Predatory behaviour as a personality trait in a wild fish population

Abstract

Consistent interindividual differences in behaviour (i.e. animal personality variation) can influence a range of ecological and evolutionary processes, including predation. Variation between individual predators in commonly measured personality traits, such as boldness and activity, has previously been linked to encounter rates with their prey. Given the strong selection on predators to respond to prey, individual predators may also vary consistently in their response to prey in a manner that is specific to the context of predation. By studying wild piscivorous fish (pike cichlids, Crenicichla frenata ) in their natural environment using experimental presentations of prey and control stimuli, we show that individual predators differ consistently in the amount of time spent near prey. Crucially, these differences were not explained by the behaviour of the same individuals in control presentations (the same apparatus lacking prey), suggesting that variation in the response to prey reflects a ‘predator personality trait’ that is independent from other individual traits (body size, boldness and/or neophobia) and environmental factors. Pike cichlids that spent more time near prey also attacked prey at a higher rate. These findings imply that the likely risk posed by individual predators cannot always be adequately predicted from typically studied axes of personality variation. • We studied individual variation in the behaviour of wild pike cichlid predators. • Predators were repeatedly presented with prey stimuli and no-prey controls. • Individual predators differed consistently in the time spent near prey. • Variation in the response to prey was not explained by behaviour without prey. • Typical personality traits fail to predict the risk posed by individual predators.