Publication details
Individual-level pace-of-life syndromes in annual killifish are mediated by intersexual and interspecific differences
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Evolutionary Ecology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10682-020-10059-9 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10682-020-10059-9 |
| Keywords | Behaviour; Life history; Metabolic rate; Slow-fast continuum |
| Description | Pace-of-life syndromes (POLS) describe covariations between life history (such as growth rate and age at maturity), behaviour (e.g. activity or boldness) and physiology (e.g. metabolic rate) along an axis from fast to slow lifestyles. This powerful concept can be applicable at a range of scales, from broad interspecific contrasts to the individual intra-population level, though its generality has recently been questioned. Using two species of African annual fishes with fast lifestyles, we tested how individual-level POLS covary between the sexes and contrasting social environments. Measuring three key metabolic parameters (standard metabolic rate, SMR; maximum metabolic rate, MMR; and aerobic scope, AS), we found extensive variation between species and sexes in the expression of POLS. Social environment affected individual metabolic traits, but not their covariation with behaviour and life history traits. In accordance with the POLS prediction, we observed a positive association between MMR, AS and boldness, and a negative association between MMR, AS and lifespan inNothobranchius orthonotusmales, although trait covariations were opposite inN. orthonotusfemales. InNothobranchius pienaari, we confirmed the predicted negative correlation between SMR and lifespan which was not sex-specific. Contrary to POLS predictions, we observed a negative correlation between SMR and boldness inN. pienaari. Finally, there was no link between activity levels or size at maturity and metabolic traits in either species. Overall, we demonstrated limited support for POLS predictions, but found that specific pace-of-life trait associations were mediated by both interspecific and intersexual differences. |