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Goekoop R, de Kleijn R. Hierarchical network structure as the source of hierarchical dynamics (power-law frequency spectra) in living and non-living systems: How state-trait continua (body plans, personalities) emerge from first principles in biophysics. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105402. [PMID: 37741517 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Living systems are hierarchical control systems that display a small world network structure. In such structures, many smaller clusters are nested within fewer larger ones, producing a fractal-like structure with a 'power-law' cluster size distribution (a mereology). Just like their structure, the dynamics of living systems shows fractal-like qualities: the timeseries of inner message passing and overt behavior contain high frequencies or 'states' (treble) that are nested within lower frequencies or 'traits' (bass), producing a power-law frequency spectrum that is known as a 'state-trait continuum' in the behavioral sciences. Here, we argue that the power-law dynamics of living systems results from their power-law network structure: organisms 'vertically encode' the deep spatiotemporal structure of their (anticipated) environments, to the effect that many small clusters near the base of the hierarchy produce high frequency signal changes and fewer larger clusters at its top produce ultra-low frequencies. Such ultra-low frequencies exert a tonic regulatory pressure that produces morphological as well as behavioral traits (i.e., body plans and personalities). Nested-modular structure causes higher frequencies to be embedded within lower frequencies, producing a power-law state-trait continuum. At the heart of such dynamics lies the need for efficient energy dissipation through networks of coupled oscillators, which also governs the dynamics of non-living systems (e.q., earthquakes, stock market fluctuations). Since hierarchical structure produces hierarchical dynamics, the development and collapse of hierarchical structure (e.g., during maturation and disease) should leave specific traces in system dynamics (shifts in lower frequencies, i.e. morphological and behavioral traits) that may serve as early warning signs to system failure. The applications of this idea range from (bio)physics and phylogenesis to ontogenesis and clinical medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Goekoop
- Free University Amsterdam, Department of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Parnassia Academy, Parnassia Group, PsyQ, Department of Anxiety Disorders, Early Detection and Intervention Team (EDIT), Lijnbaan 4, 2512VA The Hague, the Netherlands.
| | - R de Kleijn
- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Pieter de la Courtgebouw, Postbus 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
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2
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Mai S, Wittor C, Merker S, Woog F. DRD4 allele frequencies in greylag geese vary between urban and rural sites. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9811. [PMID: 36789334 PMCID: PMC9909002 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increasing urbanization of the last decades, more and more bird species occur in urban habitats. Birds which thrive in urban habitats often have a higher tolerance toward human disturbance and show behaviors which differ from their rural counterparts. There is increasing evidence that many behaviors have a genetic basis. One candidate gene is the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), which has been associated with fear and thus, flight initiation distance (FID). In this study, we analyzed a segment of DRD4 in greylag geese Anser anser, describing the variability of this gene across several geographically distant populations, and comparing its variability between an urban and a rural site in south-west Germany. We additionally measured FIDs of urban and rural geese to test for a possible correlation with DRD4 genotypes. We found a high variation within DRD4, with 10 variable sites leading to 11 alleles and 35 genotypes. Two genotypes occurred in 60% of all geese and were thus defined as common genotypes versus 33 rare genotypes. Population differentiation was very low between the urban and rural sites in Germany but common genotypes occurred more often in the urban area and rare genotypes more often in the rural area. FID was significantly higher at the rural site, but no significant correlation between FID and DRD4 genotypes could be detected. Nevertheless, our results suggest that local site selection may be related to DRD4 genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Mai
- Department of ZoologyState Museum of Natural History StuttgartStuttgartGermany,Center of Excellence for Biodiversity and integrative TaxonomyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Caroline Wittor
- Department of ZoologyState Museum of Natural History StuttgartStuttgartGermany,Center of Excellence for Biodiversity and integrative TaxonomyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Stefan Merker
- Department of ZoologyState Museum of Natural History StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Friederike Woog
- Department of ZoologyState Museum of Natural History StuttgartStuttgartGermany
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3
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Rödel HG, Jardim V, Rangassamy M, Jaravel L, Jacquet D, Monclús R, Féron C, Costantini D. Early life parameters and personality affect oxidative status during adulthood in an altricial rodent. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15427. [PMID: 36200138 PMCID: PMC9535260 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that alterations of the cellular oxidative status might be an important cost underlying challenging early life conditions. For example, an increased litter size can impose challenges as the offspring will face increased competition for maternal resources. Within a litter, individuals with relatively higher starting mass typically show higher growth rates, which can lead to increased oxidative damage. We investigated the long-term consequences of these early life parameters on the oxidative status in mature mound-building mice (Mus spicilegus). Individual differences in the animals' exploration tendency were assessed by repeated open field and novel object tests. We predicted less exploratory phenotypes, which typically show a higher stress responsiveness, to be particularly susceptible to possible effects of these early life parameters on oxidative status. We quantified oxidative damage of DNA (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels, 8-OHdG) and proteins (protein carbonyl content, PCC), and activities of the antioxidants catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and skeletal muscle tissue. 8-OHdG levels were positively associated with CAT and SOD in both tissues, indicating that increased oxidative DNA damage was associated with an upregulation of antioxidant production. Hepatic DNA damage after maturity was increased in animals from larger litters. In less exploratory animals, DNA damage and the activity of CAT and SOD in the muscle were increased, but only in individuals with higher relative starting mass (measured on postnatal day 9). This interaction may be explained by the typically higher adrenocortical activity in less exploratory phenotypes and by the higher growth in relatively heavier pups, two factors known to increase oxidative stress. These findings contribute to enlightening the complex interplay between early life conditions, personality, and oxidative status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko G. Rödel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - Veridiana Jardim
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
- Laboratory of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution of Social Insects, Department of Experimental PsychologyUniversity of Sao PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Marylin Rangassamy
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - Ludivine Jaravel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - Daphné Jacquet
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - Raquel Monclús
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - Christophe Féron
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443 (LEEC)Université Sorbonne Paris NordVilletaneuseFrance
| | - David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA)Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP32ParisFrance
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4
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Begall S, Bottermann L, Caspar KR. Self-Domestication Underground? Testing for Social and Morphological Correlates of Animal Personality in Cooperatively-Breeding Ansell’s Mole-Rats (Fukomys anselli). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.862082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ansell’s mole-rats (Fukomys anselli) are sexually dimorphic subterranean rodents that live in families consisting of a single breeding pair and their late-dispersing non-breeding offspring. Most individuals exhibit a conspicuous white head patch, which results from integumental depigmentation. Alongside other morphological, physiological, and social characteristics, skin depigmentation in these social rodents mirrors traits that presumably evolved as byproducts from selection against aggression in domestic animals, making them a potential candidate species for a self-domesticated wild mammal. Here we explored whether the expression of the white head patch, sexual dimorphism, and reproductive division of labor are reflected by different personalities in Ansell’s mole-rats. We tested locomotory activity and risk-taking as well as aggression and affiliative behavior in 51 individuals originating from nine captive families in various experimental set-ups. In line with the concept of animal personality, we recovered consistent individual responses over time. While sex had no influence on any tested variable, reproductive status was found to affect risk-taking behavior but not other personality dimensions. Discriminant function analysis revealed that family members clustered more closely together than expected by chance, suggesting that group affiliation rather than sex or social status determines behavioral profiles in this species. Finally, we failed to recover any consistent correlation between head patch expression and behavior, which conflicts with predictions of the self-domestication hypothesis. We argue that many domestication-like traits in Ansell’s mole-rat and its congeners evolved in the framework of subterranean adaptation and call for a cautious application of the self-domestication concept to wild mammals.
