Sex-dependent audience effect in foraging guppies

The presence of bystanders can influence the behaviour of a forager, which has mainly been studied in primates and birds. We tested the effect of the absence and presence of an unfamiliar audience (females, males, and their combination) near or far from a food patch, on the foraging behaviour of guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Our investigation includes both males and females, recognising that different social dynamics and reproductive strategies between the sexes could lead to varied responses to audience effects. For each focal fish, we measured the latency to start feeding, bite frequency, time spent near the audience, and overall mobility. Both males and females started feeding faster when food was close to any audience type. Specifically, females exhibited a faster feeding response in the presence of a female audience. Males reduced their feeding rate in the presence of male and mixed audiences, while both sexes increased their consumption when food was close to the audience. Focal ..., This dataset was collected through a series of behavioural observation trials focusing on the foraging behaviour of guppies, differentiated by sex, in the presence and absence of an audience and when the food was close or far from the audience. The collection occurred over two periods: for female guppies in November 2018, January, and February 2019, and for male guppies in November 2019, January, and February 2020. The methodology was consistent across these periods, involving the selection of focal guppies from a stock population, which were then isolated in small tanks and deprived of food to standardize hunger levels before trials. For the collection process, guppies were selected haphazardly 24 hours before their trial, photographed for identification, and isolated in individual tanks. The trials were held in experimental tanks divided using a transparent barrier that allowed visual and chemical communication but segregated focal guppies from an \"audience\" of other four fish selecte..., , # Sex-dependent audience effect in foraging guppies

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gb5mkkwxt](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gb5mkkwxt)

## Description of the data and file structure

The data are saved as a CSV file. The dataset is structured in a tabular format with each row representing observational data for a single guppy, identified by a unique ID. Columns within the dataset correspond to specific characteristics and measured behaviors of these guppies during the experimental trials. Here's a breakdown of the structure:

* **ID:** Each row corresponds to an individual fish, with its unique identification code (e.g., \"1F\", \"5F\"). This ID can be used to track individual fish across different analyses or observational sessions.
* **Sex (sex):** Indicates the sex of the focal fish, either female or male. This categorical variable is crucial for analyses that compare behaviours across sexes or that look into sex-specific patterns.
* **Size (size):** The standard length (SL) of th...