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155 results for “behavioural response”
Genetic variance for behavioural 'predictability' of stress response
<p>Genetic factors underpinning phenotypic variation are required if natural selection is to result in adaptive evolution. However, evolutionary and behavioural ecologists typically focus on variation among individuals in their average trait values, and seek to characterise genetic contributions to this. As a result, less attention has been paid to if and how genes could contribute towards within-individual variance, or trait "predictability". In fact, phenotypic 'predictability' can vary among individuals, and emerging evidence from livestock genetics suggests this can be due to genetic factors. Here we test this empirically using repeated measures of a behavioural stress response trait in a pedigreed population of wild-type guppies. We ask (1) whether individuals differ in behavioural predictability, and (2) whether this variation is heritable and so evolvable under selection. Using statistical methodology from the field of quantitative genetics, we find support for both hypotheses and also show evidence of a genetic correlation structure between the behavioural trait mean and individual predictability. We show that investigating sources of variability in trait predictability is statistically tractable, and can yield useful biological interpretation. We conclude that, if widespread, genetic variance for 'predictability' will have major implications for the evolutionary causes and consequences of phenotypic variation. </p>
Natural and anthropogenic sources of habitat variation influence exploration behaviour, stress response, and brain morphology in a coastal fish
<p>1. Evolutionary ecology aims to better understand how ecologically important traits respond to environmental heterogeneity. Environments vary both naturally and as a result of human activities, and investigations that simultaneously consider how natural and human-induced environmental variation affect diverse trait types grow increasingly important as human activities drive species endangerment.</p> <p>2. Here, we examine how habitat fragmentation and structural habitat complexity, affect disparate trait types in Bahamas mosquitofish (<em>Gambusia hubbsi</em>) inhabiting tidal creeks. We tested a priori predictions for how these factors might influence exploratory behaviour, stress reactivity, and brain anatomy.</p> <p>3. We examined approximately 350 adult Bahamas mosquitofish from seven tidal creek populations across Andros Island, The Bahamas that varied in both human-caused fragmentation (three fragmented, four unfragmented) and natural habitat complexity (e.g. 5-fold variation in rock habitat).</p> <p>4. Populations that had experienced severe human-induced fragmentation, and thus restriction of tidal exchange from the ocean, exhibited greater exploration of a novel environment, stronger physiological stress responses to a mildly stressful event, and smaller telencephala (relative to body size). These changes matched adaptive predictions based mostly on 1) reduced chronic predation risk and 2) decreased demands for navigating tidally dynamic habitats. Populations from sites with greater structural habitat complexity showed a higher propensity for exploration and a relatively larger optic tectum and cerebellum. These patterns matched adaptive predictions related to increased demands for navigating complex environments.</p> <p>5. Our findings demonstrate environmental variation, including recent anthropogenic impacts (<50 years), can significantly affect complex, ecologically important traits. Yet trait-specific patterns may not be easily predicted, as we found strong support for only six of 12 predictions. Our results further highlight the utility of simultaneously quantifying multiple environmental factors—e.g. had we failed to account for habitat complexity, we would not have detected effects of fragmentation on exploratory behaviours. These responses, and their ecological consequences, may be complex: rapid and adaptive phenotypic responses to anthropogenic impacts can facilitate persistence in human-altered environments, but may come at a cost of population vulnerability if ecological restoration were to occur without consideration of the altered traits. </p>
Responses to questionnaire on data sharing behaviour
<p>This dataset contains the responses to a questionnaire based survey on data sharing behaviour of scholars working with human ancient DNA. </p>
Research data supporting: "Non-trivial stimuli-responsive collective behaviours emerging from microscopic dynamic complexity in supramolecular polymer systems"
<p>Contains the relevant simulation data and input files. See "readme.txt" for information.</p>
Dataset for: Hug et al. Unexpected behavioural adaptation of yellow fever mosquitoes in response to high temperatures
<p>Dataset for the manuscript: Hug et al. Unexpected behavioural adaptation of yellow fever mosquitoes in response to high temperatures</p>
