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Personality and behavioural syndrome in Necromys lasiurus (Rodentia: Cricetidae): notes on dispersal and invasion processes

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Abstract

Recent studies showed that behavioural individual features are related to species invasion and occupation abilities. In particular, the recent literature on animal personality has pointed to a correlation between behavioural profiles and the success in different phases of the invasion. In the present study, we investigated personality traits in the Neotropical species Necromys lasiurus. This wild rodent is expanding its original distribution to disturbed areas in the Atlantic Forest biome in response to anthropogenic impacts, acting as an invasive species (broad sense). In order to evaluate personality, we performed three behavioural assays as follows: open field, aversive open field and holeboard field. We extracted three personality domains—activity, exploration, and neophilia—using principal component analysis. There was significant positive correlation between these personality domains characterising a behavioural syndrome. We discussed the implications of this behavioural profile to dispersal and potential invasion abilities in this species.

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Fig. 1

Notes

  1. Traditionally, an invasive species is “a species introduced in regions beyond its original distribution, and that causes socioeconomic or environmental damage” (European Environmental 2013; Ziller et al. 2005). Nevertheless, the stress on the negative environmental impact of invasive species for reducing diversity all around the globe (Ziller et al. 2005; Sih et al. 2012) is not a consensus since invasive species can sometimes enhance local diversity on ecological and evolutionary timescales (Bruno et al. 2004). In a more general definition, a species is considered invasive if it is not native to a specific ecosystem (McGinley and Duffy 2010), but again there is no consensus on this “non native” or alien character of invasive species. It has been suggested that even native species can be invasive because processes affecting local spread and establishment in novel areas is independent of the species origin (Colautti and Macisaac 2004).

  2. Réale et al. (2007) proposed that the exploration-avoidance axis is represented by the response to a new situation in an unfamiliar environment and the shyness-boldness axis is represented by the exploratory behaviour displayed in a risky situation. Greenberg and Mettke-Hoffman (2001) considered neophilia as a seeking novelty behaviour that is related to the benefits (and not the risk) associated to the exploration of a novel resource.

  3. According to Chapple et al. (2012), an invasion syndrome is defined as “a series of correlated traits, particularly behaviours that enhance transition success across multiple stages of the introduction process.”

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the grants (process number 147000/2010-6), Institute of Biology of the Federal University of Bahia (project PRONEX-INOMEP/UFBA) and Institute of Psychology of the University of São Paulo (IP/USP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Mello Moraes, 1721, 055080-030, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    J. Malange & P. Izar

  2. Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 167, 40170-115, Salvador, Brazil

    H. Japyassú

  3. Harold Mitchell Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, KY16 9TH, Fife, St Andrews, UK

    H. Japyassú

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  1. J. Malange
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Correspondence to J. Malange.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 2 Loadings of the primary behavioural variables in the first axis of the PCA, for each of the three tests (experimental paradigms)
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Malange, J., Izar, P. & Japyassú, H. Personality and behavioural syndrome in Necromys lasiurus (Rodentia: Cricetidae): notes on dispersal and invasion processes. acta ethol 19, 189–195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-016-0238-z

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