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Behavioural syndrome in a solitary predator is independent of body size and growth rate.

Nyqvist, M. J., Gozlan, R. E., Cucherousset, J. and Britton, J.R., 2012. Behavioural syndrome in a solitary predator is independent of body size and growth rate. PLoS One, 7 (2), e31619 - .

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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031619

Abstract

Models explaining behavioural syndromes often focus on state-dependency, linking behavioural variation to individual differences in other phenotypic features. Empirical studies are, however, rare. Here, we tested for a size and growth-dependent stable behavioural syndrome in the juvenile-stages of a solitary apex predator (pike, Esox lucius), shown as repeatable foraging behaviour across risk. Pike swimming activity, latency to prey attack, number of successful and unsuccessful prey attacks was measured during the presence/absence of visual contact with a competitor or predator. Foraging behaviour across risks was considered an appropriate indicator of boldness in this solitary predator where a trade-off between foraging behaviour and threat avoidance has been reported. Support was found for a behavioural syndrome, where the rank order differences in the foraging behaviour between individuals were maintained across time and risk situation. However, individual behaviour was independent of body size and growth in conditions of high food availability, showing no evidence to support the state-dependent personality hypothesis. The importance of a combination of spatial and temporal environmental variation for generating growth differences is highlighted.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:1932-6203
Uncontrolled Keywords:Animals ; Body Size ; Competitive Behavior ; Esocidae ; Predatory Behavior ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:21461
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:01 Oct 2014 14:39
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:49

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