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Vaz J, McElligott AG, Narayan E. Linking the roles of personality and stress physiology for managing the welfare of captive big cats. Anim Welf 2022. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.31.1.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Animal welfare is important for the humane treatment of animals under our care. Zoos and rescue centres manage various charismatic animals, such as big cats, with limited resources. It is therefore essential for caretakers to understand the needs of an individual big cat to ensure its
welfare. However, these needs may differ due to a big cat's personality, which may be identified by its coping style in a stressful situation. In addition, stress is one of the major factors affecting animal welfare. There is limited evidence showing strong associations between personality
and stress physiology in big cats. This review focuses on the integration of personality and stress physiology of captive big cats, to highlight possible improvements in their husbandry. Our review identifies key factors that may influence big cat responses to stressors. These influencing
factors include: i) social interactions; ii) environment; iii) life history and evolutionary traits; iv) genetics; and v) health. The first two factors are relatively well covered in the literature; however, the final three are potentially very promising avenues for future research to better
understand how we can improve big cat welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Vaz
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia
| | - AG McElligott
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - E Narayan
- Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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McMahon EK, Youatt E, Cavigelli SA. A physiological profile approach to animal temperament: How to understand the functional significance of individual differences in behaviour. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212379. [PMID: 35016542 PMCID: PMC8753167 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behaviour research has experienced a renewed interest in consistent individual differences (i.e. animal personality or temperament). Recent ecological studies have identified environmental conditions that give rise to the development and evolution of temperaments and to fitness-related outcomes of temperament. Additional literature has also described relationships between temperaments and physiological regulation. However, one-to-one relationships between one behavioural trait and one physiological system do not account for co-selection of behavioural and physiological traits, nor the complex signalling among physiological systems. In the current paper, we review the literature on multiple physiological processes associated with temperament, propose temperament-specific physiological profiles, and focus on next steps to understand the functional significance, evolution and maintenance of temperaments. We propose that to understand causes and consequences of temperament we need to characterize integrative physiological profiles associated with different temperaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse K McMahon
- Ecology Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 101 Life Sciences Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Biobehavioral Health Department, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Elizabeth Youatt
- Psychology Department, Pennsylvania State University, 140 Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sonia A Cavigelli
- Biobehavioral Health Department, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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7
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Staes N, Thys B, Pinxten R, Eens M. Serotonin transporter (SERT) polymorphisms, personality and problem-solving in urban great tits. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24270. [PMID: 34930949 PMCID: PMC8688470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03466-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding underlying genetic variation can elucidate how diversity in behavioral phenotypes evolves and is maintained. Genes in the serotonergic signaling pathway, including the serotonin transporter gene (SERT), are candidates for affecting animal personality, cognition and fitness. In a model species, the great tit (Parus major), we reevaluated previous findings suggesting relationships between SERT polymorphisms, neophobia, exploratory behavior and fitness parameters, and performed a first test of the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SERT and problem-solving in birds. We found some evidence for associations between SERT SNPs and neophobia, exploratory behavior and laying date. Furthermore, several SNPs were associated with behavioral patterns and success rates during obstacle removal problem-solving tests performed at nest boxes. In females, minor allele homozygotes (AA) for nonsynonymous SNP226 in exon 1 made fewer incorrect attempts and were more likely to problem-solve. In both sexes, there was some evidence that minor allele homozygotes (CC) for SNP84 in exon 9 were more likely to problem-solve. Only one SNP-behavior relationship was statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons, but several were associated with substantial effect sizes. Our study provides a foundation for future research on the genetic basis of behavioral and cognitive variation in wild animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France.
