Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog
Intra-specific aggressive interactions play a prominent role in the life of many animals. While studies have found evidence for repeatability in boldness, activity, and exploration in amphibians, we know relatively little about consistent among-individual variation in aggressiveness, despite its imp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.881387/full |
| _version_ | 1818015920227876864 |
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| author | Sarah Chaloupka Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Susanne Stückler Yimen Araya-Ajoy Patrick Walsh Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler |
| author_facet | Sarah Chaloupka Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Susanne Stückler Yimen Araya-Ajoy Patrick Walsh Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler |
| author_sort | Sarah Chaloupka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intra-specific aggressive interactions play a prominent role in the life of many animals. While studies have found evidence for repeatability in boldness, activity, and exploration in amphibians, we know relatively little about consistent among-individual variation in aggressiveness, despite its importance for male-male competition and territoriality. Amphibians, and Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) in particular, are highly suitable for investigating among-individual variation in aggressiveness, as most species exhibit strong territoriality in at least one of the sexes. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in knowledge, by investigating within- and between-individual variation in territorial aggression in a semi-natural population of the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae) in French Guiana. We conducted repeated, standardized behavioral tests to assess if the level of territorial aggression is consistent within and different between individuals. Further, we tested a possible link between body size and level of territorial aggression. We found moderate repeatability in territorial aggressiveness, but no link to age and/or body size. In conclusion, our study represents the first documentation of repeatable aggressive behavior in a territorial context in amphibians. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:05:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-560f663044c647699aedb8ff9875bbcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:05:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-560f663044c647699aedb8ff9875bbcd2022-12-22T02:06:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-04-011010.3389/fevo.2022.881387881387Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison FrogSarah Chaloupka0Mélissa Peignier1Mélissa Peignier2Mélissa Peignier3Susanne Stückler4Yimen Araya-Ajoy5Patrick Walsh6Max Ringler7Max Ringler8Max Ringler9Max Ringler10Eva Ringler11Eva Ringler12Eva Ringler13Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaMesserli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDivision of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaCentre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwaySchool of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDivision of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Graz, AustriaDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaMesserli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDivision of Behavioral Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandIntra-specific aggressive interactions play a prominent role in the life of many animals. While studies have found evidence for repeatability in boldness, activity, and exploration in amphibians, we know relatively little about consistent among-individual variation in aggressiveness, despite its importance for male-male competition and territoriality. Amphibians, and Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) in particular, are highly suitable for investigating among-individual variation in aggressiveness, as most species exhibit strong territoriality in at least one of the sexes. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in knowledge, by investigating within- and between-individual variation in territorial aggression in a semi-natural population of the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae) in French Guiana. We conducted repeated, standardized behavioral tests to assess if the level of territorial aggression is consistent within and different between individuals. Further, we tested a possible link between body size and level of territorial aggression. We found moderate repeatability in territorial aggressiveness, but no link to age and/or body size. In conclusion, our study represents the first documentation of repeatable aggressive behavior in a territorial context in amphibians.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.881387/fullterritorialityaggressionanimal personalitypoison frogsAllobates femoralis |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Chaloupka Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Mélissa Peignier Susanne Stückler Yimen Araya-Ajoy Patrick Walsh Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Max Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler Eva Ringler Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution territoriality aggression animal personality poison frogs Allobates femoralis |
| title | Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog |
| title_full | Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog |
| title_fullStr | Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog |
| title_short | Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog |
| title_sort | repeatable territorial aggression in a neotropical poison frog |
| topic | territoriality aggression animal personality poison frogs Allobates femoralis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.881387/full |
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