Data from: Genetic and habitat complexity effects on unpredictability in escape behavior of a grasshopper species

The debate surrounding the role of genetic and environmental factors in
shaping behavior has a long tradition. However, their effects on complex
behaviors such as unpredictability in anti-predator strategies remain
poorly understood. Behaving unpredictably when escaping predators may
increase the prey's chances of survival, especially when prey can
rely on a complex habitat providing camouflage and shelter opportunities.
We explored the effects of genetic and environmental influences on escape
strategies of the steppe grasshopper Chorthippus dorsatus. Individuals
from controlled breeding had been randomly assigned to one of two
environmental complexity treatments during ontogeny. We then quantified
escape behavior in a large cohort through burst experiments. Using a
multivariate double-hierarchical animal model, we analyzed the effects of
pedigree and environmental complexity on both inter- and intra-individual
variance in three components of escape behavior: flight initiation
distance (FID), jump distance, and jump angle. Habitat complexity affected
average jump angle, but not the average FID or jump distance, nor
unpredictability in any of the three traits. Pedigree relatedness
accounted for 5-6% of the total variance in average FID and average jump
distance and 7% of the variance in unpredictability in jump angle. Genetic
correlations suggest a behavioral syndrome structure in escape strategies
that involves FID (a potential indicator of boldness). Our study
demonstrates that unpredictability in escape behavior has the potential to
evolve by natural selection, as some of its components are heritable.
Furthermore, we show that although habitat complexity represents a strong
environmental treatment, its lasting effects during ontogeny on escape
behavior are minimal.