Disentangling the roles of frequency- vs. state-dependence in generating individual differences in behavioural plasticity

Theoretical work suggests that both negative frequency-dependent payoffs and state-dependent payoffs can lead to individual variation in behavioural plasticity. We investigated the roles of both frequency- and state-dependence on the occurrence of individual variation in behavioural plasticity in a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology Letters
Main Authors: Mathot, Kimberley J., van den Hout, Piet J., Piersma, Theunis, Kempenaers, Bart, Reale, Denis, Dingemanse, Niels J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Anti-predation behaviour
behavioural plasticity
Calidris canutus
frequency-dependent
red knot
state-dependent
GROUP-SIZE
ANTIPREDATOR BEHAVIOR
CALIDRIS-ALPINA
VIGILANCE
PERSONALITY
ESCAPE
ATTACK
RESPONSES
FLOCKING
PREDATOR
Calidris alpina
Red Knot
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/6073a029-451f-4b52-bd39-d11537ac7289
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/6073a029-451f-4b52-bd39-d11537ac7289
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01698.x
Description
Summary:Theoretical work suggests that both negative frequency-dependent payoffs and state-dependent payoffs can lead to individual variation in behavioural plasticity. We investigated the roles of both frequency- and state-dependence on the occurrence of individual variation in behavioural plasticity in a series of experiments where we manipulated perceived predation danger for red knots (Calidris canutus islandica). We found individual variation in plasticity in a trait with negative frequency-dependent payoffs (vigilance), but not in a trait with positive frequency-dependent payoffs (escape flights). Furthermore, there was no correlation between the average level of vigilance under low predation danger and the magnitude of response to increased predation danger, as would be expected under state-dependence. Thus, our results provide support for the hypothesis that negative-frequency dependence favours individual variation in plasticity. However, negative-frequency dependence alone cannot explain why plasticity would be consistent within individuals, and future studies should address the factors that might favour individual consistency.

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