Universität zu Köln

Loftus, Siobhan and Borcherding, Jost ORCID: 0000-0003-3411-5861 (2017). Does social context affect boldness in juveniles? Curr. Zool., 63 (6). S. 639 - 646. OXFORD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS. ISSN 2396-9814

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Abstract

Differences in boldness are common between populations or between related species and are discussed as part of individual coping style, personality, or behavioral syndrome. Boldness has been found to be dependent on experience, social, and environmental contexts. The major aim of the present study was to establish an experimental environment that would allow analyzing the risk-taking behavior of 2 competing invasive goby species. Neogobius melanostomus was more active in the absence of a predator Sander lucioperca than N. fluviatilis and clearly spent more time swimming and feeding than N. fluviatilis. In addition, N. melanostomus was always faster than N. fluviatilis both when leaving the shelter and reaching offered food. Based on the different behaviors recorded, species-specific boldness scores were established using a principal component analysis. Although there was no overall difference in boldness scores between the 2 species, both competitive conditions and the effect of the predator played significant roles as factors influencing boldness. Neogobius melanostomus was more affected by the presence/absence of the predator than the social circumstances. Neogobius fluviatilis, on the other hand, was more active and bolder in competitive situations. However, when alone, N. fluviatilis was rather inactive and displayed altogether shy behavior, independent of the presence/absence of the predator. Thus, the study confirms the prediction that there are differences in behavior and behavioral plasticity, and therein predator-avoidance strategies, between ecologically similar species of goby living in sympatry. We argue that these differences may be related to differential habitat use of both invasive species that presently dominate the fish community in the Lower Rhine.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Loftus, Siobhan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Borcherding, Jost UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-3411-5861 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-209732
DOI:	10.1093/cz/zow115
Journal or Publication Title:	Curr. Zool.
Volume:	63
Number:	6
Page Range:	S. 639 - 646
Date:	2017
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	2396-9814
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language PERSONALITY-TRAITS INFLUENCE; PREDATION RISK; BEHAVIORAL-DIFFERENCES; INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES; PUBLIC INFORMATION; RIVER RHINE; POPULATIONS; STICKLEBACKS; DISPERSAL; PERCH Multiple languages Zoology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20973