Data from: Alternative reproductive tactics shape within-species variation in behavioural syndromes

Multiple behaviours can correlate with each other at the individual level
(behavioural syndrome), and behavioural syndromes can vary in their
direction between populations within a species. Within-species variation
in behavioural syndromes is predicted to be associated with alternative
reproductive tactics (ARTs) which evolve under different selection
regimes. Here we tested this using a water strider species, Gerris
gracilicornis, in which males employ two ARTs that are fixed for life:
signalling males (producing courtship ripples) versus non-signalling males
(producing no courtship ripples). We measured multiple behaviours in males
with both of these ARTs and compared behavioural syndromes between them.
Our results showed that signalling males were more active and attempted to
mate more frequently than non-signalling males. This shaped an overall
behavioural syndrome between activities in mating and non-mating contexts
when we pooled both ARTs. In addition, the behavioural syndromes between
cautiousness and mating activity differed significantly between ARTs. In
signalling males, the syndrome was significantly negative: signalling
males more eager to mate tended to leave their refuges more rapidly.
However, mating activity and cautiousness were not correlated in
non-signalling males. This might be because active males, in the context
of predation risk and mating, were favoured during the evolution and
maintenance of the unique intimidating courtship tactic of G.
gracilicornis males. Thus, our findings suggest that ARTs facilitate
behavioural divergence and also contribute to the evolution of
tactic-specific behavioural syndromes. We also show that research on ARTs
and behavioural syndromes can be harmonised to study behavioural
variation.