A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Boldness as a consistent personality trait in the noble crayfish, Astacus astacus




AuthorsVainikka A, Rantala MJ, Niemela P, Hirvonen H, Kortet R

PublisherSPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Publication year2011

JournalActa ethologica

Journal name in sourceACTA ETHOLOGICA

Journal acronymACTA ETHOL

Number in series1

Volume14

Issue1

First page 17

Last page25

Number of pages9

ISSN0873-9749

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-010-0086-1


Abstract

Consistent individual differences in behavioural responses to perceived predation risk may have extensive ecological and evolutionary implications. We studied the repeatability of boldness across time and its relation to resource holding potential in the noble crayfish, Astacus astacus L., using predator-na < ve immature individuals. We followed individual's shelter use both with and without exposure to the chemical and physical cues of predators, and with and without the presence of a conspecific. In addition, we examined if armament, i.e. relative chelae size, would be correlated with individual differences in behaviour. Individuals showed repeatable behaviours across time and context. Individuals that occupied the shelter in competitive dyadic tests also spent more time in the shelter during individual control observations, suggesting that boldness is a personality trait that does not necessarily relate positively to high resource holding potential in the noble crayfish. The relative size of chelae did not correlate with any of the measured behavioural variables. Our results suggest that boldness can be considered as individually consistent and ecologically important personality trait in the noble crayfish.




Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 19:54