Linking behavioural type with cannibalism in Eurasian perch
Andersson, Matilda L. ; Hulthén, Kaj LU ; Blake, Charlie ; Brönmark, Christer LU and Nilsson, P. Anders LU
(2021)
In PLoS ONE
16(12 December).
- Abstract
The propensity to kill and consume conspecifics (cannibalism) varies greatly between and within species, but the underlying mechanisms behind this variation remain poorly understood. A rich literature has documented that consistent behavioural variation is ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. Such inter-individual behavioural differences, sometimes referred to as personality traits, may have far-reaching ecological consequences. However, the link between predator personality traits and the propensity to engage in cannibalistic interactions remains understudied. Here, we first quantified personality in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), measured as activity (time spent moving) and sociability (time spent near conspecifics). We then... (More)
The propensity to kill and consume conspecifics (cannibalism) varies greatly between and within species, but the underlying mechanisms behind this variation remain poorly understood. A rich literature has documented that consistent behavioural variation is ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. Such inter-individual behavioural differences, sometimes referred to as personality traits, may have far-reaching ecological consequences. However, the link between predator personality traits and the propensity to engage in cannibalistic interactions remains understudied. Here, we first quantified personality in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), measured as activity (time spent moving) and sociability (time spent near conspecifics). We then gave perch of contrasting behavioural types the option to consume either conspecific or heterospecific (roach, Rutilus rutilus) prey. Individual perch characterized by a social-active behavioural phenotype (n = 5) selected roach before being cannibalistic, while asocial-inactive perch (n = 17) consumed conspecific and heterospecific prey evenly. Thus, asocial-inactive perch expressed significantly higher rates of cannibalism as compared to social-active individuals. Individual variation in cannibalism, linked to behavioural type, adds important mechanistic understanding to complex population and community dynamics, and also provides insight into the diversity and maintenance of animal personality.
(Less)
- author
- Andersson, Matilda L.
; Hulthén, Kaj
LU
; Blake, Charlie
; Brönmark, Christer
LU
and Nilsson, P. Anders
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-12-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- PLoS ONE
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 12 December
- article number
- e0260938
- publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:34860864
- scopus:85120771833
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0260938
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved.
- id
- 4022d191-8a8f-4eef-b109-fe81d07742d3
- date added to LUP
- 2022-01-31 10:51:14
- date last changed
- 2024-03-23 17:58:50
@article{4022d191-8a8f-4eef-b109-fe81d07742d3,
abstract = {{<p>The propensity to kill and consume conspecifics (cannibalism) varies greatly between and within species, but the underlying mechanisms behind this variation remain poorly understood. A rich literature has documented that consistent behavioural variation is ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. Such inter-individual behavioural differences, sometimes referred to as personality traits, may have far-reaching ecological consequences. However, the link between predator personality traits and the propensity to engage in cannibalistic interactions remains understudied. Here, we first quantified personality in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), measured as activity (time spent moving) and sociability (time spent near conspecifics). We then gave perch of contrasting behavioural types the option to consume either conspecific or heterospecific (roach, Rutilus rutilus) prey. Individual perch characterized by a social-active behavioural phenotype (n = 5) selected roach before being cannibalistic, while asocial-inactive perch (n = 17) consumed conspecific and heterospecific prey evenly. Thus, asocial-inactive perch expressed significantly higher rates of cannibalism as compared to social-active individuals. Individual variation in cannibalism, linked to behavioural type, adds important mechanistic understanding to complex population and community dynamics, and also provides insight into the diversity and maintenance of animal personality.</p>}},
author = {{Andersson, Matilda L. and Hulthén, Kaj and Blake, Charlie and Brönmark, Christer and Nilsson, P. Anders}},
issn = {{1932-6203}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{12 December}},
publisher = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
series = {{PLoS ONE}},
title = {{Linking behavioural type with cannibalism in Eurasian perch}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260938}},
doi = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0260938}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2021}},
}