Is vigilance a personality trait? Plasticity is key alongside some contextual consistency

Mettke-Hofmann, Claudia

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279066

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Head-turning frequency in sentinels of the Florida scrub-jay varied as a function of factors like group size and perch height. These results fit with the idea that the head-turning frequency is associated with perceived predation risk [ 49 , 54 , 55 ]. The head-turning frequency also varied systematically among breeders but not among the younger juveniles and helpers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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Gazing Strategies among Sentinels of a Cooperative Breeder Are Repeatable but Unrelated to Survival

Beauchamp,

Barve

2024

Biology

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Vigilance is a common behavioural adaptation to increase the chances of detecting predators before it is too late to escape. Behavioural traits are often repeatable among individuals over the long term, suggesting differences in personality. Earlier studies have documented individual consistency in the time allocated to vigilance. However, little is known about individual consistency in the ways vigilance is achieved from one moment to another and whether different patterns of vigilance among individuals are associated with survival. We aimed to determine whether sentinels of a cooperative breeder showed individual consistency in their vigilance and if individual variation was related to annual survival. During sentinel bouts from vantage points, Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) turn their heads from side to side to monitor their surroundings. Over three field seasons, we found that the head-turning frequency was repeatable in breeders but not in juveniles or non-breeding helpers. The moderate repeatability in breeders was not related to survival. Our results suggest that the head-turning frequency in sentinels of the Florida scrub-jay is repeatable in breeders but not in less experienced juveniles or helpers and, therefore, likely becomes more repeatable as individuals age. The assumption that individual variation in vigilance is related to survival was unsupported in our study and requires further study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…It is not clear whether the gazing strategies that emerge from head turning are consistent among individuals. In the only study we could find, the head-turning frequency was not consistent in laboratory birds [ 49 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gazing Strategies among Sentinels of a Cooperative Breeder Are Repeatable but Unrelated to Survival

Beauchamp,

Barve

2024

Biology

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“…This would be in line with the late exploration of the complex background of the black-headed birds and the females. However, studies on vigilance show habituation to a similar novel environment within four days [ 63 , 64 ], which would speak against such a lengthy habituation. In the current experiment, the only difference in the experimental cages were the added backgrounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enclosure Background Preferences Differ between Sexes and Color Morphs in the Gouldian Finch

Moise

Eccles

Mettke-Hofmann

2023

Animals

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Most wild animals camouflage well into their environment, providing protection from predators, whereas captive animals often contrast with their background. This can cause stress for the animal, which may perceive it as being exposed. Theory suggests that prey is more difficult to detect in front of complex backgrounds; hence, animals should prefer complex over simple backgrounds. We tested this in the polymorphic Gouldian finch by providing a complex background pattern in one half of the flight cage and a simple background pattern in the other half for 10 days (phase 1). Patterns were then swapped and presented for another week (phase 2). Groups of four birds consisting of either pure black-headed or red-headed or mixed head color (two black-headed and two red-headed) pairings were tested. Gouldian finches spent significantly more time in front of the simple background in phase 1 but not in phase 2. Specifically, females preferred the simple background in phase 1 significantly more than males. Moreover, red-headed birds consistently perched in front of the simple background, whereas black-headed birds used both backgrounds, particularly in phase 2. Results indicate that background preferences differ between sexes and morphs, which should be considered when designing backgrounds. Moreover, natural habitat preferences need consideration.

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“…In the laboratory, vigilance in Gouldian finches is affected by the perceived risk with fewer head movements the more unfamiliar the environment becomes (they adopt a strategy of motionless that has been observed in the wild, too, [ 32 ]). Males overall are less vigilant than females and vigilance decreases with age [ 53 ]. Group composition affects vigilance with mixed head colour pairings showing higher vigilance than same head colour pairings [ 32 , 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Males overall are less vigilant than females and vigilance decreases with age [ 53 ]. Group composition affects vigilance with mixed head colour pairings showing higher vigilance than same head colour pairings [ 32 , 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Watch out! High vigilance at small waterholes when alone in open trees

Hofmann,

Mettke-Hofmann

2024

PLoS ONE

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An animal’s environment contains many risks causing animals to scan their environment for potential predators and threats from conspecifics. How much time they invest in such vigilance depends on environmental and social factors. Most vigilance studies have been conducted in a foraging context with little known about vigilance in other contexts. Here we investigated vigilance of Gouldian finches at waterholes considering environmental and social factors. Gouldian finches are colour polymorphic with two main head colours in both sexes co-occurring in the same population, black-headed and red-headed. Data collection was done on birds sitting in trees surrounding waterholes by measuring the frequency of head movements, which reflects how frequently they change their field of view, i.e., scan different areas in their environment. A higher frequency generally reflects higher vigilance. Gouldian finches had a higher frequency of head movements when at small waterholes and when sitting in open, leafless trees. Moreover, head movements were higher when birds were alone in the tree as compared to groups of birds. Finally, birds in same head colour morph groups had a higher frequency of head movements than birds in mixed head colour groups. Results indicate heightened vigilance with increased perception of predation risk (small waterholes, open exposed perch, when alone) but that social vigilance also played a role (group composition) with particularly the aggressive red-headed birds being more vigilant when together with other red-headed birds. Future research should investigate the effect of smaller waterholes as global warming will cause smaller waterholes to become more common for longer periods of time, which can increase stress in the birds.

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Is vigilance a personality trait? Plasticity is key alongside some contextual consistency

Cited by 5 publications

References 57 publications

Gazing Strategies among Sentinels of a Cooperative Breeder Are Repeatable but Unrelated to Survival

Gazing Strategies among Sentinels of a Cooperative Breeder Are Repeatable but Unrelated to Survival

Enclosure Background Preferences Differ between Sexes and Color Morphs in the Gouldian Finch

Watch out! High vigilance at small waterholes when alone in open trees

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