Hibernating female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) adjust huddling and drinking behaviour, but not arousal frequency, in response to low humidity
<p>Many mammals hibernate during winter, reducing energy expenditure via bouts of torpor. The majority of a hibernator's energy reserves are used to fuel brief, but costly, arousals from torpor. Although arousals likely serve multiple functions, an important one is to restore water stores depleted during torpor. Many hibernating bat species require high humidity, presumably to reduce torpid water loss, but big brown bats (<em>Eptesicus fuscus</em>) appear tolerant of a wide humidity range. We tested the hypothesis that hibernating female <em>E. fuscus </em>use behavioural flexibility during torpor and arousals to maintain water balance and reduce energy expenditure. We predicted: (1) <em>E. fuscus </em>hibernating in dry conditions would exhibit more compact huddles during torpor and drink more frequently than bats in high humidity conditions; and (2) frequency and duration of torpor bouts and arousals, and thus, total loss of body mass would not differ between bats in both environments. We housed hibernating <em>E. fuscus</em> in temperature- and humidity-controlled incubators at 50% or 98% relative humidity (8°C, 110 days). Bats in the dry environment maintained a more compact huddle during torpor and drank more frequently during arousals. Bats in both environments<em> </em>had a similar number of arousals, but arousal duration was shorter in the dry environment. However, total loss of body mass over hibernation did not differ between treatments indicating that both groups used similar amounts of energy. Our results suggest that behavioural flexibility allows hibernating <em>E. fuscus</em> to maintain water balance and reduce energy costs across a wide range of hibernation humidities.</p>
Raw data for: Plastic responses of males and females interact to determine mating behaviour
<p>Individuals can respond plastically to variation in their social environment. However, each sex may respond to different cues and contrasting aspects of competition. Theory suggests that the plastic phenotype expressed by one sex can influence evolutionary dynamics in the other, and that plasticity simultaneously expressed by both sexes can exert sex-specific effects on fitness. However, data are needed to test this theory base. Here, we examined whether the simultaneous expression of adaptive plasticity by both sexes of <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> fruit flies in response to their respective social environments interacts to determine the value of key reproductive traits (mating latency, duration and fecundity). To vary social environments, males were kept alone, or with same sex rivals, and females were kept alone, in same-sex, or mixed-sex groups. Matings were then conducted between individuals from all of these 5 social treatments in all combinations, and the resulting reproductive traits measured in both 'choice' and 'no choice' assays. Mating latency was determined by an interaction between the plastic responses of both sexes to their social environments. Interestingly, the mating latency response occurred in opposing directions in the different assays. In females exposed to same-sex social treatments, mating latency was more rapid with rival treatment males in the choice assays, but slower with those same males in no choice assays. In contrast, mating duration was determined purely by responses of males to their social environments, and fecundity purely by responses of females. Collectively, the results show that plastic responses represent an important and novel facet of sexual interactions.</p>
Latvia: Behaviours and attitudes in response to the Covid-19 pandemics
<p>Web-based survey which was conducted in Latvia in 2020. The survey assesses the sociodemographic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak in Latvia. This survey is titled “Behaviours and attitudes in response to the Covid-19 pandemics”.</p>
Behavioural changes in aposematic Heliconius melpomene butterflies in response to their predatory bird calls
<p>Prey-predator interactions have resulted in the evolution of many anti-predatory traits. One of them is the ability of prey to listen to predators and avoid them. Although prey anti-predatory behavioural responses to predator auditory cues are well described in a wide range of taxa, studies on whether butterflies change their behaviours in response to their predatory calls are lacking. <em>Heliconius </em>butterflies are unpalatable and form Müllerian mimicry rings as morphological defence strategies against their avian predators. Like many other butterflies in the <em>Nymphalidae </em>family, some <em>Heliconius </em>butterflies possess auditory organs, which are hypothesized to assist with predator detection. Here we test whether <em>Heliconius melpomene </em>changes their behaviour in response to their predatory bird calls by observing the behaviour of male and female <em>H. m. plessini </em>exposed to