Meeting Abstract

3.3  Saturday, Jan. 4 08:30  Stress-response, experience, and neophobia in free-living Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) BEBUS, SE*; JONES, BC; SCHOECH, SJ; Univ. of Memphis; Univ. of Memphis; Univ. of Memphis sebebus@memphis.edu

Stress-responsiveness and degree of neophobia is related in Florida scrub-jays (FSJ: Aphelocoma coerulescens), in that stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) levels ‘predict’ approach behavior to a novel object (i.e., CORT levels are negatively related to boldness). However, previous experience may also play a role in the degree of neophobia an individual exhibits. Although consistent individual differences in behavior exist in a number of taxa, we also know that organisms learn from experience. Few studies have examined the interaction between stress-response and experience on behavior in free-living species. We conducted novel object tests using a 60 cm ring with a food reward to measure the degree of neophobia displayed by 3 month-old FSJs. On a subsequent day, individuals were captured in a Potter trap and a series of blood samples were collected to determine stress-induced CORT levels. Both the ring and the trap were novel objects to the young birds. For another group of FSJs, we trapped the birds first, then conducted the novel object test the following day. We made the following predictions: 1) Individuals that experience a negative event (trapping/handling) associated with a novel object (trap) will exhibit more timid behavior during future novel object encounters, when compared to controls; 2) Individuals that were trapped prior to the ring test will behave differently based on their stress-response, with high CORT-response birds exhibiting a higher degree of timid behavior than individuals with low CORT-responses. Scrub-jays trapped first displayed longer latencies to approach the novel ring, with a large range in the approach latency for both groups of FSJs. Blood plasma samples will be assayed to determine CORT-responsiveness of individuals.