An assessment of behavioural syndromes in rangeland-raised beef cattle

Wesley, R. L.; Cibils, Andrés F.; Mulliniks, J. T.; Pollak, Emily R.; Petersen, M. K.; Fredrickson, Ed L.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2012.04.005

Cited by 47 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…In many cases, associations between single behaviors and HPA activity have been found, consistent with SCS (e.g., Sutherland and Huddart ; Wesley et al. ). More generally, empirical studies in the burgeoning field of animal personality (Sih et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

How integrated are behavioral and endocrine stress response traits? A repeated measures approach to testing the stress‐coping style model

Boulton

Couto

Grimmer

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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It is widely expected that physiological and behavioral stress responses will be integrated within divergent stress-coping styles (SCS) and that these may represent opposite ends of a continuously varying reactive–proactive axis. If such a model is valid, then stress response traits should be repeatable and physiological and behavioral responses should also change in an integrated manner along a major axis of among-individual variation. While there is some evidence of association between endocrine and behavioral stress response traits, few studies incorporate repeated observations of both. To test this model, we use a multivariate, repeated measures approach in a captive-bred population of Xiphophorus birchmanni. We quantify among-individual variation in behavioral stress response to an open field trial (OFT) with simulated predator attack (SPA) and measure waterborne steroid hormone levels (cortisol, 11-ketotestosterone) before and after exposure. Under the mild stress stimulus (OFT), (multivariate) behavioral variation among individuals was consistent with a strong axis of personality (shy–bold) or coping style (reactive–proactive) variation. However, behavioral responses to a moderate stressor (SPA) were less repeatable, and robust statistical support for repeatable endocrine state over the full sampling period was limited to 11-ketotestosterone. Although post hoc analysis suggested cortisol expression was repeatable over short time periods, qualitative relationships between behavior and glucocorticoid levels were counter to our a priori expectations. Thus, while our results clearly show among-individual differences in behavioral and endocrine traits associated with stress response, the correlation structure between these is not consistent with a simple proactive–reactive axis of integrated stress-coping style. Additionally, the low repeatability of cortisol suggests caution is warranted if single observations (or indeed repeat measures over short sampling periods) of glucocorticoid traits are used in ecological or evolutionary studies focussed at the individual level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

How integrated are behavioral and endocrine stress response traits? A repeated measures approach to testing the stress‐coping style model

Boulton

Couto

Grimmer

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…This will also lead to the observed stronger responsiveness of less aggressive individuals (who stay within a patch) to the ecological factors. Whether differential investment in territorial behaviour drives differential search strategies or vice versa is debatable, but together, these explanations suggest insights into alternative pathways that can result in BT-dependent space use and HR size (electronic supplementary material, appendix 1 §3; see also [18,23]). In the future, more sophisticated HR indices (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, many studies of animal personality have used captive individuals where their space use in nature cannot be addressed. Second, many previous studies suggesting that BT affects habitat preference or space use of mammals [18,22], birds [23,24], and fish [25][26][27][28] have derived their measures of space use and BT non-independently, from the same in situ movement data. For example, activity or exploration tendency (both widely used BTs) are commonly estimated from movement data, often through dimension reduction by principal component analysis (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, individuals that are more exploratory, bolder, more aggressive, or more asocial than others tend to disperse more frequently and over larger distances [12 -15]. Other BT-dependent aspects of space use may include home range (HR) size, relative use of patches that differ in resources or risks, and movement patterns [5,[16][17][18], but these have received less attention. Within-species differences in space use can generate spatial and temporal variability in interactions within and among species that can, in turn, have major impacts on population and community dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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When the going gets tough: behavioural type-dependent space use in the sleepy lizard changes as the season dries

et al. 2015

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Understanding space use remains a major challenge for animal ecology, with implications for species interactions, disease spread, and conservation. Behavioural type (BT) may shape the space use of individuals within animal populations. Bolder or more aggressive individuals tend to be more exploratory and disperse further. Yet, to date we have limited knowledge on how space use other than dispersal depends on BT. To address this question we studied BT-dependent space-use patterns of sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) in southern Australia. We combined high-resolution global positioning system (GPS) tracking of 72 free-ranging lizards with repeated behavioural assays, and with a survey of the spatial distributions of their food and refuge resources. Bayesian generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) showed that lizards responded to the spatial distribution of resources at the neighbourhood scale and to the intensity of space use by other conspecifics (showing apparent conspecific avoidance). BT (especially aggressiveness) affected space use by lizards and their response to ecological and social factors, in a seasonally dependent manner. Many of these effects and interactions were stronger later in the season when food became scarce and environmental conditions got tougher. For example, refuge and food availability became more important later in the season and unaggressive lizards were more responsive to these predictors. These findings highlight a commonly overlooked source of heterogeneity in animal space use and improve our mechanistic understanding of processes leading to behaviourally driven disease dynamics and social structure.

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“…Searle et al (2010) suggested that behavioral syndromes might be a method to identify individuals with favorable behavioral patterns. Wesley et al (2012) separated cows into two behavioral syndromes based on supplement consumptions rates and then evaluated their grazing patterns with GPS tracking. Cows that consumed supplement more slowly spent more time at water and had less dispersed grazing patterns than cows that consumed supplement quickly.…”

Section: Management Of Grazing Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of GPS tracking collars and accelerometers for rangeland livestock production research1

Bailey

Trotter

Knight

et al. 2018

Translational Animal Science

104

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Over the last 20 yr, global positioning system (GPS) collars have greatly enhanced livestock grazing behavior research. Practices designed to improve livestock grazing distribution can now be accurately and cost effectively monitored with GPS tracking. For example, cattle use of feed supplement placed in areas far from water and on steep slopes can be measured with GPS tracking and corresponding impacts on distribution patterns estimated. Ongoing research has identified genetic markers that are associated with cattle spatial movement patterns. If the results can be validated, genetic selection for grazing distribution may become feasible. Tracking collars have become easier to develop and construct, making them significantly less expensive, which will likely increase their use in livestock grazing management research. Some research questions can be designed so that dependent variables are measured by spatial movements of livestock, and in such cases, GPS tracking is a practical tool for conducting studies on extensive and rugged rangeland pastures. Similarly, accelerometers are changing our ability to monitor livestock behavior. Today, accelerometers are sensitive and can record movements at fine temporal scales for periods of weeks to months. The combination of GPS tracking and accelerometers appears to be useful tools for identifying changes in livestock behavior that are associated with livestock diseases and other welfare concerns. Recent technological advancements may make real-time or near real-time tracking on rangelands feasible and cost-effective. This would allow development of applications that could remotely monitor livestock well-being on extensive rangeland and notify ranchers when animals require treatment or other management.

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An assessment of behavioural syndromes in rangeland-raised beef cattle

Cited by 47 publications

References 61 publications

How integrated are behavioral and endocrine stress response traits? A repeated measures approach to testing the stress‐coping style model

How integrated are behavioral and endocrine stress response traits? A repeated measures approach to testing the stress‐coping style model

When the going gets tough: behavioural type-dependent space use in the sleepy lizard changes as the season dries

Use of GPS tracking collars and accelerometers for rangeland livestock production research1

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