predictability of their risk-taking behavior. Specifically, over a total of 954 behavioral trials, we repeatedly measured risk-taking behavior with three commonly used assays-refuge-use, thigmotaxis, and foraging latency. We predicted that there would be consistent sex differences in both mean-level risk-taking behavior and behavioral predictability across the assays. We found that risk-taking behavior was repeatable within each assay, and that some individuals were consistently bolder than others across all three assays. There were also consistent sex differences in mean-level risk-taking behavior, with males being bolder across all three assays compared to females. In contrast, both the magnitude and direction of sex differences in behavioral predictability were assay-specific. Taken together, these results highlight that behavioral predictability may be independent from underlying mean-level behavioral traits and suggest that males and females may differentially adjust the consistency of their risk-taking behavior in response to subtle changes in environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Brand
- Address correspondence to Jack A. Brand. E-mail:
| | - Jason Henry
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Gabriela C Melo
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Donald Wlodkowic
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
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]
|
3
|
Glavaschi A, Cattelan S, Devigili A, Pilastro A. Immediate predation risk alters the relationship between potential and realised selection on male traits in the Trinidad guppy Poecilia reticulata. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220641. [PMID: 36069009 PMCID: PMC9449472 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0641] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Imminent predation risk affects mating behaviours in prey individuals in a multitude of ways that can theoretically impact the strength of sexual selection, as well as its operation on traits. However, empirical studies of the effects of imminent predation risk on sexual selection dynamics are still scarce. Here we explore how perceived predation affects: (1) the relationship between the opportunity for selection and the actual strength of selection on male traits; and (2) which traits contribute to male fitness and the shape of selection on these traits. We simulate two consecutive reproductive episodes, under control conditions and perceived predation risk using experimental populations of Trinidad guppies. The opportunity for selection is higher under predation risk compared to the control condition, but realised selection on traits remains unaffected. Pre- and postcopulatory traits follow complex patterns of nonlinear selection in both conditions. Differences in selection gradients deviate from predictions based on evolutionary and non-lethal effects of predation, the most notable being strong disruptive selection on courtship rate under predation risk. Our results demonstrate that sexual selection is sensitive to imminent predation risk perception and reinforce the notion that both trait-based and variance-based metrics should be employed for an informative quantification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Glavaschi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Cattelan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Alessandro Devigili
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Herdegen-Radwan M, Cattelan S, Buda J, Raubic J, Radwan J. What do orange spots reveal about male (and female) guppies? A test using correlated responses to selection. Evolution 2021; 75:3037-3055. [PMID: 34658022 PMCID: PMC9299167 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Female preferences for male ornamental traits can arise from indirect benefits, such as increased attractiveness or better viability of progeny, but empirical evidence for such benefits is inconsistent. Artificial selection offers a powerful way to investigate indirect effects of male ornaments. Here, we selected for the area of orange spots on male guppies, a trait subject to female preferences in our population, in replicated up‐ and down‐selected lines. We found a significant direct response to selection, and a correlated response in female preferences, with females from down‐selected lines showing less interest in more orange males. Nevertheless, up‐selected males sired more offspring in direct competition with low‐selected males, irrespective of female origin. We did not find a significantly correlated response to selection among any other fitness correlates we measured. Our results imply that female preferences for orange spots can lead to increased reproductive success of their sons, with no effect on general viability of progeny. Furthermore, although we demonstrate that female preferences may evolve via linkage disequilibrium with the preferred trait, the potential for runaway selection by positive feedback may be constrained by the lack of corresponding linkage with male reproductive competitiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Herdegen-Radwan
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Silvia Cattelan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35121, Italy
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Jarosław Raubic
- Population Ecology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Jacek Radwan
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
de Azevedo CS, Young RJ. Animal Personality and Conservation: Basics for Inspiring New Research. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041019. [PMID: 33916547 PMCID: PMC8065675 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The study of animal personality is important to conserve animals because it can help in selecting the most appropriate individuals to be released into the wild. Individuals not so bold or aggressive, less stressed, who explore their new environment with greater caution are often more likely to survive after release into the wild. In contrast, bolder and more aggressive animals reproduce more successfully and, therefore, can be released with the aim of rapid repopulation of an area. These and other aspects of how animal personality can help in conservation programs, as well as how to collect personality data are covered in this paper. Abstract The number of animal species threatened with extinction are increasing every year, and biologists are conducting animal translocations, as one strategy, to try to mitigate this situation. Furthermore, researchers are evaluating methods to increase translocation success, and one area that shows promise is the study of animal personality. Animal personality can be defined as behavioral and physiological differences between individuals of the same species, which are stable in time and across different contexts. In the present paper, we discuss how animal personality can increase the success of translocation, as well as in the management of animals intended for translocation by evaluating personality characteristics of the individuals. Studies of the influence of birthplace, parental behavior, stress resilience, and risk assessment can be important to select the most appropriate individuals to be released. Finally, we explain the two methods used to gather personality data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, s/n Bauxita, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert John Young
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford Manchester, Peel Building—Room G51, Salford M5 4WT, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Roth AM, Dingemanse NJ, Nakagawa S, McDonald GC, Løvlie H, Robledo-Ruiz DA, Pizzari T. Sexual selection and personality: Individual and group-level effects on mating behaviour in red junglefowl. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1288-1306. [PMID: 33630314 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite increasing evidence of the importance of repeatable among-individual differences in behaviour (animal personality) in ecology and evolution, little remains known about the role of animal personalities in sexual selection. Here, we present an investigation of the hypothesis that the personalities of individuals and their sexual partners play a role in different episodes of sexual selection, and the extent to which these effects are modulated by the social environment. We first examined how two repeatable behaviours-exploration and boldness-are associated with pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection in male red junglefowl Gallus gallus, using replicate groups across three experimental sex ratio treatments. We further explored how the social environment modulates relationships between male personality and mating performance, and whether mating is assortative or disassortative with respect to exploration or boldness. Finally, we examined behavioural mechanisms linking personality with mating performance. Across all sex ratios, the fastest and slowest exploring males courted females proportionally less, and faster exploring males associated with females more and received more sexual solicitations. In female-biased groups, the fastest and slowest exploring males experienced the highest mating success and lowest sperm competition intensity. Faster exploring males also obtained more mates in female-biased groups when their competitors were, on average, slower exploring, and the proportion of matings obtained by fast-exploring males decreased with the proportion of fast-exploring males in a group, consistent with negative frequency-dependent sexual selection. While boldness did not predict mating performance, there was a tendency for individuals to mate disassortatively with respect to boldness. Collectively, our results suggest that male exploration can play a role in sexual selection, and that sexual selection on personality is complex and contingent on the social environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Roth
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Grant C McDonald
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hanne Løvlie
- Department of Physics Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Tommaso Pizzari
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|