title: Multidimensionality of behavioural phenotypes in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua.
abstract: Much of the inter-individual variation observed in animal behaviour is now attributed to the existence of behavioural phenotypes or animal personalities. Such phenotypes may be fundamental to fisheries and aquaculture, yet there have been few detailed studies of this phenomenon in exploited marine animals. We investigated the behavioural and neuroendocrine responses of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), to situations reflecting critical ecological challenges: predator attacks and territorial challenges. Both hatchery-reared and wild fish were tested and behavioural profiles were compared with baseline conditions. We then used an objective, multivariate approach, rather than assigning individuals along one-dimensional behavioural axes, to examine whether distinct behavioural phenotypes were present. Our results indicate that two distinct behavioural phenotypes were evident in fish from each background. In hatchery-reared fish, phenotypes displayed divergent locomotor activity, sheltering, brain monoamine concentrations and responses to competitive challenges. In wild fish, phenotypes were distinguished primarily by locomotor activity, sheltering and responsiveness to predator stimuli. Hatcheries presumably represent a more stressful social environment, and social behaviour and neuroendocrine responses were important in discerning behavioural phenotypes in hatchery fish, whereas antipredator responses were important in discerning phenotypes in wild fish that have previously encountered predators. In both fish types, behavioural and physiological traits that classified individuals into phenotypes were not the same as those that were correlated across situations. These results highlight the multidimensionality of animal personalities, and that the processes that regulate one suite of behavioural traits may be very different to the processes that regulate other behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Norway. justin.meager@gmail.com
authors.forename: Justin J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meager
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernö
authors.forename: Jon Egil
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Skjæraasen
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Järvi
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodewald
authors.forename: Gisle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sverdrup
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winberg
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005398:Fisheries; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000502:physiology*; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology; D007206:Individuality; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013731:Territoriality
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines