A meta‐analysis of sex differences in animal personality: no evidence for the greater male variability hypothesis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 679 - 707

Published: Dec. 14, 2021

The notion that men are more variable than women has become embedded into scientific thinking. For mental traits like personality, greater male variability been partly attributed to biology, underpinned by claims there is generally variation among males females in non-human animals due stronger sexual selection on males. However, evidence for limited morphological traits, and little information regarding sex differences personality-like behaviours animals. Here, we meta-analysed means variances over 2100 effects (204 studies) from 220 species (covering five broad taxonomic groups) across personality traits: boldness, aggression, activity, sociality exploration. We also tested if size dimorphism, a proxy sex-specific selection, explains the magnitude of personality. found no significant between sexes. In addition, dimorphism did not explain observed mean or variance any group. sum, find widespread animal

Language: Английский

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The effect of individual state on the strength of mate choice in females and males

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 34(2), P. 197 - 209

Published: Feb. 23, 2023

Animals are thought to gain significant fitness benefits from choosing high-quality or compatible mates. However, there is large within-species variation in how choosy individuals during mating. This may be because the costs and of being vary according an individual's state. To test this, I systematically searched for published data relating strength animal mate choice both sexes individual age, attractiveness, body size, physical condition, mating status, parasite load. performed a meta-analysis 108 studies 78 species quantify varies In line with predictions sexual selection theory, find that females significantly choosier when they have low load, thus supporting premise expression female dependent on choosy. was not influenced by status. Attractive males were than unattractive males, but male this dataset limited small sample overall correlation between state similar sexes. Nevertheless, explained only amount choice.

Language: Английский

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The better, the choosier: A meta‐analysis on interindividual variation of male mate choice

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(5), P. 1305 - 1322

Published: March 8, 2022

Abstract Male mate choice occurs in several animal species, but we know little about the factors that influence expression of this behaviour. Males vary their capacity to acquire mates (i.e. male quality), which could be crucial it is often overlooked. Using a meta‐analytical approach, explore interindividual variation by comparing mating investment males different qualities and phenotypes high‐ low‐quality females. We used two datasets together contained information from 60 empirical studies, comprising 52 species. found all prefer high‐quality females, differ strength such preference. High‐ medium‐quality are choosier than males. Similarly, larger or greater body condition counterparts. In contrast, mass age not associated with changes choice. also show experimental design may our understanding patterns, limit generalisation findings. Nonetheless, argue quality an important feature

Language: Английский

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Behavioural and life-history responses of mosquitofish to biologically inspired and interactive robotic predators

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 16(158), P. 20190359 - 20190359

Published: Sept. 1, 2019

Invasive alien species threaten biodiversity worldwide and contribute to biotic homogenization, especially in freshwaters, where the ability of native animals disperse is limited. Robotics may offer a promising tool address this compelling problem, but whether how invasive can be negatively affected by robotic stimuli an open question. Here, we explore possibility modulating behavioural life-history responses mosquitofish varying degree biomimicry predator, whose appearance locomotion are inspired natural predators. Our results support prediction that real-time interactions at swimming speeds evoke more robust antipredator response than simpler movement patterns robot, individuals with better body conditions less prone take risks. Through information-theoretic analysis animal–robot interactions, evidence favour causal link between motion predator fish response. Remarkably, observe even brief exposure 15 min per week sufficient erode energy reserves compromise condition mosquitofish, opening door for future endeavours control wild.

Language: Английский

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Repeatability analysis improves the reliability of behavioral data

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. e0230900 - e0230900

Published: April 2, 2020

Reliability of data has become a major concern in the course reproducibility crisis. Especially when studying animal behavior, confounding factors such as novelty test apparatus can lead to wide variability which may mask treatment effects and consequently misinterpretation. Habituation situation is common practice circumvent induced increases variance improve reliability respective measurements. However, there lack published empirical knowledge regarding reasonable habituation procedures method validation seems be overdue. This study aimed at setting up simple strategy increase behavioral measured familiar apparatus. Therefore, exemplary from mice tested an Open Field (OF) arena were used elucidate potential how measures confirmed by means repeatability analysis using software R. On seven consecutive days, male C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ 129S1/SvImJ OF once daily individual mouse behavior was recorded. A conducted with regard repeated trials habituation. Our revealed that monitoring during important determine differences measurements are stable. Repeatability values distance travelled average activity increased over period, revealing around 60% explained between mice. The first day significantly different following 6 days. three-day period appeared sufficient this study. Overall, these results emphasize importance depth define correct starting point experiment for improving experimental data.

