The extent and structure of a boldness syndrome - is there really a tradeoff with predation risk? — ASN Events

The extent and structure of a boldness syndrome - is there really a tradeoff with predation risk? (#182)

Jodie Nordine 1 , Lin Schwarzkopf 1
  1. James Cook University Townsville, North Ward, QLD, Australia

The notion of behavioural syndromes is relatively new and the limits and implications of these syndromes are still being explored by researchers worldwide. A behavioural syndrome is a suite of positively correlated behaviours which reflect between-individual consistencies in behaviours, implying limited behavioural plasticity (Sih et al. 2004). But just how limited is this plasticity? This study aims to outline the extent and structure of a boldness syndrome in the skink species Carlia decora in order to better understand the inherent tradeoffs associated with such a syndrome. Individual skinks were ranked in boldness in the following tests: exploring a new environment; attacking prey; and thermoregulating. The same tests were repeated in the presence of a predator. I discuss whether the boldness syndrome and its inherent tradeoffs extends across all contexts, and if bold skinks tend to be bolder than others when caution is more appropriate - even in the direct presence of a predator.

  1. Sih, Andrew, Bell, Allison, and Johnson, J. Chadwick (2004) Behavioural syndromes: an ecological and evolutionary overview. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19(7) 372-378