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Nicky Staes
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bert Thys
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp School of Education, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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8
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Cavigelli S, Leips J, Jenny Xiang QY, Lemke D, Konow N. Next Steps in Integrative Biology: Mapping Interactive Processes Across Levels of Biological Organization. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:2066-2074. [PMID: 34259855 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emergent biological processes result from complex interactions within and across levels of biological organization, ranging from molecular to environmental dynamics. Powerful theories, database tools, and modeling methods have been designed to characterize network connections within levels, such as those among genes, proteins, biochemicals, cells, organisms and species. Here, we propose that developing integrative models of organismal function in complex environments can be facilitated by taking advantage of these methods to identify key nodes of communication across levels of organization. Mapping key drivers or connections among levels of organization will provide data and leverage to model potential rule-sets by which organisms respond and adjust to perturbations at any level of biological organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Cavigelli
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
| | - Jeff Leips
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore MD 21250
| | - Qiu-Yun Jenny Xiang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 27695
| | - Dawn Lemke
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville AL 35811
| | - Nicolai Konow
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell MA 01854
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9
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Bubac CM, Cullingham CI, Fox JA, Bowen WD, den Heyer CE, Coltman DW. Genetic association with boldness and maternal performance in a free-ranging population of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 127:35-51. [PMID: 33927365 PMCID: PMC8249389 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00439-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual variation in quantitative traits clearly influence many ecological and evolutionary processes. Moderate to high heritability estimates of personality and life-history traits suggest some level of genetic control over these traits. Yet, we know very little of the underlying genetic architecture of phenotypic variation in the wild. In this study, we used a candidate gene approach to investigate the association of genetic variants with repeated measures of boldness and maternal performance traits (weaning mass and lactation duration) collected over an 11- and 28-year period, respectively, in a free-ranging population of grey seals on Sable Island National Park Reserve, Canada. We isolated and re-sequenced five genes: dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), serotonin transporter (SERT), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), and melanocortin receptors 1 (MC1R) and 5 (MC5R). We discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in each gene; and, after accounting for loci in linkage disequilibrium and filtering due to missing data, we were able to test for genotype-phenotype relationships at seven loci in three genes (DRD4, SERT, and MC1R). We tested for association between these loci and traits of 180 females having extreme shy-bold phenotypes using mixed-effects models. One locus within SERT was significantly associated with boldness (effect size = 0.189) and a second locus within DRD4 with weaning mass (effect size = 0.232). Altogether, genotypes explained 6.52-13.66% of total trait variation. Our study substantiates SERT and DRD4 as important determinants of behaviour, and provides unique insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying maternal performance variation in a marine predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Bubac
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Catherine I. Cullingham
- grid.34428.390000 0004 1936 893XDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Janay A. Fox
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - W. Don Bowen
- grid.418256.c0000 0001 2173 5688Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS Canada ,grid.55602.340000 0004 1936 8200Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Cornelia E. den Heyer
- grid.418256.c0000 0001 2173 5688Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS Canada
| | - David W. Coltman
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
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McMahon EK, Cavigelli SA. Gaps to Address in Ecological Studies of Temperament and Physiology. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1917-1932. [PMID: 34097030 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecology is a diverse field with many researchers interested in drivers and consequences of variability within populations. Two aspects of variability that have been addressed are behavioral and physiological. While these have been shown to separately influence ecological outcomes such as survival, reproductive success and fitness, combined they could better predict within-population variability in survival and fitness. Recently there has been a focus on potential fitness outcomes of consistent behavioral traits that are referred to as personality or temperament (e.g. boldness, sociability, exploration, etc.). Given this recent focus, it is an optimal time to identify areas to supplement in this field, particularly in determining the relationship between temperament and physiological traits. To maximize progress, in this perspective paper we propose that the following two areas be addressed: (1) increased diversity of species, and (2) increased number of physiological processes studied, with an eye toward using more representative and relatively consistent measures across studies. We first highlight information that has been gleaned from species that are frequently studied to determine how animal personality relates to physiology and/or survival/fitness. We then shine a spotlight on important taxa that have been understudied and that can contribute meaningful, complementary information to this area of research. And last, we propose a brief array of physiological processes to relate to temperament, and that can significantly impact fitness, and that may be accessible in field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse K McMahon
- Ecology Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sonia A Cavigelli
- Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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11
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Genomics for conservation: a case study of behavioral genes in the Tasmanian devil. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01354-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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12
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The serotonin transporter gene and female personality variation in a free-living passerine. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8577. [PMID: 33883685 PMCID: PMC8060275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88225-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying variation in behaviour-related genes provides insight into the evolutionary potential of repeatable among-individual variation in behaviour (i.e. personality). Yet, individuals typically also plastically adjust their behaviour in response to environmental conditions and/or age, thereby complicating the detection of genotype-phenotype associations. Here, using a population of free-living great tits (Parus major), we assessed the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) and two repeatable behavioural traits, i.e. female-female aggression and female hissing behaviour. For female-female aggression, a trait showing age-related plasticity, we found no evidence for associations with SERT SNPs, even when assessing potential age-dependent effects of SERT genotype on aggression. We also found no strong support for associations between SERT SNPs and hissing behaviour, yet we identified two synonymous polymorphisms (exon 13 SNP66 and exon 12 SNP144) of particular interest, each explaining about 1.3% of the total variation in hissing behaviour. Overall, our results contribute to the general understanding of the biological underpinning of complex behavioural traits and will facilitate further (meta-analytic) research on behaviour-related genes. Moreover, we emphasize that future molecular genetic studies should consider age-dependent genotype-phenotype associations for behavioural trait (co)variation, as this will vastly improve our understanding of the proximate causes and ultimate consequences of personality variation in natural populations.
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de Azevedo CS, Young RJ. Animal Personality and Conservation: Basics for Inspiring New Research. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041019. [PMID: 33916547 PMCID: PMC8065675 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The study of animal personality is important to conserve animals because it can help in selecting the most appropriate individuals to be released into the wild. Individuals not so bold or aggressive, less stressed, who explore their new environment with greater caution are often more likely to survive after release into the wild. In contrast, bolder and more aggressive animals reproduce more successfully and, therefore, can be released with the aim of rapid repopulation of an area. These and other aspects of how animal personality can help in conservation programs, as well as how to collect personality data are covered in this paper. Abstract The number of animal species threatened with extinction are increasing every year, and biologists are conducting animal translocations, as one strategy, to try to mitigate this situation. Furthermore, researchers are evaluating methods to increase translocation success, and one area that shows promise is the study of animal personality. Animal personality can be defined as behavioral and physiological differences between individuals of the same species, which are stable in time and across different contexts. In the present paper, we discuss how animal personality can increase the success of translocation, as well as in the management of animals intended for translocation by evaluating personality characteristics of the individuals. Studies of the influence of birthplace, parental behavior, stress resilience, and risk assessment can be important to select the most appropriate individuals to be released. Finally, we explain the two methods used to gather personality data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, s/n Bauxita, Ouro Preto, MG 35.400-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert John Young
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford Manchester, Peel Building—Room G51, Salford M5 4WT, UK;
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14
