Competitive social feedback amplifies the role of early life contingency in male mice

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6729), P. 81 - 85

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Contingency (or “luck”) in early life plays an important role shaping individuals’ development. By comparing the developmental trajectories of functionally genetically identical free-living mice who either experienced high levels resource competition (males) or did not (females), we show that magnifies contingency. Male results a feedback loop importance contingency and pushes individuals onto divergent, self-reinforcing trajectories, while same process appears absent females. Our indicate strength sexual selection may be self-limiting, they highlight potential for to lead differences outcomes, even absence any underlying ability (“merit”).

Language: Английский

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Consistency and individuality of honeybee stinging behaviour across time and social contexts

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Whether individuals exhibit consistent behavioural variation is a central question in the field of animal behaviour. This particularly interesting case social animals, as their behaviour may be strongly modulated by collective. In this study, we ask whether honeybees individual differences stinging We demonstrate that bees are relatively stable decision to sting—or not—in specific context and show temporal consistency suggestive an internal state modulation. also investigated how factors such alarm pheromone or another bee The presence increased likelihood sting but response decayed over trials, while conspecific decreased likelihood. These factors, however, did not alter consistency. therefore propose modulation acts shifting threshold individuals. Finally, experimental manipulation group composition with respect ratio aggressive gentle within affect focal bees. Overall, our results establish honeybee promising model for studying mechanistically collective traits interact regulate variability.

Language: Английский

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Correlated behavioural plasticities: insights from plasticity evolution, the integrated phenotype and behavioural syndromes

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 200, P. 263 - 271

Published: May 2, 2023

Integrated phenotypes, that is, correlated suites of traits, can impact both evolutionary and ecological processes. Similarly, phenotypic plasticity, or the ability one genotype to generate multiple act as a facilitator constraint on While there has been an increasing focus behavioural means (i.e. syndromes), less attention paid how plasticity in different traits may be correlated. Such plasticities are likely affect evolution ecology, although possibly ways. Here, we review key insights from three research fields, syndromes, integrated phenotypes provide conceptual framework understand why, when become In particular, conditions under which syndromes predicted important also where have strongest impacts. this review, define plasticities, summarize give rise them highlight testable predictions effort spark targeted into phenomenon. We worked example studying yield new insights.

Language: Английский

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Individual variation in life-history timing: synchronous presence, asynchronous events and phenological compensation in a wild mammal

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2021)

Published: April 17, 2024

Many animals and plants have species-typical annual cycles, but individuals vary in their timing of life-history events. Individual variation fur replacement (moult) is poorly understood mammals due to the challenge repeated observations longitudinal sampling. We examined factors that influence moult duration among elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ). quantified onset progression loss 1178 individuals. found an exceptionally rapid visible (7 days, shortest any or birds), a wide range start dates (spanning 6–10× event duration) facilitated high asynchrony across (only 20% population moulting at same time). Some was reproductive state, as reproductively mature females skipped breeding season moulted week earlier than females. Moreover, individual within age-sex categories far outweighed (76–80%) categories. Individuals arriving end spent 50% less time on beach, which allowed them catch up cycles reduce population-level variance during breeding. These findings underscore importance cycles.

Language: Английский

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The role of plasticity, trade-offs, and feedbacks in shaping behavioral correlations

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 34(6), P. 913 - 918

Published: July 15, 2023

Abstract How behaviors vary among individuals and covary with other has been a major topic of interest over the last two decades, particularly in research on animal personality, behavioral syndromes, trade-offs life-history traits. Unfortunately, proposed theoretical conceptual frameworks explaining seemingly ubiquitous observation (co)variation have rarely successfully generalized. For example, “pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis” proposes that behaviors, life-history, physiological traits should be correlated predictable manner. However, these predictions are not consistently upheld. Two observations perhaps explain this failure: First, phenotypic correlations between more strongly influenced by reversible plastic changes behavior than among-individual which stem from joint effects genetics developmental plasticity. Second, while trait frequently assumed to arise via trade-offs, observed pattern is consistent simple pair-wise trade-offs. A possible resolution apparent inconsistency role for provided state-behavior feedbacks. This critical because data theory represents failure our understanding evolution. These primary emphasize importance an increased focus plasticity behavior—frequently estimated then disregarded as within-individual covariances.

