Keystone individuals – linking predator traits to community ecology

• Published in: Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) Vol. 39; no. 11; pp. 983 - 994
• Main Authors: LaBarge, Laura R., Krofel, Miha, Allen, Maximilian L., Hill, Russell A., Welch, Andreanna J., Allan, Andrew T.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2024
• Subjects: carnivore; community ecology; ecosystem; personality traits; plasticity; predator; carnivore; plasticity; personality traits; ecosystem; predator; community ecology
• ISSN: 0169-5347; 1872-8383; 1872-8383
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.07.001

Animal personality traits and individual behavioral plasticity can lead to individual differences in ecosystem roles and biotic interactions.The ecosystem-level consequences of individual variation are likely particularly important for large, apex predators who can strongly influence community interactions, yet are understudied.Human activities may favor certain traits within populations and the displacement or loss of certain phenotypes may alter the structure of food webs and reduce ecosystem resilience.We provide a framework for identifying these traits and individual plasticity in wild predators. The outcomes should allow for an exploration of how behavioral diversity can translate to individualized ecosystem roles.
Individual behavioral plasticity enables animals to adjust to different scenarios. Yet, personality traits limit this flexibility, leading to consistent interindividual differences in behavior. These individual behavioral traits have the potential to govern community interactions, although testing this is difficult in complex natural systems. For large predators who often exert strong effects on ecosystem functioning, this behavioral diversity may be especially important and lead to individualized ecosystem roles. We present a framework for quantifying individual behavioral plasticity and personality traits of large wild predators, revealing the extent to which certain natural behaviors are governed by these latent traits. The outcomes will reveal how the innate characteristics of wildlife can scale up to affect community interactions.
Individual behavioral plasticity enables animals to adjust to different scenarios. Yet, personality traits limit this flexibility, leading to consistent interindividual differences in behavior. These individual behavioral traits have the potential to govern community interactions, although testing this is difficult in complex natural systems. For large predators who often exert strong effects on ecosystem functioning, this behavioral diversity may be especially important and lead to individualized ecosystem roles. We present a framework for quantifying individual behavioral plasticity and personality traits of large wild predators, revealing the extent to which certain natural behaviors are governed by these latent traits. The outcomes will reveal how the innate characteristics of wildlife can scale up to affect community interactions.