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Hernández Duran L, Wilson DT, Briffa M, Rymer TL. Beyond spider personality: The relationships between behavioral, physiological, and environmental factors. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2974-2989. [PMID: 33841759 PMCID: PMC8019048 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders are useful models for testing different hypotheses and methodologies relating to animal personality and behavioral syndromes because they show a range of behavioral types and unique physiological traits (e.g., silk and venom) that are not observed in many other animals. These characteristics allow for a unique understanding of how physiology, behavioral plasticity, and personality interact across different contexts to affect spider's individual fitness and survival. However, the relative effect of extrinsic factors on physiological traits (silk, venom, and neurohormones) that play an important role in spider survival, and which may impact personality, has received less attention. The goal of this review is to explore how the environment, experience, ontogeny, and physiology interact to affect spider personality types across different contexts. We highlight physiological traits, such as neurohormones, and unique spider biochemical weapons, namely silks and venoms, to explore how the use of these traits might, or might not, be constrained or limited by particular behavioral types. We argue that, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the flexibility and persistence of specific behavioral types in spiders, it is necessary to incorporate these underlying mechanisms into a synthesized whole, alongside other extrinsic and intrinsic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hernández Duran
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityCairnsQldAustralia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability SciencesJames Cook UniversityCairnsQldAustralia
| | - David Thomas Wilson
- Centre for Molecular TherapeuticsAustralian Institute for Tropical Health and MedicineJames Cook UniversityCairnsQldAustralia
| | - Mark Briffa
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesPlymouth UniversityPlymouthUK
| | - Tasmin Lee Rymer
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityCairnsQldAustralia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability SciencesJames Cook UniversityCairnsQldAustralia
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15
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van Oers K, Sepers B, Sies W, Gawehns F, Verhoeven KJF, Laine VN. Epigenetics of Animal Personality: DNA Methylation Cannot Explain the Heritability of Exploratory Behavior in a Songbird. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:1517-1530. [PMID: 33031487 PMCID: PMC7742756 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for the hereditary mechanisms underlying quantitative traits traditionally focused on the identification of underlying genomic polymorphisms such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms. It has now become clear that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, can consistently alter gene expression over multiple generations. It is unclear, however, if and how DNA methylation can stably be transferred from one generation to the next and can thereby be a component of the heritable variation of a trait. In this study, we explore whether DNA methylation responds to phenotypic selection using whole-genome and genome-wide bisulfite approaches. We assessed differential erythrocyte DNA methylation patterns between extreme personality types in the Great Tit (Parus major). For this, we used individuals from a four-generation artificial bi-directional selection experiment and siblings from eight F2 inter-cross families. We find no differentially methylated sites when comparing the selected personality lines, providing no evidence for the so-called epialleles associated with exploratory behavior. Using a pair-wise sibling design in the F2 intercrosses, we show that the genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of individuals are mainly explained by family structure, indicating that the majority of variation in DNA methylation in CpG sites between individuals can be explained by genetic differences. Although we found some candidates explaining behavioral differences between F2 siblings, we could not confirm this with a whole-genome approach, thereby confirming the absence of epialleles in these F2 intercrosses. We conclude that while epigenetic variation may underlie phenotypic variation in behavioral traits, we were not able to find evidence that DNA methylation can explain heritable variation in personality traits in Great Tits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, the Netherlands
| | - Bernice Sepers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, the Netherlands
| | - William Sies
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Gawehns
- Bioinformatics Unit, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Koen J F Verhoeven
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Veronika N Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
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16
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Plaza M, Burke T, Cox T, Flynn‐Carroll A, Girndt A, Halford G, Martin DA, Sanchez‐Fortún M, Sánchez‐Tójar A, Somerville J, Schroeder J. Repeatable social network node‐based metrics across populations and contexts in a passerine. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1634-1642. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Plaza
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Ascot UK
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC) Madrid Spain
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Tara Cox
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Ascot UK
| | | | - Antje Girndt
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Seewiesen Germany
- International Max‐Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
| | | | | | - Moises Sanchez‐Fortún
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology Faculty of Biology University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Alfredo Sánchez‐Tójar
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Ascot UK
- International Max‐Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology Bielefeld University Bielefeld Germany
| | | | - Julia Schroeder
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Ascot UK
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17
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Bubac CM, Miller JM, Coltman DW. The genetic basis of animal behavioural diversity in natural populations. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1957-1971. [PMID: 32374914 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Individual differences in animal behaviour influence ecological and evolutionary processes. Much behavioural variation has a heritable component, suggesting that genetics may play a role in its development. Yet, the study of the mechanistic description linking genes to behaviour in nature remains in its infancy, and such research is considered a challenge in contemporary biology. Here, we performed a literature review and meta-analysis to assess trends in analytical approaches used to investigate the relationship between genes and behaviour in natural systems, specifically candidate gene approaches, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We aimed to determine the efficacy and success of each approach, while also describing which behaviours and species were examined by researchers most often. We found that the majority of QTL mapping and GWAS results revealed a significant or suggestive effect (Zr = 0.3 [95% CI: 0.25:0.35] and Zr = 0.39 [0.33:0.46], respectively) between the trait of interest and genetic marker(s) tested, while over half of candidate gene accounts (Zr = 0.16 [0.11:0.21]) did not find a significant association. Approximately a third of all study estimates investigated animal personality traits; though, reproductive and migratory behaviours were also well-represented. Our findings show that despite widespread accessibility of molecular approaches given current sequencing technologies, efforts to elucidate the genetic basis of behaviour in free-ranging systems has been limited to relatively few species. We discuss challenges encountered by researchers, and recommend integration of novel genomic methods with longitudinal studies to usher in the next wave of behavioural genomic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Bubac
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Joshua M Miller
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - David W Coltman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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18
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Schell CJ. Investigating the genetic and environmental architecture of interpack aggression in North American grey wolves. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1757-1760. [PMID: 32323884 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Aggression confers several fitness benefits including increased breeding opportunities and resource acquisition. Determining the relative contributions of genetic and environmental components to shaping aggression is essential for advancing our understanding of how selection affects the distribution of aggressive phenotypes in a population. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, vonHoldt et al. (2020) used RAD-seq methods to obtain genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to estimate heritability of interpack aggression of 141 North American grey wolves (Canis lupus) surveyed from 1995-2018. The authors inferred heritability using both a SNP-based genetic relationship matrix (GRM) and a consensus pedigree informed by: (a) previously obtained microsatellite data; (b) past observations of parentage; and (c) statistical reconstruction of parent-offspring pairs. SNP-based (i.e., GRM) and pedigree-based (i.e., consensus pedigree) heritability estimates were 37% and 14%, respectively, with an additional 14%-16% explained by natal pack effects. The study confirmed the previously discovered strong effects of relative pack size and breeding status on interpack aggression, illustrating how social dynamics and density-dependent factors induce variance in aggressive behaviours. Finally, the authors found associations between average individual aggression scores (IAS) and specific candidate genes (MY09A and TRAK1). In sum, vonHoldt et al. (2020) provides an unprecedented and nuanced synthesis that not only suggests gene-aggression associations, but also emphasizes how additive genetic variance and density-dependent factors interact to maintain phenotypic variance in aggression over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Schell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, USA
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19
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Raffard A, Therry L, Finn F, Koch K, Brodin T, Blanchet S, Cote J. Does range expansion modify trait covariation? A study of a northward expanding dragonfly. Oecologia 2020; 192:565-575. [PMID: 31932924 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04592-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The adaptive value of correlations among phenotypic traits depends on the prevailing environmental conditions. Differences in selection pressures during species range expansions may therefore shape phenotypic integration. In this study, we assessed variation in behavioral and morphological traits, as well as their covariations, in replicated southern and northern European populations of the northward expanding dragonfly Crocothemis erythraea. Larvae from northern populations were, on average, darker in color, and therefore, better camouflaged than larvae from southern populations. However, there was no difference in activity level. Darkness and activity were positively correlated in larvae from northern populations, whereas this trait covariation was missing in southern populations. This suggests the emergence of alternative strategies in time-limited northern populations, a higher activity level that required better camouflage through darker coloration, while less active larvae benefited from an energy-saving strategy by reducing the investment in costly traits, such as body darkness. We further found that larger larvae emerged into larger adults, with a higher investment in flight morphology. Our findings imply that phenotypic integration is associated with the northward range shift, potentially differentially shaping fitness consequences, and ecological interactions in southern versus northern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Raffard
- Centre Nationale Pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, 09200, Moulis, France.
