Personality of naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) in social setting

Lukáš ZICH

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

Personality, or consistent inter-individual differences in behavior regardless of age, sex or size similarities have been observed across a growing number of animal species, including naked mole-rats. There has been a wide range of studies focusing on the phenomenon of personality, with some aiming particularly on methodological issues. One of the methodological issues is the fact that personality tests are mostly conducted in an individual setting even in social species. Previous studies rarely combined the individual and social condition when testing personality. The main aim of my thesis was to find out whether the highly social naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) behave consistently while within a group of conspecifics. The repeatability of this species was assessed using four personality assays (Open field test, Hole test, Dark-light test, and Novel surface test) executed in two time periods in a social setting. Additionally, a comparison with the results of an individual setting was done, and the rate of behavioral repeatability across the two contexts (individual and social) was measured. The results showed that the naked mole-rats express their personality consistently when tested in a social setting, but do not behave consistently when their results are compared between individual and social setting, suggesting that individuals show plasticity in their behavioral responses according to individual or social testing.

Abstract:

Personality, or consistent inter-individual differences in behavior regardless of age, sex or size similarities have been observed across a growing number of animal species, including naked mole-rats. There has been a wide range of studies focusing on the phenomenon of personality, with some aiming particularly on methodological issues. One of the methodological issues is the fact that personality tests are mostly conducted in an individual setting even in social species. Previous studies rarely combined the individual and social condition when testing personality. The main aim of my thesis was to find out whether the highly social naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) behave consistently while within a group of conspecifics. The repeatability of this species was assessed using four personality assays (Open field test, Hole test, Dark-light test, and Novel surface test) executed in two time periods in a social setting. Additionally, a comparison with the results of an individual setting was done, and the rate of behavioral repeatability across the two contexts (individual and social) was measured. The results showed that the naked mole-rats express their personality consistently when tested in a social setting, but do not behave consistently when their results are compared between individual and social setting, suggesting that individuals show plasticity in their behavioral responses according to individual or social testing.

Keywords

naked mole-rats, personality, repeatability, social context, individual vs social setting

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 4. 2025

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: Mgr. Vedrana Šlipogor Milli, Ph.D.

JIHOČESKÁ UNIVERZITA V ČESKÝCH BUDĚJOVICÍCH

Přírodovědecká fakulta

Bakalářský studijní program / obor:
Biologie / Biologie