Language: Английский

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The relative importance of metabolic rate and body size to space use behavior in aquatic invertebrates

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(5)

Published: May 1, 2024

Elucidating the underlying mechanisms behind variations of animal space and resource use is crucial to pinpoint relevant ecological phenomena. Organism's traits related its energy requirements might be central in explaining behavioral variation, as ultimate goal a forager fulfill requirements. However, it has remained poorly understood how patterns are functionally connected. Here we aimed assess body mass standard metabolic rate (SMR) influence terms cumulative time spent an experimental patchy environment, both within species among individuals irrespective identity. We measured SMR two invertebrate species, that is, amphipod

Language: Английский

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Consistent individual differences in behavior among beef cattle in handling contexts and social-feed preference testing

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 276, P. 106315 - 106315

Published: June 6, 2024

Consistent individual differences (CIDs) in animal behavior, also known as personality or temperament, are measured a variety of assays and presumed to represent relatively stable traits animals. Because these behaviors traits, repetition over short long-term time frames contexts is crucial; such repetitions not commonly achieved literature regarding the topic CIDs, especially singular study. In beef cattle, CIDs often related feeding social preferences, which relevant for extensively managed herds ruminants. This study investigated consistency behavior among 50 breeding Angus x Hereford cows across within one year during three distinct contexts: handling isolation chute corral system, choice social-feed tradeoff test, response novel bucket approach test. We found that were consistent short-term (assessed with repeatabilities [R]) correlations multivariate models [r]) timeframes durations exhibited management context (e.g. while handled [R = 0.60, r 0.39], traversing cement 0.69, 0.67] an open squeeze stall 0.76, 0.85]). Repeatable from system input into PCA varimax rotation. Behaviors loaded onto principal components explained 66% variance data distinguished along axes activity, fearfulness excitability. Cows deemed less active (p 0.010) excitable 0.039) chose supplement gaining proximity conspecifics Even though restrained stall, (within year) (between years) found. suggests future research can use unrestrained methods evaluate cattle could improve welfare safety handlers experiments. Passive more feed-centric, indicating potentially be used predict because underlying trait ties feed task.

Language: Английский

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The impact of increasing turbidity on the predator–prey interactions of freshwater fishes

Freshwater Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 29, 2024

Abstract Human activities are exacerbating environmental change globally. Turbidity in freshwater systems is increasing due to extreme weather events and intensification of such as deforestation, urbanisation, agriculture altering water flow with dams other structures. Prey species may benefit from turbid habitats turbidity creates a visual barrier predators; predators thus face reduced foraging success clarity decreases. However, the literature on effects predator–prey interactions fish often contrasting. Environmentally driven changes predator prey behaviour, survival ultimately have potential affect community structure ecosystem functioning, understanding impact should be priority. Given contrasting results primary literature, aim this review provide broad overview current knowledge impacts increased fishes, summarise published identify gaps topic. We collated 281 studies peer‐reviewed that tested behaviour predatory anti‐predator fish. recorded behaviours response levels. Furthermore, we reported whether these behavioural were considered positive (e.g. enhanced success) or negative higher mortality) focal species, was unspecified without quantifying actual predation risk). The has some strong taxonomic, geographical biases, where most research focused commercially important, temperate species. A large proportion (47%) (versus unspecified) (either fish). Negative more for (58%) compared (19%) while frequently if adaptive not unclear, risk assessed majority relevant (55%). Increases complex interactions, adult piscivore predators, gain relative advantage predators. responses generally unclear. suggest holistic ecologically experimental approach needed disentangle underlying mechanisms determine nature turbidity. Our serves comprehensive summary empirical conducted fishes. It highlights provides reference point guide future experimentation synthesis crucial growing area research.

Language: Английский

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Developmental feedbacks and the emergence of individuality

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2022

Behavioural individuality is a hallmark of animal life, with major consequences for fitness, ecology, and evolution. One the most widely invoked explanations this variation that feedback loops between an animal's behaviour its state (e.g. physiology, informational state, social rank, etc.) trigger shape development individuality. Despite their often-cited importance, however, little known about ultimate causes such feedbacks. Expanding on previously employed model adaptive behavioural under uncertainty, we find (i) behaviour-state feedbacks emerge as direct consequence in particular selective environments (ii) sign these feedbacks, thus individuality, can be directly predicted by fitness function, increasing benefits giving rise to positive trait divergence decreasing leading negative convergence. Our findings provide testable explanatory framework emergence developmental driving suggest associated patterns diversity are environments.

Language: Английский

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Leveraging big data to uncover the eco-evolutionary factors shaping behavioural development

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1992)

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Mapping the eco-evolutionary factors shaping development of animals’ behavioural phenotypes remains a great challenge. Recent advances in ‘big data’ research—the high-resolution tracking individuals and harnessing that data with powerful analytical tools—have vastly improved our ability to measure model developing phenotypes. Applied study ontogeny, unfolding whole repertoires can be mapped unprecedented detail relative ease. This overcomes long-standing experimental bottlenecks heralds surge studies more finely define explore behavioural–experiential trajectories across development. In this review, we first provide brief guide state-of-the-art approaches allow collection analysis We then outline how such used address key issues regarding ecological evolutionary development: developmental feedbacks between behaviour underlying states, early life effects transitions, information integration

Language: Английский

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