Evolutionary background for stress-coping styles: Relationships between physiological, behavioral, and cognitive traits in non-mammalian vertebrates

Abstract

Reactions to stress vary between individuals, and physiological and behavioral responses tend to be associated in distinct suites of correlated traits, often termed stress coping styles. A connection between physiology, behavior, and cognition was recently demonstrated in strains of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for consistently high or low cortisol responses to stress. Compared to high-responsive (HR) fish the low-responsive (LR) strain display better retention of a conditioned response, and tend to show proactive behavior such as enhanced aggression, social dominance, and rapid resumption of feed intake in new environments. Marked differences between HR and LR trout in brain monoamine neurochemistry have also been reported. In line with these studies, experiments with the lizard Anolis carolinensis reveal connections between monoaminergic activity in limbic structures, proactive behavior in novel environments, and the establishment of social status via agonistic behavior.Together these observations suggest that within-species diversity of behavioral and cognitive correlates of stress responsiveness is maintained by natural selection over a wide range of animal groups. This diversity may underlie several seemingly different phenomena such as stress coping style, behavioral syndromes, and animal personalities.

Individual differences in metabolism predict coping styles in fish

“…In this case, active copers by showing lower oxygen consumption during the first 10 min after transfer as well as during the 22 h measurement period suggest a quicker recovery from transfer than passive copers. This is supported by other studies that showed a quicker recovery of active copers (measured by increased appetite) after transfer into a new environment (Höglund et al, 2007;Øverli et al, 2007).…”

Personality and the emergence of the pace-of-life syndrome concept at the population level

“…High values of these traits generally characterize 'proactive' individuals whereas low aggressiveness, low activity, thorough exploration and shyness characterize 'reactive' individuals (Koolhaas et al 1999). The existence of correlations between neuroendocrine and behavioural traits has been found in diverse taxa including mammals, birds, fish and reptiles (Koolhaas et al 1999;Groothuis & Carere 2005;Øverli et al 2007), and suggests that these suites of traits have been maintained throughout evolution (Øverli et al 2007).…”

Linking behavioural syndromes and cognition: a behavioural ecology perspective

“…Animals that rely heavily on their prior assessments (and ignore new information) do not learn as much as those that [23], and proactive trout exhibited longer retention of conditioned responses [25]. Differences between proactive and reactive individuals in updating can also be reflected in their styles of memory formation.…”