| | - Lieven Therry
- Centre Nationale Pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, 09200, Moulis, France
| | - Fia Finn
- Centre Nationale Pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, 09200, Moulis, France.,Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College, Háeyri 1, IS-550, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.,Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, IS-101, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Kamilla Koch
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Centre Nationale Pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, 09200, Moulis, France.,CNRS, UPS, IRD, Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, 31062, Cedex 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Cote
- CNRS, UPS, IRD, Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174, 31062, Cedex 9, Toulouse, France
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20
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Rojas‐Ferrer I, Thompson MJ, Morand‐Ferron J. Is exploration a metric for information gathering? Attraction to novelty and plasticity in black‐capped chickadees. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Abbey-Lee RN, Kreshchenko A, Fernandez Sala X, Petkova I, Løvlie H. Effects of monoamine manipulations on the personality and gene expression of three-spined sticklebacks. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:222/20/jeb211888. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.211888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Among-individual behavioral differences (i.e. animal personality) are commonly observed across taxa, although the underlying, causal mechanisms of such differences are poorly understood. Animal personality has been correlated with physiological functions as well as fitness-related traits. Variation in many aspects of monoamine systems, such as metabolite levels and gene polymorphisms, has been linked to behavioral variation. Therefore, here we experimentally investigated the potential role of monoamines in explaining individual variation in personality, using two common pharmaceuticals that respectively alter the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain: fluoxetine and ropinirole. We exposed three-spined sticklebacks, a species that shows animal personality, to either chemical alone or to a combination of the two chemicals, for 18 days. During the experiment, fish were assayed at four time points for the following personality traits: exploration, boldness, aggression and sociability. To quantify brain gene expression on short- and longer-term scales, fish were sampled at two time points. Our results show that monoamine manipulations influence fish behavior. Specifically, fish exposed to either fluoxetine or ropinirole were significantly bolder, and fish exposed to the two chemicals together tended to be bolder than control fish. Our monoamine manipulations did not alter the gene expression of monoamine or stress-associated neurotransmitter genes, but control, untreated fish showed covariation between gene expression and behavior. Specifically, exploration and boldness were predicted by genes in the dopaminergic, serotonergic and stress pathways, and sociability was predicted by genes in the dopaminergic and stress pathways. These results add further support to the links between monoaminergic systems and personality, and show that exposure to monoamines can causally alter animal personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin N. Abbey-Lee
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Kreshchenko
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Xavier Fernandez Sala
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Irina Petkova
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hanne Løvlie
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
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22
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Pérez Manrique L, Hudson R, Bánszegi O, Szenczi P. Individual differences in behavior and heart rate variability across the preweaning period in the domestic horse in response to an ecologically relevant stressor. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112652. [PMID: 31419447 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The study of individual differences in behavior and physiology has attracted considerable interest among behavioral biologists. Important questions include how early in life such differences emerge and to what extent they remain stable across development. Due to the demanding nature of longitudinal studies, there is still a lack of information on this in mammals, especially in large, long-lived species. Our aim in this study was to look for stable individual differences in behavior and physiology during early development in the domestic horse and for correlations between the two parameters. We tested 30 Azteca-breed foals kept under standard conditions by briefly separating them from their mother in four repeated tests beginning at the first postnatal week until the foals were six months old, before they were weaned. Individual differences in behavior and heart rate variability of foals in response to brief maternal separations were consistent and were correlated from a very early age. These findings contribute to an understanding of the expression of individual differences in physiology and behavior from a developmental perspective and may help in the future selection of horses for functional contexts that require different levels of reactivity, thereby contributing to horse welfare and to human safety and economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Pérez Manrique
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Av. Universidad 3000, Edificio 6. Delegación Coyoacán, Col. Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Laboratorio Psicobiología del Desarrollo, Av. Universidad 3000, Edificio B. Delegación Coyoacán, Col. Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Oxána Bánszegi
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Laboratorio Psicobiología del Desarrollo, Av. Universidad 3000, Edificio B. Delegación Coyoacán, Col. Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Péter Szenczi
- Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Unidad Psicopatología y Desarrollo, Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, 14370, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico; Cátedras CONACyT, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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23
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Class B, Brommer JE, van Oers K. Exploratory behavior undergoes genotype-age interactions in a wild bird. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8987-8994. [PMID: 31462997 PMCID: PMC6706179 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal personality traits are often heritable and plastic at the same time. Indeed, behaviors that reflect an individual's personality can respond to environmental factors or change with age. To date, little is known regarding personality changes during a wild animals' lifetime and even less about stability in heritability of behavior across ages. In this study, we investigated age-related changes in the mean and in the additive genetic variance of exploratory behavior, a commonly used measure of animal personality, in a wild population of great tits. Heritability of exploration is reduced in adults compared to juveniles, with a low genetic correlation across these age classes. A random regression animal model confirmed the occurrence of genotype-age interactions (G×A) in exploration, causing a decrease in additive genetic variance before individuals become 1 year old, and a decline in cross-age genetic correlations between young and increasingly old individuals. Of the few studies investigating G×A in behaviors, this study provides rare evidence for this phenomenon in an extensively studied behavior. We indeed demonstrate that heritability and cross-age genetic correlations in this behavior are not stable over an individual's lifetime, which can affect its potential response to selection. Because G×A is likely to be common in behaviors and have consequences for our understanding of the evolution of animal personality, more attention should be turned to this phenomenon in the future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Class
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | | | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
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24
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DeRango EJ, Schwarz JF, Kalberer S, Piedrahita P, Páez-Rosas D, Krüger O. Intrinsic and maternal traits influence personality during early life in Galápagos sea lion, Zalophus wollebaeki, pups. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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25
