Fast–slow life history is correlated with individual differences in movements and prey selection in an aquatic predator in the wild

Abstract

Fast and slow life histories are proposed to covary with consistent individual differences in behaviour, but little is known whether it holds in the wild, where individuals experience natural fluctuations of the environment. We investigated whether individual differences in behaviour, such as movement traits and prey selection, are linked to variation in life-history traits in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the wild. Using high-resolution acoustic telemetry, we collected the positional data of fish in a whole natural lake and estimated individual movement traits by fitting a two-state correlated random walk model. Prey selection was inferred from stable isotope analysis using scale samples. Life-history traits were estimated by fitting a biphasic growth model to an individual growth trajectory back-calculated from scale samples. Life-history traits were correlated with behavioural traits such as movements and prey selection. Individuals with higher reproductive effort were found to switch more frequently between active and inactive modes and show greater reliance on prey from pelagic pathways (indicated by lower δ C). Further, individuals with faster juvenile growth were found to stay active for a longer time during the adult stage. Our results demonstrate the link between individual behavioural differences and fast-slow life-history traits under ecologically relevant conditions.

Personalities influence spatial responses to environmental fluctuations in wild fish

“…It is possible the differences in space use at different temperatures by proactive and reactive fish may be due to the existence of physiological constraints. Indeed, evidence that behavioural, physiological and life-history traits are correlated under a pace of life syndrome (POLS) is gaining ground (Nakayama, Rapp, & Arlinghaus, 2016;Réale et al, 2010). Proactive fish, having larger levels of boldness, activity and aggressiveness, may have a bigger metabolic engine and therefore higher energetic needs (Careau, Thomas, Humphries, & Réale, 2008;Rey, Digka, & MacKenzie, 2015).…”

Fine‐scale movement ecology of a freshwater top predator, Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), in response to the abiotic environment over the course of a year

“…High-resolution telemetry has been applied in many research fields, such as animal personality in the wild (Harrison et al, 2015;Nakayama, Laskowski, Klefoth, & Arlinghaus, 2016;Taylor & Cooke, 2014) and correlations between movement and life history traits (Nakayama, Rapp, & Arlinghaus, 2017). When coupled with environmental data, high-resolution telemetry affords an opportunity to re-evaluate our current knowledge about the behaviour of free-ranging fishes in the wild and offer new insights.…”

Encountering a bait is necessary but insufficient to explain individual variability in vulnerability to angling in two freshwater benthivorous fish in the wild

“…Repeatable behaviours can also correlate with age, growth rate, fecundity, morphology or metabolism [49,50]. Positive size selectivity is common feature in recreational angling [51] and there are several examples in which fast growing fish [31,52–54], as well as fish with high metabolism [48] are harvested preferentially by anglers.…”