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Habitat stability and predation pressure affect temperament behaviours in populations of three‐spined sticklebacks
Author(s) -
Brydges Nichola M.,
Colegrave Nick,
Heathcote Robert J. P.,
Braithwaite Victoria A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01343.x
Subject(s) - predation , temperament , gasterosteus , ecology , population , habitat , biology , affect (linguistics) , personality , psychology , fishery , demography , fish <actinopterygii> , social psychology , sociology , communication
Summary1 There is growing interest in the causes and consequences of animal temperaments. Temperament behaviours often have heritable components, but ecological variables can also affect them. Numerous variables are likely to differ between habitats, and these may interact to influence temperament behaviours. 2 Temperament behaviours may be correlated within populations (behavioural syndromes), although the underlying causes of such correlations are currently unclear. 3 We analysed three different temperament behaviours and learning ability in three‐spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus , to determine how different ecological variables influence them both within and between populations. We selected populations from four ponds and four rivers that varied naturally in their exposure to predators. 4 High‐predation river populations were significantly less bold than a high‐predation pond and low‐predation river populations, and low‐predation pond populations were significantly less bold than a high‐predation pond population. Within populations, temperament behaviours were correlated in one high‐predation river population only. 5 These results suggest that multiple ecological factors can interact to affect temperament behaviours between populations, and also correlations in those behaviours within populations.