Sexual horn dimorphism predicts the expression of active personality trait: males perform better only in the sexually horn dimorphic Onthophagus dung beetle

Kerman, Kaan; Isaia, Marco; Rolando, Antonio; Palestrini, Claudia

doi:10.1007/s10164-023-00782-5

Cited by 1 publication

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“…All the behavioural traits measured were repeatable, confirming the consistency of behaviour over time. The present finding suggested that the dung beetle Copris umbilicatus expresses personality, keeping with what has been found in other studies on personality related to locomotory activity in Callosobruchus maculatus [20], Tribolium castaneum [18] and Nebria brevicollis [12], and thanatosis in Tribolium confusum [24], Phaedon cochleariae [19], Tenebrio molitor [76], Onthophagus furcatus and O. ruficapillus [53].…”

Section: Evidence Of Personalitysupporting

confidence: 92%

“…In keeping with former studies [ 53 ], we examined dung beetle personality and behavioural syndromes to investigate the case of Copris umbilicatus Abeille de Perrin, 1901 ( Figure 1 ), which is an optimal model for behavioural research because species of this genus exhibit complex behaviour in a sub-social context [ 31 , 32 , 47 ]. This coprophagous species is a medium-sized (15–22 mm) tunneller dung beetle with a discontinuous distribution in southeastern Europe [ 54 , 55 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural Repeatability and Behavioural Syndrome in the Dung Beetle Copris umbilicatus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Natta

Laini

Roggero

et al. 2023

Insects

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Although personality studies have primarily focused on vertebrates, the evidence showing invertebrates to be capable of displaying personalities has been steadily growing in recent years. In this study, we investigated the behavioural repeatability (repetition of a behaviour over time) and behavioural syndromes (a set of correlated behaviours) in Copris umbilicatus, which is a dung beetle species showing complex sub-social behaviour. We analysed three behaviours (activity, thanatosis and distress call emission) by measuring seven distinct behavioural traits (i.e., three activity-, one thanatosis- and three distress call-related traits). We found moderate to high levels of individual repeatability in all behavioural traits considered. The duration of thanatosis was inversely correlated with two activity traits, hinting a behavioural syndrome for thanatosis and activity, with bolder individuals exhibiting shorter thanatosis and higher locomotor activity in contrast with fearful individuals, which display longer thanatosis and poor locomotor activity. No relationships were found between the behavioural traits and body size or sex. Results of the principal component analysis (PCA) suggested personality differences among individuals. Dung beetles provide an impressive variety of ecosystem services. Since the provision of these services may depend on the personalities represented in local populations and communities, studies on the ecology of personality in dung beetles should be encouraged in future research.

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