Changes in behavioural trait integration following rapid ecotype divergence in an aquatic isopod.

Summary, in English

Colonization of new habitats can relax selection pressures, and traits or trait combinations no longer selected for might become reduced or lost. We investigated behavioural differentiation and behavioural trait integration in the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus. This isopod has recently colonized a novel habitat and diverged into two ecotypes which encounter different predator faunas. We investigated sex-specific behavioural differences and phenotypic integration in three behavioural assays: (i) time to emerge (TE) from a shelter, (ii) activity and (iii) escape behaviour. General activity and escape behaviour differed between ecotypes. Furthermore, general activity and TE differed between sexes. Behavioural traits were more frequently correlated in the ancestral habitat, and phenotypic integration tended to be higher in this habitat as well. Our study suggests that different predator types, but also other ecological factors such as habitat matrices and population densities, might explain the differences in behavioural integration in these ecotypes.

• Författare: Sanna Harris; F Eroukhmanoff; K K Green; Erik Svensson; Lars Pettersson
• Avdelning/ar: Biodiversitet; Biologiska institutionen; Biodiversitet och bevarandevetenskap; Populationsbiologi, mikro- och makroevolution
• Publiceringsår: 2011
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 1887-1896
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Journal of evolutionary biology
• Volym: 24
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02322.x
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Ämne: Ecology
• Nyckelord: antipredator behaviour; Asellus aquaticus; behavioural correlation; behavioural syndrome; phenotypic integration; predation; rapid divergence
• Status: Published
• Forskningsgrupp: Biodiversity and Conservation Science; Evolution and Ecology of Phenotypes in Nature
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 1420-9101