calls of <em>Heliconius</em> avian predators: rufous-tailed jacamar, migratory Eastern kingbird, and resident tropical kingbird. We also exposed them to the calls of the toco toucan, a frugivorous bird as a control bird call, and an amplified greenhouse background noise as a noise control. We found that individuals<em> </em>changed their behaviour in response to Jacamar calls only. Males increased their walking and fluttering behaviour, while females did not change their behaviour during the playback of the jacamar call. Intersexual behaviours like courtship, copulation, and abdomen lifting did not change in response to bird calls. Our findings suggest that despite having primary predatory defences like toxicity and being in a mimicry ring, <em>H. m. plessini </em>butterflies changed their behaviour in response to predator calls. Furthermore, this response was predator-specific, as <em>H. m. plesseni</em> did not respond to either the Eastern kingbird or the tropic kingbird calls. This suggests that <em>Heliconius</em> butterflies may be able to differentiate predatory calls, and potentially the birds associated with those calls.</p>
Data from: Behavioural responses of brown bears to roads and hunting disturbance
<p>Harvest regulations commonly attenuate the consequences of hunting on specific segments of a population. However, regulations may not protect individuals from non-lethal effects of hunting and their consequences remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared the movement rates of Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos, n = 47) across spatiotemporal variations in risk in relation to the onset of bear hunting. We tested two alternative hypotheses based on whether behavioural responses to hunting involve hiding or escaping. If bears try to reduce risk exposure by avoiding being detected by hunters, we expect individuals from all demographic groups to reduce their movement rate during the hunting season. On the other hand, if bear avoid hunters by escaping, we expect them to increase their movement rate in order to leave high-risk areas faster. We found an increased movement rate in females accompanied by dependent offspring during the morning hours of the bear hunting season, a general decrease in movement rate in adult lone females, and no changes in males and subadult females. The increased movement rate that we observed in females with dependant offspring during the hunting season was likely an antipredator response because it only occurred in areas located closer to roads, whereas the decreased movement rate in lone females could be either part of a seasonal activity patterns or be associated with an increased selection for better concealment. Our study suggests that female brown bears accompanied by offspring likely move faster in high-risk areas to minimize risk exposure as well as the costly trade-offs (i.e., time spent foraging versus time spent hiding) typically associated with anti-predator tactics that involve changes in resource selection. Our study also highlights the importance of modeling fine-scale spatiotemporal variations in risk to adequately capture the complexity in behavioural responses caused by human activities in wildlife.</p>
Data from: Hyperbolic discounting underpins response curves of mammalian avoidance behaviour
<p>As humans clear natural habitat they are brought into increased conflict with wild animals. Some conflict is direct (e.g., elevated exposure of people to predators), some indirect (e.g., abandoning suitable habitat because of human activity). The magnitude of avoidance is expected to track frequency of human activity, but the type of response is an open question. We postulated that animals do not respond passively to increased disturbance, nor does response follow a power law; instead, their ability to estimate magnitude leads to 'discounting' behaviour, as in classic time-to-reward economic models in which individuals discount larger value (or risk) in more distant time. We used a ten-year camera dataset from southern California to characterise response curves of seven mammal species. Bayesian regressions of two non-discounting models (exponential and inverse polynomial) and two discounting models (hyperbolic and harmonic) revealed that the latter better fit response curves. The Arps equation, from petroleum extraction modelling, was used to estimate a discount exponent, a taxon-specific 'sensitivity' to humans, yielding a general model across species. Although discounting can mean mammal activity recovers rapidly after disturbance, increased recreational pressure on reserves limits recovery potential, highlighting a need to strike a balance between animal conservation and human use.</p>
Antelope space-use and behaviour indicate multi-level responses to varying anthropogenic influences in a highly human-dominated landscape
