Individual phenotypic variability in the behaviour of an aggregative riverine fish is structured along a reactive-proactive axis.

ABSTRACT: High phenotypic diversity should provide populations with resilience to environmental change by increasing their capacity to respond to changing conditions. The aim of this study was to identify whether there is consistency in individual behaviours on a reactive-proactive axis in European barbel Barbus barbus ("barbel"), a riverine and aggregatory fish that expresses individual differences in its behaviours in nature. This was tested using three sequential experiments in ex-situ conditions that required individuals to leave a shelter and then explore new habitats ('open-field test'), respond to social stimuli ('mirror-image stimulation test') and forage ('foraging behaviour test'; assessing exploratory traits). Each suite of experiments was replicated three times per individual (46 hours m

SUBMITTER: Amat-Trigo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11578482 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature