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July 5th, 2025
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University of Exeter
evolutionary biology
biorxiv

Quantitative genetics of shy-bold behaviour and plastic response to novel predator cues in the cherry shrimp, Neocaridina davidi

Wilson, A.Open in Google Scholar•Rickward, R.Open in Google Scholar•Santostefano, F.Open in Google Scholar

Understanding the genetic basis of behavioural variation among-individuals is vital for predicting if, when, and how quickly behaviour can evolve under selection. However, in heterogeneous environments, behavioural plasticity (a source of within-individual variation) may also contribute to the phenotypic variance that can be selected on. If so, a complete picture of evolutionary potential, requires estimation of genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE). Here we investigate the quantitative genetics of \'shy-bold\' behavioural variation in the red cherry shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, an emerging decapod model for behavioural, genetic, and ecotoxicological research. Using a suite of behaviours associated with shy-bold personality variation we demonstrate moderate to high behavioural repeatabilities and show how a multivariate approach allows characterising the \'shape\', not just the amount, of variation. Using a half-sib full sib breeding design in which shrimp from known families were tested under either control conditions or with predator (fish) cues present, we jointly estimate the plastic response to elevated risk, and the contribution of genetic factors to phenotypic variance. We find that genetic variance does underpin among-individual differences in behaviour. We also find evidence of plasticity, with individual shrimp shifting towards a \'shyer\', or more risk averse, average phenotype in the presence of fish cues. However, we found no variation in plasticity either among-individuals (IxE) or among-genotypes (GxE). This implies that average behaviour can evolve under predator-mediated selection, but further adaptive evolution of behavioural plasticity may be constrained by a lack of GxE.

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