Starvation decreases behavioral consistency in a Neotropical harvestman

Abstract

Consistent inter-individual differences in behavior have been shown in several animal groups, ranging from vertebrates to invertebrates. One of the most studied personality traits in animals is boldness, which is the tendency to expose to risky situations. Theory proposes that individuals’ state (e.g., body energy) would influence the expression of personality traits. In this study, we tested if boldness levels of the harvestman Mischonyx cuspidatus (measured as duration of death feigning/freezing after simulated predator attack) differ between two different states, namely sated and food deprived. We also tested if the degree of repeatability in boldness is affected by the individual state. We found no differences in the levels of boldness expressed by M. cuspidatus when comparing between different conditions (sated and food deprived) at a population level. However, we found that individuals showed more consistency in boldness when sated relative to a food-deprived condition. Finally, we suggest new avenues for future studies addressing personality in harvestmen.