Correlation between exploration activity and use of social information in three-spined sticklebacks

Individual variation in the exploration of an unfamiliar environment and joining performance probably reflects the shy--bold continuum as risk-related behavior. We experimentally examined the association between individual variation in exploration activity in an unfamiliar laboratory environment and tendency to follow other conspecifics in limnetic (primarily shoaling planktivore) and benthic (opportunistic shoaling benthic feeder) populations of three-spined stickleback from Alaska. Using a maze aquarium, we initially observed individual differences in exploration activity, that is, how far along the unfamiliar maze single immature fish could progress and how quickly they could arrive there. Then, we measured individual tendencies for individuals to follow "demonstrators" that had already been trained to solve the maze. There is a positive correlation between the 2 measurements in both populations. This may indicate that individuals active in exploration in unfamiliar environments can quickly exploit social advantages provided by demonstrators, which is consistent with the conceptual framework of behavioral syndromes in a shy--bold continuum. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.