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Intraindividual Behavioral Variability Predicts Foraging Outcome in a Beach-dwelling Jumping Spider
James L L Lichtenstein1, Gregory T Chism2, Ambika Kamath3
1Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA. jlllichtenstein@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|December 24, 2017
Summary
Behavioral variation within individual spiders (intraindividual variability) positively impacts foraging success, suggesting it should be studied alongside animal personality in predator-prey interactions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Animal personality, consistent behavioral differences between individuals, is widely studied.
- Intraindividual variability (IIV), or behavioral variation within an individual, is less explored regarding fitness consequences.
- Prior research links higher body condition in spiders to increased behavioral variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of behavioral intraindividual variability (IIV) on predator-prey interaction outcomes.
- To test the hypothesis that IIV in activity level positively correlates with foraging performance in jumping spiders.
- To compare the predictive power of IIV versus average activity level (personality) on foraging success.
Main Methods:
- Assessed activity level IIV and average activity level in Terralonus californicus spiders.
- Measured foraging success by change in spider mass and the number of prey killed in laboratory mesocosms.
- Analyzed associations between activity IIV, average activity, and foraging success metrics.
Main Results:
- Activity IIV positively correlated with mass gained from prey, indicating more efficient consumption or reduced energy expenditure.
- Average activity level (personality) did not predict foraging success metrics.
- Behavioral IIV predicted foraging success, while personality did not.
Conclusions:
- Intraindividual variability in behavior is a significant factor in predator-prey interactions.
- IIV should be considered alongside personality in ecological and evolutionary studies.
- Behavioral plasticity within individuals may offer fitness advantages not captured by average behavioral traits.
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