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Context Matters: Multiple Novelty Tests Reveal Different Aspects of Shyness-Boldness in Farmed American Mink (Neovison vison)

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  • Christina Lehmkuhl Noer
  • Esther Kjær Needham
  • Ann-Sophie Wiese
  • Thorsten Johannes Skovbjerg Balsby
  • Torben Dabelsteen

Abstract

Animal personality research is receiving increasing interest from related fields, such as evolutionary personality psychology. By merging the conceptual understanding of personality, the contributions to both fields of research may be enhanced. In this study, we investigate animal personality based on the definition of personality traits as underlying dispositional factors, which are not directly measurable, but which predispose individuals to react through different behavioural patterns. We investigated the shyness-boldness continuum reflected in the consistency of inter-individual variation in behavioural responses towards novelty in 47 farmed American mink (Neovison vison), which were raised in identical housing conditions. Different stages of approach behaviour towards novelty, and how these related within and across contexts, were explored. Our experimental design contained four tests: two novel object tests (non-social contexts) and two novel animated stimuli tests (social contexts). Our results showed consistency in shyness measures across multiple tests, indicating the existence of personality in farmed American mink. It was found that consistency in shyness measures differs across non-social and social contexts, as well as across the various stages in the approach towards novel objects, revealing that different aspects of shyness exist in the farmed American mink. To our knowledge this is the first study to reveal aspects of the shyness-boldness continuum in the American mink. Since the mink were raised in identical housing conditions, inherited factors may have been important in shaping the consistent inter-individual variation. Body weight and sex had no effect on the personality of the mink. Altogether, our results suggest that the shyness-boldness continuum cannot be explained by a simple underlying dispositional factor, but instead encompasses a broader term of hesitating behaviour that might comprise several different personality traits.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Lehmkuhl Noer & Esther Kjær Needham & Ann-Sophie Wiese & Thorsten Johannes Skovbjerg Balsby & Torben Dabelsteen, 2015. "Context Matters: Multiple Novelty Tests Reveal Different Aspects of Shyness-Boldness in Farmed American Mink (Neovison vison)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0130474
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130474
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pim Edelaar & David Serrano & Martina Carrete & Julio Blas & Jaime Potti & José Luis Tella, 2012. "Tonic immobility is a measure of boldness toward predators: an application of Bayesian structural equation modeling," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(3), pages 619-626.
    2. Charline Couchoux & Will Cresswell, 2012. "Personality constraints versus flexible antipredation behaviors: how important is boldness in risk management of redshanks (Tringa totanus) foraging in a natural system?," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(2), pages 290-301.
    3. Kees van Oers & Margreet Klunder & Piet J. Drent, 2005. "Context dependence of personalities: risk-taking behavior in a social and a nonsocial situation," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 16(4), pages 716-723, July.
    4. Pablo Michelena & Angela M. Sibbald & Hans W. Erhard & James E. McLeod, 2009. "Effects of group size and personality on social foraging: the distribution of sheep across patches," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 20(1), pages 145-152.
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