Researchers have found that cockroaches can have different personalities and these personalities affect their adaptive capabilities which determine how they act in a group and how they survive.
In a study by a team from Université Libre de Bruxelles, it was discovered that cockroaches display different traits despite being exposed to the same stimulus or environment. However, at the end of the day, they are still team players, achieving the same goals as others in their group. They just vary in the means and the speed at which they achieve these goals.
Researchers studied the behavior of American cockroaches, releasing 16 at a time in a round arena with bright light shining from the top. Two shelters were included in the arena, providing the cockroaches with a place to hide in away from the bright light.
According to Isaac Planas-Sitjà, one of the authors of the study, and colleagues, they carried out the study to observe variations in group behavior and how a group comes to a decision. Cockroaches were chosen as subjects because they are simple-minded animals but they can also make complex decisions given what is happening around them. They are averse to bright light but have an affinity for groups and protection and these influenced how they would act in the experiment.
Taking into consideration aversion to bright light and the cockroaches' affinities, the researchers expected that once released, their subjects would head for the shelter. They were right. All cockroaches did head for the shelters at the middle of the arena but they did not think differences in time would greatly vary.
Planas-Sitjà said the variation could be a reflection of individual behavior and personalities, like the "adventurous" cockroaches would explore unfamiliar environments more readily, making them the first to get to the shelters, while the "shy" ones would linger behind and examine their surroundings first to determine if it was safe to move forward. Due to the extra time they had to take to assess the environment, more timid cockroaches got to the shelter last.
Outside of an experiment, those more adventurous of the cockroach population are likelier find food faster while the shy ones are able to avoid threats better.
Cockroaches don't exactly belong to the favorite animals category but understanding the dynamics of behavior and personality in a group setting sheds light on how the little critters were able to earn the distinction of being one of the oldest living things on Earth.
Photo: Neil Turner | Flickr