Language: Английский

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Mate choice copying behaviour in the livebearing fish Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 222, P. 123148 - 123148

Published: March 18, 2025

Language: Английский

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Social conditions alter the growth, metabolic rate, behavioral traits, and food-shelter preferences in the juvenile qingbo Spinibarbus sinensis

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 79(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Breeding Partners Have Dissimilar Foraging Strategies in a Long‐Lived Arctic Seabird

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT For long‐lived species with biparental care, coordination and compatibility in the foraging behavior of breeding mates may be crucial to successfully raise offspring. While high success is clearly important reproductive success, it might equally that mate has a complementary strategy. We test whether partners have similar or dissimilar strategies where both share responsibilities exhibit fidelity (thick‐billed murre; Uria lomvia ). To examine thick‐billed murres showed strategies, we attached GPS accelerometers within 40 murre chick‐rearing pairs. Individuals pair were their trip distance number dives during trips compared randomized Breeding also more wing length than This result could related individual quality as individuals select sized sites lead partners. conclude strategy diversity maintained this population either because prefer own, diverge over multiple season together.

Language: Английский

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Environmental complexity during early life shapes average behavior in adulthood

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 32(1), P. 105 - 113

Published: Sept. 29, 2020

Abstract Personality has been identified in a range of animal taxa during the last few decades, with important ecological and evolutionary implications. Investigating effects environmental factors early life can provide insights into ontogeny personality. We reared newborn mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, tanks different structural complexities, measured their behavioral traits (i.e., shyness, exploration, sociability) when they reached sexual maturity. Univariate linear mixed-effects models were fitted to test complexity sex on population-average behavior, whereas multivariate quantify repeatability personality) among-individual correlations syndromes). On average, females shyer more social than males, fish complex environments shyer, less explorative, those open environments. Among-individual differences consistently large across trials for all behaviors, indicating that personality variation was present mosquitofish both sexes Repeatability did not differ among there no any behavior between or A negative correlation shyness exploration found from treatments at phenotypic levels, latter strong shyness–exploration syndrome. Our study provides robust evidence average levels might vary are raised life.

Language: Английский

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Male size and reproductive performance in three species of livebearing fishes (Gambusia spp.): A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 90(10), P. 2431 - 2445

Published: July 6, 2021

The genus Gambusia represents approximately 45 species of polyandrous livebearing fishes with reversed sexual size dimorphism (i.e. males smaller than females) and copulation predominantly via male coercion. Male body has been suggested as an important sexually selected trait, but despite abundant research, evidence for selection on in this is mixed. Studies have found that large advantage both male-male competition female choice, small perform sneaky copulations better at higher frequency thus may sire more offspring coercive mating system. Here, we synthesized inconsistent using pre-registered methods hypotheses. We performed a systematic review meta-analysis summary primary (raw) data combining published (n = 19 studies, k 106 effect sizes) unpublished sizes 17, 242) to test whether there overall across studies Gambusia. also tested several specific hypotheses understand the sources heterogeneity effects. Meta-analysis revealed positive correlation between reproductive performance (r 0.23, 95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.35, n 36, 348, 4,514 males, three species). Despite high heterogeneity, large-male appeared robust all measures studied success, paternity, sperm quantity quality), was considerably larger choice 0.43, 0.28-0.59, 14, 43). Meta-regressions factors explaining effects, including type characteristic, male-to-female ratio, status environmental conditions. publication bias; however, its influence our estimates attenuated by substantial amount highlighting importance open accurate meta-analytic estimates. In addition size, study suggests need rethink role form and, broadly, consider ecological affect behaviour fishes.

Language: Английский

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