Personality as a Predictor of Time-Activity Budget in Lion-Tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus)

Abstract

Time-activity budget, i.e., how a population or an individual divides their day into various behaviours and activities, is an important ecological aspect. Existing research primarily focused on group-level time-activity budgets, while individual variations have only been reported recently. However, little is known about how consistent inter-individual differences or personalities influence time-activity budgets. We examined the personalities of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) and investigated their influence on individual time-activity budgets. The resulting personality traits, namely persistence, sociability, affiliation, and anxiety, were used to predict the three broad categories of the time-activity budget—food-related, active, and resting behaviours. We found that persistence and sociability positively predicted the time spent being active. Food-related behaviours were positively predicted by persistence, while anxiety was found to influence them negatively. The time spent resting was negatively predicted by persistence. We did not find an effect of affiliation on the time-activity budgets. We discuss these findings in light of the ecology of lion-tailed macaques. Our study highlights the importance of a novel approach that uses animal personality traits as predictors of individual time-activity budgets and offers insights regarding the use of personality assessments in conservation and welfare activities.

Hand preference predicts behavioral responses to threats in Barbary macaques

“…A plush large cat/tiger (∼100 cm, Figure S1a) and a rubber snake (∼150 cm, Figure S1b) with markings similar to that of a reticulated python were used (cf. Kluiver et al, 2022). Although the tiger is not a natural predator of Barbary macaques, the cat model might have resembled a leopard to the Barbary macaques (Stein & Hayssen, 2013); besides, the model might also have resembled a large genet, a small predator with a cat-like body, pale fur, black spots and a ringed tail (Larivière & Calzada, 2001; Majolo et al, 2013).…”

“…Travel; Bipedal walk; Stand; Bipedal stand; Climb up/down; Hang; Sit; Lie down (see Kluiver et al, 2022 for details).…”

Testing for personality consistency across naturally occurring behavioral contexts in sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

“…Personality consistency has been found using rating methods (e.g., Dutton, 2008 ; Uher & Asendorpf, 2008 ; Weiss & King, 2015 ), experiments (e.g., Koski & Burkart, 2015 ; Kutsukake et al, 2012 ; Massen et al, 2013 ) and to a smaller extent, via behavioral observations (e.g., Koski, 2011 ; Seyfarth et al, 2012 ; Tkaczynski et al, 2018 ). More specifically, temporal consistency has been found using all three methodologies (see Freeman & Gosling, 2010 ; Gosling, 2001 ); behavioral observations revealed temporal consistency for personality traits (e.g., sociability, boldness, anxiety, boldness) in tufted capuchin ( Sapajus apella : Byrne & Suomi, 1995 ), five macaque species ( Macaca mulatta : von Borell et al, 2016 ; M. nemestrina: Reite & Short, 1980 ; M. nigra : Neumann et al, 2013 ; M. silenus : (Kluiver et al, 2022 ); M. sylvanus : Tkaczynski et al, 2018 ), chacma baboons ( Papio ursinus : Seyfarth et al, 2012 ), and in chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes : Koski, 2011 ). In contrast, contextual consistency has been investigated only with the experimental method, but for a range of personality traits, such as sociability, boldness, explorativeness, and anxiety in chimpanzees (e.g., Kutsukake et al, 2012 ; Massen et al, 2013 ; Uher et al, 2008 ), and across different nonhuman primate species (Weiss et al, 2011 ).…”

“…nemestrina: Reite & Short, 1980;M. nigra: Neumann et al, 2013; M. silenus: (Kluiver et al, 2022); M. sylvanus: Tkaczynski et al, 2018), chacma baboons (Papio ursinus: Seyfarth et al, 2012), and in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes: Koski, 2011). In contrast, contextual consistency has been investigated only with the experimental method, but for a range of personality traits, such as sociability, boldness, explorativeness, and anxiety in chimpanzees (e.g., Kutsukake et al, 2012;Massen et al, 2013;, and across different nonhuman primate species (Weiss et al, 2011).…”

“…These advantages of the behavioral approach contribute to a more detailed description of a fuller range of an individual's personality, and a description of personality that is tied to the contexts in which individuals live and behave (Mehta & Gosling, 2008 ; Uher, 2008 ); for example, the trait of sociability can be observed in a food sharing context (Silk et al, 2013 ) and in social proximity, while grooming, resting, or locomoting (Massen & Koski, 2014 ). Primate studies using the behavioral approach are needed because, to date, none have systematically assessed contextual consistency, even though several personality studies have used behavioral observations to measure temporal consistency (e.g., Brent et al, 2014 ; Capitanio, 1999 ; Kluiver et al, 2022 ; Konečná et al, 2008 , 2012 ; Koski, 2011 ; Neumann et al, 2013 ; Pederson et al, 2005 ; Schaefer & Steklis, 2014 ; Seyfarth et al, 2012 ). Personality is defined as an aspect of an individual that is consistent across contexts and is consistent over time (Gosling, 2008 ; Sih, Bell, Johnson, & Ziemba, 2004 ).…”