Data from: Personality, predation, and group size: Unravelling behavioural drivers of lionfish (Pterois volitans) invasion success
Data files
Oct 28, 2025 version files 283.54 KB
-
All_lionfish_behaviour_data.xlsx
280.36 KB
-
README.md
3.18 KB
Abstract
Global biodiversity is in rapid decline, with invasive alien species (IAS) playing a major role. Predicting which IAS are most damaging and under what conditions is key to proactive management. We investigated whether behavioural traits, specifically boldness and exploration, predict ecological impact in the invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans). Using repeated behavioural assays, we found strong personality consistency: 93% of juveniles and 56% of adults used shelter, with traits like latency to interact with novel objects showing high repeatability. Bold individuals spent less time in shelter and interacted more with novel stimuli. However, in groups of eight, personality expression shifted, only 7% of juveniles and 44% of adults used shelter, indicating that social context alters behaviour. Functional response experiments revealed Type II feeding curves across three prey species, with adults showing significantly higher attack rates and lower handling times than juveniles. Maximum feeding rates reached 440.17 for adults (Artemia salina) and 30.63 for juveniles (Gammarus oceanicus). Contrary to expectations, boldness did not correlate with feeding impact but was linked to slower reaction times in shy individuals. These findings highlight the complex, context-dependent relationship between personality and ecological impact during IAS invasions.
1. Summary of Experimental Efforts
This dataset represents a series of laboratory experiments on the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) to examine individual and group predatory behaviors as well as reactions to novel stimuli. The lionfish were divided into juvenile and adult classes and exposed to consistent prey (Gammarus oceanicus) under controlled conditions. The dataset includes prey consumption metrics, group dynamics, and interaction times with novel objects.
2. Description of File Structure and Contents
The dataset is organized in a single Excel workbook with the following worksheets:
- Adult LF: Feeding behavior of individual adult lionfish.
- juvenille LF: Feeding behavior of juvenile lionfish.
- Group 2: Trials involving two lionfish in a group setting.
- Group 4: Trials involving two lionfish in a group setting.
- Group 8: Feeding data with all eight lionfish together.
- Novel.object.adt.: Behavioural data on adult lionfish interacting with novel objects.
- Novel.object juv.: Similar trials with juvenile lionfish.
3. Definitions of Variables, Abbreviations, Missing Data Codes, and Units
General Variables:
predator: Lionfish IDLF type: Lionfish size class (Large,small)prey: Prey species (G. oceanicus)density: Number of prey introduced (individuals)eaten: Prey consumed (count)alive: Prey remaining at end (count)time (mins): Trial duration in minutesnovel object: number depending on the type of novel object used as there were three different onesreaction time/reaction times: Time to first attack (HH:MM:SS), missing values = no response
Group Trials:
LF in Group: IDs of lionfish present in grouptemp: Temperature during experiment (°C)
Novel Object Trials:
Lionfish ID: ID of the fishRound: Experimental repetitiontime to reach object: Time to first interaction (HH:MM:SS)seconds to reach object: Same, in secondstime in open water/seconds in open water: Time spent outside sheltertime in shelter/seconds in shelter: Time spent in sheltertimes at shelter: Frequency of shelter returnhits of object: Number of physical contacts with the objectTime spent at 0-5cm,5-10cm,>10cm: Time spent at distances from novel object (HH:MM:SS or MM:SS)Rank: Boldness ranking (lower rank = bolder fish)
Missing Data: Represented as blank or NaN, generally indicates no event occurred within the trial time.
4. Links to Other Publicly Accessible Data Locations
This dataset is hosted on Dryad
5. Sources of Data
All data were generated by the research team from original experiments. No external datasets were used.
6. Additional Notes for Reuse or Replication
- Trials were standardized to 60 minutes unless stated otherwise.
- Ensure environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, tank structure, lighting) are consistent for replication.
- Time data formats vary slightly across sheets (e.g.,
HH:MM:SS,MM:SS, seconds); care should be taken when parsing.