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<p>Behavioral individuality and plasticity are fundamental traits for the survival and adaptability of animal populations. However, we know surprisingly little about how such variation develops during the ontogeny of animals. Sex is a key source of behavioral variation in animals, but how sex differences manifest and vary through ontogeny still remains largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we tested whether and how average and individual differences in behavior develop over the lifetime of male and female brine shrimp, <i>Artemia franciscana</i>. Using repeated open field tests, we measured activity levels (distance moved and mobility) and body size over the development of the animals. To investigate changes at the individual level, we partitioned and separately tested the behavioral variation between (individuality) and within (temporal plasticity) individuals. Our results show that activity varied during the development of <i>A. franciscana</i>, both at the mean and individual levels. In particular, we observed that as individuals developed, they differed more from each other in their behavior and were, in general, more plastic, with temporal plasticity increasing more in mature males than females. We also found an average increase in the distance moved and a decrease in mobility levels over development. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering ontogenetic dynamics to better understand behavioral individuality and temporal plasticity, and the factors shaping their expression over time.</p>

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Sex differences in development of behavioral individuality and plasticity in brine shrimp

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月7日

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  • Marta Favero,
  • Hy Do,
  • Marialetizia Palomba,
  • Daniele Canestrelli,
  • Donald Wlodkowic,
  • Bob B.M. Wong,
  • Giovanni Polverino

摘要

Behavioral individuality and plasticity are fundamental traits for the survival and adaptability of animal populations. However, we know surprisingly little about how such variation develops during the ontogeny of animals. Sex is a key source of behavioral variation in animals, but how sex differences manifest and vary through ontogeny still remains largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we tested whether and how average and individual differences in behavior develop over the lifetime of male and female brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana. Using repeated open field tests, we measured activity levels (distance moved and mobility) and body size over the development of the animals. To investigate changes at the individual level, we partitioned and separately tested the behavioral variation between (individuality) and within (temporal plasticity) individuals. Our results show that activity varied during the development of A. franciscana, both at the mean and individual levels. In particular, we observed that as individuals developed, they differed more from each other in their behavior and were, in general, more plastic, with temporal plasticity increasing more in mature males than females. We also found an average increase in the distance moved and a decrease in mobility levels over development. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering ontogenetic dynamics to better understand behavioral individuality and temporal plasticity, and the factors shaping their expression over time.