TY - JOUR
T1 - Into the wild
T2 - Developing field tests to examine the link between elasmobranch personality and laterality
AU - Byrnes, Evan E.
AU - Pouca, Catarina Vila
AU - Chambers, Sherrie L.
AU - Brown, Culum
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The field of animal personality has received considerable attention in past decades, yet few studies have examined personality in the wild. This study investigated docility, a measure of boldness, in two Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) populations using field tests, and if laterality differences explained docility levels. We developed a struggle test as an assay for docility, which is particularly amenable to field studies. The struggle test was effective, and repeatable inter-individual docility differences were observed. Sex, but not population, influenced docility scores, with male sharks being less docile than females. This difference is likely due to the contrasting role each sex plays during mating. We also found individualized lateralization. However, no individual-level relationship between lateralization and docility was detected. Despite reported links between laterality and some personality traits, the relationship between laterality and boldness remains inconclusive in sharks. Further studies will prove essential to clarify the mechanisms behind personality traits in vertebrates.
AB - The field of animal personality has received considerable attention in past decades, yet few studies have examined personality in the wild. This study investigated docility, a measure of boldness, in two Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) populations using field tests, and if laterality differences explained docility levels. We developed a struggle test as an assay for docility, which is particularly amenable to field studies. The struggle test was effective, and repeatable inter-individual docility differences were observed. Sex, but not population, influenced docility scores, with male sharks being less docile than females. This difference is likely due to the contrasting role each sex plays during mating. We also found individualized lateralization. However, no individual-level relationship between lateralization and docility was detected. Despite reported links between laterality and some personality traits, the relationship between laterality and boldness remains inconclusive in sharks. Further studies will prove essential to clarify the mechanisms behind personality traits in vertebrates.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84994037113&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1163/1568539X-00003373
DO - 10.1163/1568539X-00003373
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84994037113
SN - 0005-7959
VL - 153
SP - 1777
EP - 1793
JO - Behaviour
JF - Behaviour
IS - 13-14
ER -