Meeting Abstract
Neophobia is the fear and avoidance of novel objects. This trait is correlated with other traits, such as boldness (or shyness), tolerance of environmental changes, risk avoidance, territorial defense or exploration, thus forming individual behavioral syndromes and personalities, which are repeatable traits over the life of an an individual. The Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens, hereafter FSJ) is a Federally Threatened species endemic to Florida, relying on post-fire successional stages in xeric oak scrub. Due to its longevity, the FSJ experiences a wide range in post-fire succession, thus habitat structure. Our goals were to examine how neophobia varies relative to successional stage and factors that influence its short-term repeatability. We conducted this research at Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida where each FSJ is trapped and banded at approximately 65 days post-fledging. We assessed latency to enter a baited trap one day after being banded. We then performed neophobia trials, giving each jay 600 seconds to approach a novel object with a food reward. We repeated trials for 36 individuals from 19 territories when juveniles were between 75 and 85 days old. We measured latency to enter the arena at different distances from the novel object and latency to take a food reward. Latency in neophobia trials was not correlated with latency to approach a baited trap, suggesting that neophobia and fear are distinct behavioral responses. Results of neophobia trials were not repeatable and we also found no association between habitat structure and neophobia.
