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The effects of exposure to predators on personality and plasticity
Author(s) -
Bucklaew Amy,
Dochtermann Ned A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/eth.13107
Subject(s) - predation , personality , ecology , affect (linguistics) , predator , psychology , phenotypic plasticity , biology , social psychology , communication
Abstract Past experiences are known to affect average behavior but effects on animal personality and plasticity are less well studied. To determine whether experience with predators influences these aspects, we compared the behavior of Gryllodes sigillatus before and after exposure to live predators. We found that emergence from shelter and distance moved during open‐field trials (activity) changed after exposure, with individuals becoming less likely to emerge from shelters but more active when deprived of shelter. We also found that behavioral plasticity in activity increased after exposure to predators. Our results demonstrate that experience with predators affects not only the average behavior of individuals but also how individuals differ from their own prior behavior.