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Dougherty LR, Guillette LM. Linking personality and cognition: a meta-analysis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0282. [PMID: 30104427 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, several conceptual papers have linked variation in animal personality to variation in cognition, and recent years have seen a flood of empirical studies testing this link. However, these results have not been synthesized in a quantitative way. Here, we systematically search the literature and conduct a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis of empirical papers that have tested the relationship between animal personality (exploration, boldness, activity, aggression and sociability) and cognition (initial learning/reversal speed, number of correct choices/errors after standard training). We find evidence for a small but significant relationship between variation in personality and variation in learning across species in the absolute scale; however, the direction of this relationship is highly variable and when both positive and negative effect sizes are considered, the average effect size does not differ significantly from zero. Importantly, this variation among studies is not explained by differences in personality or learning measure, or taxonomic grouping. Further, these results do not support current hypotheses suggesting that that fast-explorers are fast-learners or that slow-explorers perform better on tests of reversal learning. Rather, we find evidence that bold animals are faster learners, but only when boldness is measured in response to a predator (or simulated predator) and not when boldness is measured by exposure to a novel object (or novel food). Further, although only a small sub-sample of papers reported results separately for males and females, sex explained a significant amount of variation in effect size. These results, therefore, suggest that, while personality and learning are indeed related across a range of species, the direction of this relationship is highly variable. Thus further empirical work is needed to determine whether there are important moderators of this relationship.This article is part of the theme issue 'Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam R Dougherty
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7RB, UK
| | - Lauren M Guillette
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK .,Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada AB T6G 2R3
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26
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Bjornson F, Anderson GW. Body condition, rather than size, predicts risk-taking and resource holding potential in hatchery reared juvenile lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2018; 93:1188-1196. [PMID: 30345517 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To test how body size might influence lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens anti-predator behaviour, asymmetrically body-size-matched individuals were exposed to conspecific chemical alarm cues with the presence or absence of food. Additionally, to test resource holding potential (RHP), hatchery-reared juvenile A. fulvescens were asymmetrically (c. 60% mass difference) and symmetrically (c. 3% mass difference) size matched in individual tanks. Results suggest that A. fulvescens of higher body condition, rather than body length or mass, may take greater risks when presented with foraging opportunities and realize a higher RHP. As hatcheries are likely to select individuals of higher body condition, more research is necessary to understand the role body condition may have on behavioural responses and ensuing fitness post-release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forrest Bjornson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gary W Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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27
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Abbey-Lee RN, Uhrig EJ, Garnham L, Lundgren K, Child S, Løvlie H. Experimental manipulation of monoamine levels alters personality in crickets. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16211. [PMID: 30385805 PMCID: PMC6212410 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal personality has been described in a range of species with ecological and evolutionary consequences. Factors shaping and maintaining variation in personality are not fully understood, but monoaminergic systems are consistently linked to personality variation. We experimentally explored how personality was influenced by alterations in two key monoamine systems: dopamine and serotonin. This was done using ropinirole and fluoxetine, two common human pharmaceuticals. Using the Mediterranean field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), we focused on the personality traits activity, exploration, and aggression, with confirmed repeatability in our study. Dopamine manipulations explained little variation in the personality traits investigated, while serotonin manipulation reduced both activity and aggression. Due to limited previous research, we created a dose-response curve for ropinirole, ranging from concentrations measured in surface waters to human therapeutic doses. No ropinirole dose level strongly influenced cricket personality, suggesting our results did not come from a dose mismatch. Our results indicate that the serotonergic system explains more variation in personality than manipulations of the dopaminergic system. Additionally, they suggest that monoamine systems differ across taxa, and confirm the importance of the mode of action of pharmaceuticals in determining their effects on behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin N Abbey-Lee
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Emily J Uhrig
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Biology, Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR, 97520, USA
| | - Laura Garnham
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Lundgren
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sarah Child
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden.,Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester University, Michael Smith Building, Dover St, Manchester, M13 9, UK
| | - Hanne Løvlie
- Dept of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden
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Martin JS, Massen JJM, Šlipogor V, Bugnyar T, Jaeggi AV, Koski SE. The
EGA
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GNM
framework: An integrative approach to modelling behavioural syndromes. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S. Martin
- Behavioural Ecology LabDepartment of AnthropologyEmory University Atlanta Georgia
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of AnthropologyMiami University Oxford Ohio
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Cognitive Psychology UnitInstitute of PsychologyLeiden University Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Vedrana Šlipogor
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Cognitive BiologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Adrian V. Jaeggi
- Behavioural Ecology LabDepartment of AnthropologyEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | - Sonja E. Koski
- Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
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29
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Repeatability and reliability of exploratory behavior in proactive and reactive zebrafish, Danio rerio. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12114. [PMID: 30108258 PMCID: PMC6092368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral responses to novel situations often vary and can belong to a suite of correlated behaviors. Characteristic behaviors of different personality types (e.g. stress coping styles) are generally consistent across contexts and time. Here, we compare the repeatability and reliability of exploratory behaviors between zebrafish strains selectively bred to display contrasting behavioral responses to stressors that represent the proactive-reactive axis. Specifically, we measure exploratory behavior of individual fish in an open field test over five weeks. We quantified the stationary time, average swimming speed and time spent by a fish in the center area. We found a number of strain differences for each behavioral measure. Stationary time was the most repeatable and reliable measure for assessing proactive-reactive behavioral differences. Reactive zebrafish generally showed the highest reliability and repeatability of exploratory behavior compared to proactive zebrafish and a separate wild caught strain. Given the increased interest in the evolutionary consequences and proximate mechanisms of consistent individual differences, it will be important to continue to investigate how different selective pressures may influence expression of stress coping styles and their effects on the consistency of an animal’s behavior.
