DOI: 10.5061/dryad.dc611p0
title: Data from: Data for: Variation in animal personality traits across a metal pollution gradient in a free-living songbird

description: Anthropogenic contaminants could alter traits central to animal behavioral
 types, or personalities, including aggressiveness, boldness and activity
 level. Lead and other toxic metals are persistent inorganic pollutants
 that affect organisms worldwide. Metal exposure can alter behavior by
 affecting neurology, endocrinology, and health. However, the direction and
 magnitude of the behavioral effects of metal exposure remain equivocal.
 Moreover, the degree to which metal exposure simultaneously affects suites
 of correlated behavioral traits (behavioral syndromes) that are controlled
 by common mechanisms remains unclear, with most studies focusing on single
 behaviors. Using a model species for personality variation, the great tit
 (Parus major), we explored differences in multiple behavioral traits
 across a pollution gradient where levels of metals, especially lead and
 cadmium, are elevated close to a smelter. We employed the novel
 environment exploration test, a proxy for variation in personality type,
 and also measured territorial aggressiveness and nest defense behavior. At
 polluted sites birds of both sexes displayed slower exploration behavior,
 which could reflect impaired neurological or physiological function.
 Territorial aggression and nest defense behavior were individually
 consistent, but did not vary with proximity to the smelter, suggesting
 that metal exposure does not concurrently affect exploration and
 aggression. Rather, exploration behavior appears more sensitive to metal
 pollution. Effects of metal pollution on exploration behavior, a key
 animal personality trait, could have critical effects on fitness.
description: Metal pollution gradient
 exploration scoresThis file contains novel
 environment exploration scores for great tits residing at study sites
 located across a metal pollution gradient in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2017.
 The study sites were: Fort 4 (F4), Fort 5 (F5), Fort 6 (F6/CDE), Fort 7
 (F7), Fort 8 (F8) and Umicore (UM). UM is closest to the pollution source
 and F4 farthest away. UM and F8 were grouped into one site for final
 analysis. Band number, colors and PIT tag are three different individual
 identity markers. Basic body measurements are also given, including body
 mass on the night of capture (weight in) and body mass measured after the
 personality test on the following morning (weight out).Metal gradient exploration
 scores, 06-12-17.xlsxMetal pollution gradient
 STI dataThis file contains
 behavioral measurements collected during simulated territory intrusions
 (STIs) performed at study sites across a metal pollution gradient in
 Antwerp, Belgium, in 2017. Moving away from the pollution source, the
 study sites were Umicore (UM), Fort 8 (F8), Fort 7 (F7), Fort 5 (F5) and
 Fort 4 (F4). UM and F8 were grouped into one site for the final analysis.
 Behaviors measured for males during the 3 min STI were: latency to
 approach (min), approach distance (MinDist, m), time on the decoy (min),
 and number of calls, songs, dives and attacks on the decoy. Scores from a
 principal components analysis performed on this data are also included in
 the file. For females, latency and approach distance were measured, and
 aggressive behavior was scored (Fem Score) as described in the
 manuscript.STI data metal pollution
 gradient, 06-12-17.xlsxMetal pollution gradient
 hissing dataThis file contains
 results from hissing tests performed on female great tits across a metal
 pollution gradient in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2017. Moving away from the
 pollution source, the study sites were Umicore (UM), Fort 8 (F8), Fort 7
 (F7), Fort 6 (Fort 6/CDE), Fort 5 (F5) and Fort 4 (F4). UM and F8 were
 grouped into one site for analysis. Hissing behavior is a form of nest
 defense. Thus, a larger number of hisses indicates more intense nest
 defense. The ND score (nest defense score) was not used in this paper, but
 increases with intensity of nest defense. Information on female aggressive
 and exploration behavior is also contained in this file, where
 available.Hissing test data metal
 pollution gradient, 06-12-17.xlsx