[en] In semi-colonial species, some individuals choose to breed in isolation while others aggregate in breeding colonies. The origin and the maintenance of this pattern have been questioned, and inherited phenotype-dependency of group breeding benefits has been invoked as one of the possible mechanisms for the evolution of semi-coloniality. Using field observations and behavioural tests in the semi-colonial barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), we tested the hypothesis that breeding group size is related to personality. We measured neophobia (the fear and avoidance of new things) and social tolerance of adults, and showed that these two independent traits of personality are strongly related to breeding group size. The biggest colonies hosted birds with higher neophobia, and larger groups also hosted females with higher social tolerance. This parallel between group size and group composition in terms of individual personality offers a better understanding of the observed diversity in breeding group size in this species. Further studies are however needed to better understand the origin of the link between individual personality and group breeding strategies.
Disciplines :
Animal psychology, ethology & psychobiology
Author, co-author :
Dardenne, Sophie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Ducatez, Simon; Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B1 Canada
Cote, Julien; CNRS, EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique), UMR 5174, Toulouse, France ; Université de Toulouse UPS, Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, 118 Route de Narbonne, Bât. 4R3, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
Poncin, Pascal ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Stevens, Virginie; CNRS USR2936, Station d’Ecologie Expérimentale de Moulis, F-09200 Moulis, France
Language :
English
Title :
Neophobia and social tolerance are related to breeding group size in a semi-colonial bird
Publication date :
2013
Journal title :
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
ISSN :
0340-5443
eISSN :
1432-0762
Publisher :
Springer Science & Business Media B.V., New York, United States - New York
Volume :
67
Issue :
8
Pages :
1317-1327
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
Reproduction en groupe chez l’Hirondelle rustique (Hirundo rustica) : stratégies individuelles et interactions sociales
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
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