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30
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Animal personality and behavioral syndromes in amphibians: a review of the evidence, experimental approaches, and implications for conservation. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2493-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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31
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Genomic tools for behavioural ecologists to understand repeatable individual differences in behaviour. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:944-955. [PMID: 29434349 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Behaviour is a key interface between an animal's genome and its environment. Repeatable individual differences in behaviour have been extensively documented in animals, but the molecular underpinnings of behavioural variation among individuals within natural populations remain largely unknown. Here, we offer a critical review of when molecular techniques may yield new insights, and we provide specific guidance on how and whether the latest tools available are appropriate given different resources, system and organismal constraints, and experimental designs. Integrating molecular genetic techniques with other strategies to study the proximal causes of behaviour provides opportunities to expand rapidly into new avenues of exploration. Such endeavours will enable us to better understand how repeatable individual differences in behaviour have evolved, how they are expressed and how they can be maintained within natural populations of animals.
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32
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Pennell TM, Holman L, Morrow EH, Field J. Building a new research framework for social evolution: intralocus caste antagonism. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1251-1268. [PMID: 29341390 PMCID: PMC5896731 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The breeding and non‐breeding ‘castes’ of eusocial insects provide a striking example of role‐specific selection, where each caste maximises fitness through different morphological, behavioural and physiological trait values. Typically, queens are long‐lived egg‐layers, while workers are short‐lived, largely sterile foragers. Remarkably, the two castes are nevertheless produced by the same genome. The existence of inter‐caste genetic correlations is a neglected consequence of this shared genome, potentially hindering the evolution of caste dimorphism: alleles that increase the productivity of queens may decrease the productivity of workers and vice versa, such that each caste is prevented from reaching optimal trait values. A likely consequence of this ‘intralocus caste antagonism’ should be the maintenance of genetic variation for fitness and maladaptation within castes (termed ‘caste load’), analogous to the result of intralocus sexual antagonism. The aim of this review is to create a research framework for understanding caste antagonism, drawing in part upon conceptual similarities with sexual antagonism. By reviewing both the social insect and sexual antagonism literature, we highlight the current empirical evidence for caste antagonism, discuss social systems of interest, how antagonism might be resolved, and challenges for future research. We also introduce the idea that sexual and caste antagonism could interact, creating a three‐way antagonism over gene expression. This includes unpacking the implications of haplodiploidy for the outcome of this complex interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Pennell
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Luke Holman
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Edward H Morrow
- Evolution Behaviour and Environment Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Jeremy Field
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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33
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Ruuskanen S, Groothuis TGG, Baugh AT, Schaper SV, Vries B, Oers K. Maternal egg hormones in the mating context: The effect of pair personality. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Ruuskanen
- Section of EcologyDepartment of BiologyUniversity of Turku Turku Finland
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW) Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Ton G. G. Groothuis
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Sonja V. Schaper
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW) Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Bonnie Vries
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Kees Oers
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW) Wageningen The Netherlands
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34
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Mueller JC, Edelaar P, Baños-Villalba A, Carrete M, Potti J, Blas J, Tella JL, Kempenaers B. Selection on a behaviour-related gene during the first stages of the biological invasion pathway. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6110-6121. [PMID: 28926158 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced biological invasions are common worldwide and often have negative impacts on wildlife and human societies. Several studies have shown evidence for selection on invaders after introduction to the new range. However, selective processes already acting prior to introduction have been largely neglected. Here, we tested whether such early selection acts on known behaviour-related gene variants in the yellow-crowned bishop (Euplectes afer), a pet-traded African songbird. We tested for nonrandom allele frequency changes after trapping, acclimation and survival in captivity. We also compared the native source population with two independent invasive populations. Allele frequencies of two SNPs in the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene-known to be linked to behavioural activity in response to novelty in this species-significantly changed over all early invasion stages. They also differed between the African native population and the two invading European populations. The two-locus genotype associated with reduced activity declined consistently, but strongest at the trapping stage. Overall genetic diversity did not substantially decrease, and there is little evidence for new alleles in the introduced populations, indicating that selection at the DRD4 gene predominantly worked on the standing genetic variation already present in the native population. Our study demonstrates selection on a behaviour-related gene during the first stages of a biological invasion. Thus, pre-establishment stages of a biological invasion do not only determine the number of propagules that are introduced (their quantity), but also their phenotypic and genetic characteristics (their quality).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob C Mueller
- Department of Behavioural Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Pim Edelaar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Adrián Baños-Villalba
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jaime Potti
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Julio Blas
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
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35
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Baugh AT, Davidson SC, Hau M, van Oers K. Temporal dynamics of the HPA axis linked to exploratory behavior in a wild European songbird (Parus major). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017. [PMID: 28636887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Variation in the reactivity of the endocrine stress axis is thought to underlie aspects of persistent individual differences in behavior (i.e. animal personality). Previous studies, however, have focused largely on estimating baseline or peak levels of glucocorticoids (CORT), often in captive animals. In contrast, the temporal dynamics of the HPA axis-how quickly it turns on and off, for example-may better indicate how an individual copes with stressors. Moreover, these HPA components might be correlated, thereby representing endocrine suites. Using wild-caught great tits (Parus major) we tested birds for exploratory behavior using a standardized novel environment assay that serves as a validated proxy for personality. We then re-captured a subset of these birds (n=85) and characterized four components of HPA physiology: baseline, endogenous stress response, a dexamethasone (DEX) challenge to estimate the strength of negative feedback, and an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge to estimate adrenal capacity. We predicted that these four HPA responses would be positively correlated and that less exploratory birds would have a more rapid onset of the stress response (a CORT elevation during the baseline bleed) and weaker negative feedback (higher CORT after DEX). We found support for the first two predictions but not the third. All four components were positively correlated with each other and less exploratory birds exhibited an elevation in CORT during the baseline bleed (<3min from capture). Less exploratory birds, however, did not exhibit weaker negative feedback following the DEX challenge, but did exhibit weaker adrenal capacity. Together, our findings provide partial support for the hypothesis that the temporal reactivity of the HPA axis is linked with consistent individual differences in behavior, with more cautious (slower exploring) individuals exhibiting a faster CORT response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Baugh
- Department of Biology, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA.
