Within-individual canalization contributes to age-related increases in trait repeatability:A longitudinal experiment in red knots

Age-related increases in the repeatable expression of labile phenotypic traits are often assumed to arise from an increase in among-individual variance due to differences in developmental plasticity or by means of state-behavior feedbacks. However, age-related increases in repeatability could also a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American Naturalist
Main Authors: Kok, Eva M.A., Burant, Joseph B., Dekinga, Anne, Manche, Petra, Saintonge, Darren, Piersma, Theunis, Mathot, Kimberley J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Consistent among-individual differences
State-behavior feedbacks
Variance partitioning
Within-individual variation
COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS
EXPLORATORY-BEHAVIOR
PERSONALITY-TRAITS
FORAGING BEHAVIOR
CALIDRIS-CANUTUS
BAYESIAN MODELS
LONG-TERM
ECOLOGY
CONSEQUENCES
Calidris canutus
Red Knot
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/6c904016-5949-4c4a-8273-488ce05c5fd5
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/6c904016-5949-4c4a-8273-488ce05c5fd5
https://doi.org/10.1086/704593
https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/158957693/704593.pdf
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070362181&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Age-related increases in the repeatable expression of labile phenotypic traits are often assumed to arise from an increase in among-individual variance due to differences in developmental plasticity or by means of state-behavior feedbacks. However, age-related increases in repeatability could also arise from a decrease in within-individual variance as a result of stabilizing trait expression, that is, canalization. Here we describe age-related changes in within-individual and among-individual variance components in two correlated traits— gizzard mass and exploration behavior—in a medium-sized shorebird, the red knot (Calidris canutus). Increased repeatability of gizzard mass came about due to an increase in among-individual variance, unrelated to differences in developmental plasticity, together with decreases in within-individual variance consistent with canalization. We also found canalization of exploration but no age-related increase in overall repeatability, which suggests that showing predictable expression of exploration behavior may be advantageous from a very young age onward. Contrasts between juveniles and adults in the first year after their capture provide support for the idea that environmental conditions play a key role in generating among-individual variation in both gizzard mass and exploration behavior. Our study shows that stabilization of traits occurs under constant conditions: with increased exposure to predictable cues, individuals may become more certain in their assessment of the environment allowing traits to become canalized.

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