<p><span></span></p> <p>A primary means of conserving a species or a habitat in a human-dominated landscape is through promoting coexistence with humans while minimizing conflict. For this, we should understand how wildlife are impacted by direct and indirect human activities. Such information is rare from areas with high human densities. To investigate how animals respond to altered ecological conditions in human-dominated landscapes, we focussed on a wild herbivore of conservation concern in Krishnasaar Conservation Area (KrCA) in Nepal. Here, blackbuck, <em>Antilope cervicapra</em>, a generalist grazer, lives in refugia located in a growing human population. We studied the impacts of humans on habitat use and behaviour of blackbuck. We laid 250 x 250 m grid cells in the entire KrCA and carried out indirect sign surveys with three replications for habitat use assessment. We observed herds of blackbuck for 89 hours in different habitat types using scan sampling methods. Our habitat-use survey showed that habitats under intensive human use were hardly used by blackbuck, even when high-quality forage was available. Habitat openness was the major predictor of habitat-use inside the core area, where levels of human activities were low. We also found a positive correlation between habitat use by blackbuck and livestock. Blackbuck were substantially more vigilant when they were in forest than in grassland, again indicating an influence of risk. Overall, blackbuck appear to be sensitive to risk associated with both natural and anthropogenic factors. Our findings have direct implications for managing human-wildlife interactions in this landscape, specifically regarding strategies for livestock grazing in habitats highly used by blackbuck and concerning predictions of how changing land use will impact long-term persistence of blackbuck. Our work suggests that wild herbivores may be able to persist in landscapes with high human densities so long as there are refuges where human activities are relatively low.</p>
The response behaviour of bats to motion-controlled LED lighting of bicycle trails
<p>Increasing illumination of bicycle trails at night can have an impact on nocturnal animals such as bats. We asked whether motion-triggered LED lights may reduce the negative impact on bats. On a newly LED-lit bicycle trail, we measured the flight and hunting activity of bats in response to LED lighting that was switched on for 40 s when cyclists passed by. In addition, we investigated flight movements of bats close to lampposts with thermal imaging.</p> <p>The study area was located in the city of Münster, Germany, along a 1.5 km test stretch of a newly LED-lit bicycle trail. We selected 5 lampposts with a distance of 210 m to 300 m to each other along the trail that bordered different habitat types (open field, forest, forest/residential area, residential area, park). We equipped each of the 5 lampposts with an echolocation call detector and a light and temperature sensor. Acoustic bat activity was recorded automatically from about 15 minutes before sunset and after sunrise in parallel to light and temperature measurements at all sites simultaneously. Sites were sampled across three nights each during the reproduction season (June/July) and the migration season (August/September) 2022.</p> <p>To track individual bat movements, we used a thermal imaging camera-tracking system with two thermal imaging cameras. From the video recordings, we identified x-, y- and z-coordinates (3D-position) of individual bats. Nine 3D-tracks were recorded and the 18<sup>th</sup> of October 2022, while three tracks were recorded on the 19<sup>th</sup> of October 2022. All 3D-tracks were recorded while LED lights were off.</p>
Baseline data for Citizen Energy Responsible Behaviour in 27 Member States
<p>This dataset contains all the information on the levels that each country in Europe should have in the labelling system to assess citizens energy behaviours fully described in the document AURORA D1.1 Near-Zero Emissions Citizens Label https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7594879</p> <p>The zip file contains one document for each member state. Reference values are extracted from the same datasources individuated in D1.1 for the 5 selected countries fully described in the document.</p>
Data from: Intermediate acoustic-to-semantic representations link behavioural and neural responses to natural sounds
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Data from: Behavioural responses of brown bears to roads and hunting disturbance
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Videos related to: Noise matters: Elephants show risk-avoidance behaviour in response to human-generated seismic cues
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Raw data for: Plastic responses of males and females interact to determine mating behaviour
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Migrants and residents of a long-lived seabird differ in their behavioural response to a stressor
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Data from: The risk perception and response of Azure-winged magpies: On the aspect of feeding behaviour and alarm calls
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.