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Sexual horn dimorphism predicts the expression of active personality trait: males perform better only in the sexually horn dimorphic Onthophagus dung beetle

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Abstract

The potential sex-specific differences in animal personality traits (i.e., consistent inter-individual variation in observed behavior) are an active field of inquiry in behavioral ecology. Sexual horn dimorphism, a special type of trait divergence where males develop large and elaborate horns, presents an opportunity to test whether sex-specific morphologies covary with changes in personality expression. We compared the activity personality trait between sexes in two dung beetle species: hornless Onthophagus ruficapillus and sexually horn dimorphic Onthophagus furcatus. We measured speed and distance moved in artificially constructed circular tracks to simulate physical activity in brood tunnels. Both measures were positively correlated and showed moderate levels of repeatability in two species, hence representing a personality axis. Sex-specific differences in locomotory performance emerged only in the horn dimorphic O. furcatus: males exhibited a more active personality than females. Season, body size, and the interaction of body size with sex did not alter the observed activity levels. Finally, O. furcatus not only showed stronger relationship between the activity measures, but it also presented lower within-individual variation for both metrics. Our results contribute to the growing body of literature on how consistent individual differences can either interact with or be a result of sex-based biological processes.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to Dr. Abdullah Hasbenli and Dr. Dogan Erhan Ersoy of the Zoological Museum of Gazi University for their assistance with fieldwork. This study was conducted as part of KK's doctoral thesis in the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology at the University of Turin.

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  1. Kaan Kerman

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

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  1. Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Kaan Kerman, Angela Roggero, Antonio Rolando & Claudia Palestrini

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Kerman, K., Roggero, A., Rolando, A. et al. Sexual horn dimorphism predicts the expression of active personality trait: males perform better only in the sexually horn dimorphic Onthophagus dung beetle. J Ethol 41, 163–176 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-023-00782-5

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