SUMMERY

1.
Aggression is one of the most frequently studied behavioural traits across a wide range of taxa;
however, most studies aggressive behaviour in a social context, in which aggressive interactions
between conspecifics are motivated by resource control (offensive or social aggression).
However, in an antipredator context, the primary role of aggression is defence (defensive or
antipredator aggression). Although the neuroendocrinology of antipredator aggression is often
studied in domesticated and laboratory animals, how environment and individual state affect
this behavioural trait in the wild is largely unknown. Here, by conducting a manipulative
experiment, we tested whether (i) consistent between-individual differences (i.e. animal
personality) are present in antipredator aggression in adult male Carpetan rock lizards
(Iberolacerta cyreni) and (ii) short-term environmental changes (presence vs. absence of
predator cues) and differences in individual state (body length, head size, hind limb length)
affect individual mean behaviour (i.e. behavioural type). We found moderate-high repeatability
in antipredator aggression (willingness to bite a human), indicating the presence of animal
personality in this behavioural trait. Lizards were on average more defensive in the presence of
predator cues; furthermore, short-legged males showed higher antipredator aggression than
long-legged males in the presence of predator cues, probably as an attempt to balance their
decreased escape speed. Larger (~ older) males were more defensive than smaller ones,
probably due to their increased fighting ability. We conclude that antipredator aggression is an
important part of an individual’s behavioural repertoire and its expression is driven by both
environmental situation and individual state.
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-020-02922-0
APA: Horváth, G., Martín, J., López, P., & Herczeg, G. (2020). Ain’t going down without a fight:
state-and environment-dependence of antipredator defensive aggressive personalities in
Carpetan rock lizard. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 74(11), 1-10.

2:
When animals are faced with a life-threatening challenge, they mount an organism-wide
response (i.e. Plan A). For example, both the stress response (i.e. fight-or-flight) and the
immune response recruit molecular resources from other body tissues, and induce
physiological changes that optimize the body for defense. However, pathogens and predators
often co-occur. Animals that can optimize responses for a dual challenge, i.e. simultaneous
predator and pathogen attacks, will have a selective advantage. Responses to a combined
predator and pathogen attack have not been well studied, but this paper summarizes the
existing literature in insects. The response to dual challenges (i.e. Plan B) results in a suite of
physiological changes that are different from either the stress response or the immune
response, and is not a simple summation of the two. It is also not a straight-forward trade-off of
one response against the other. The response to a dual challenge (i.e. Plan B) appears to
resolve physiological trade-offs between the stress and immune responses, and reconfigures
both responses to provide the best overall defense. However, the dual response appears to be
more costly than either response occurring singly, resulting in greater damage from oxidative
stress, reduced growth rate, and increased mortality.
LINK : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00360-020-01282-5
APA: Adamo, S. A. (2020). Animals have a Plan B: how insects deal with the dual challenge of
predators and pathogens. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 1-10.

3.
Pangolins have poor vision, and thus rely on their smell and hearing to avoid predation while
they are feeding on insects. Pangolins are preyed upon by many of the top predators in their
habitats in Asia and Africa, such as lions and leopards, as well as other carnivores, like hyenas,
and have unique defense behaviors when targeted by these predators. Pangolins are
considered the most trafficked animals in the world, having high demand as delicacies and
medicinal purposes. This research looks at the various defense behaviors of Pangolins, and to
analyze these behaviors based on their frequencies. Behavior frequencies were observed in 15
videos of various predators (lions, hyenas, and leopards) trying to feed on pangolins of various
species. It was found that the pangolins have a reliable behavior of rolling into a ball as a
defense behavior, regardless of the animal that is attacking it or how they are attacking it. Most
of the predators bit at the pangolin, more-so than clawing at it or rolling it like a ball. More than
half of the time the pangolin managed to get away from the predator without harm, and the
other observations had inconclusive endings. This research is significant because it quantifies
the defense behaviors of pangolins, which is important in beginning to understand the thought
processes of animals that humans cannot directly communicate with. It also allows researchers
to understand that the dramatic decrease in population size is not due to natural predators, but
to anthropogenic greed.
Link: https://digital.stpetersburg.usf.edu/student_research_symposium/2020/Presentations/2/
APA: Baranowski, C., & Cassill, D. L. (2020). Defensive Behaviors of Pangolins and Predatory
Behaviors of their Predators.

4.
Suicidal defense is an important and effective attribute of some highly social animals. It has
been suggested that the defensive behavior of biting onto raiders is suicidal in stingless bees;
however, the mechanisms causing death are unclear. We conducted the first test of the effect
of agonistic encounters on death and injury rates of guards of a stingless bee, Tetragonisca
angustula, that bit both conspecific and heterospecific invaders within plastic tubes.
Tetragonisca angustula guards bit and immobilized invading bees for long durations and had
the ability to release their hold, but rarely did so unless the other bee died. In our assays, which
lasted hours to up to 1 day, the probability of death during nest defense by T. angustula was 5–
7%. Bitten invading bees fought back, often causing injury and sometimes death of the biting T.
angustula. Tetragonisca angustula foragers can survive for 7 days without food and so death by
starvation of guards during day-long encounters seems unlikely. Death rates of biting guards
holding non-nestmates on the ground may be higher in the field due to susceptibility to
predation. Defensive biting of stingless bees effectively protects the nest, and most guards
likely are able to return to their tasks after a raid is thwarted, though studies in a more
naturalistic setting are needed.
Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00040-020-00790-5 \
APA: Glass, J. R., Duell, M., & Harrison, J. F. (2020). Defensive biting by Tetragonisca angustula is
dangerous but not suicidal. Insectes Sociaux, 1-8.