| | - Sarah C Davidson
- Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany; Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, USA
| | - Michaela Hau
- Evolutionary Physiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str., 82319 Seewiesen, Germany; Department of Biology, Universitätsstrasse 10, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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36
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Moran NP, Mossop KD, Thompson RM, Chapple DG, Wong BBM. Rapid divergence of animal personality and syndrome structure across an arid-aquatic habitat matrix. Oecologia 2017; 185:55-67. [PMID: 28779225 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3924-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Intraspecific trait variation, including animal personalities and behavioural syndromes, affects how individual animals and populations interact with their environment. Within-species behavioural variation is widespread across animal taxa, which has substantial and unexplored implications for the ecological and evolutionary processes of animals. Accordingly, we sought to investigate individual behavioural characteristics in several populations of a desert-dwelling fish, the Australian desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius). We reared first generation offspring in a common garden to compare non-ontogenic divergence in behavioural phenotypes between genetically interconnected populations from contrasting habitats (isolated groundwater springs versus hydrologically variable river waterholes). Despite the genetic connectedness of populations, fish had divergent bold-exploratory traits associated with their source habitat. This demonstrates divergence in risk-taking traits as a rapid phenotypic response to ecological pressures in arid aquatic habitats: neophilia may be suppressed by increased predation pressure and elevated by high intraspecific competition. Correlations between personality traits also differed between spring and river fish. River populations showed correlations between dispersal and novel environment behaviours, revealing an adaptive behavioural syndrome (related to dispersal and exploration) that was not found in spring populations. This illustrates the adaptive significance of heritable behavioural variation within and between populations, and their importance to animals persisting across contrasting habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Moran
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Krystina D Mossop
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross M Thompson
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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37
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Snijders L, Naguib M, van Oers K. Dominance rank and boldness predict social attraction in great tits. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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38
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Quinn JL, Cole EF, Reed TE, Morand-Ferron J. Environmental and genetic determinants of innovativeness in a natural population of birds. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:rstb.2015.0184. [PMID: 26926275 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of the evidence for the idea that individuals differ in their propensity to innovate and solve new problems has come from studies on captive primates. Increasingly, behavioural ecologists are studying innovativeness in wild populations, and uncovering links with functional behaviour and fitness-related traits. The relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in driving this variation, however, remains unknown. Here, we present the results of the first large-scale study to examine a range of causal factors underlying innovative problem-solving performance (PSP) among 831 great tits (Parus major) temporarily taken into captivity. Analyses show that PSP in this population: (i) was linked to a variety of individual factors, including age, personality and natal origin (immigrant or local-born); (ii) was influenced by natal environment, because individuals had a lower PSP when born in poor-quality habitat, or where local population density was high, leading to cohort effects. Links with many of the individual and environmental factors were present only in some years. In addition, PSP (iii) had little or no measurable heritability, as estimated by a Bayesian animal model; and (iv) was not influenced by maternal effects. Despite previous reports of links between PSP and a range of functional traits in this population, the analyses here suggest that innovativeness had weak if any evolutionary potential. Instead most individual variation was caused by phenotypic plasticity driven by links with other behavioural traits and by environmentally mediated developmental stress. Heritability estimates are population, time and context specific, however, and more studies are needed to determine the generality of these effects. Our results shed light on the causes of innovativeness within populations, and add to the debate on the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in driving phenotypic variation within populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Quinn
- School of BEES, University College Cork, North Mall, Cork, T23 N73K, Republic of Ireland Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Ella F Cole
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Thomas E Reed
- School of BEES, University College Cork, North Mall, Cork, T23 N73K, Republic of Ireland
| | - Julie Morand-Ferron
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5
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39
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40
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Arbore R, Andras JP, Routtu J, Ebert D. Ecological genetics of sediment browsing behaviour in a planktonic crustacean. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:1999-2009. [PMID: 27329766 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Zooplankton can display complex habitat selection behaviours that influence the way they interact with their environments. Some species, although primarily pelagic, can exploit sediment-borne particles as a food source or use sediments as a refuge from pelagic predation. However, this strategy may increase the exposure to other risks such as benthic predation and infection from sediment-borne parasite transmission stages. The evolution of habitat selection behaviour in these species is thus expected to be influenced by multiple and possibly contrasting selective forces. Here, we study the browsing behaviour of the water flea Daphnia magna on bottom sediments. First, we demonstrated genetic variation for sediment browsing among D. magna genotypes from natural populations sampled across a broad geographic range. Next, we used an F2 recombinant panel to perform a QTL analysis and identified three regions in the D. magna genome contributing to variation in browsing behaviour. We also analysed the correlation between our data and previously published data on the phototactic behaviour of genotypes from the same F2 panel. Clonal means of the two behavioral traits were not correlated, suggesting that they may evolve independently. Browsing behaviour is likely to be a relevant component of habitat selection in D. magna, and its study may help to incorporate the interactions with the sediment into eco-evolutionary models of this key freshwater species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Arbore
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - J P Andras
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - J Routtu
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - D Ebert
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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41
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Verhulst EC, Mateman AC, Zwier MV, Caro SP, Verhoeven KJF, van Oers K. Evidence from pyrosequencing indicates that natural variation in animal personality is associated with DRD4 DNA methylation. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:1801-11. [PMID: 26678756 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Personality traits are heritable and respond to natural selection, but are at the same time influenced by the ontogenetic environment. Epigenetic effects, such as DNA methylation, have been proposed as a key mechanism to control personality variation. However, to date little is known about the contribution of epigenetic effects to natural variation in behaviour. Here, we show that great tit (Parus major) lines artificially selected for divergent exploratory behaviour for four generations differ in their DNA methylation levels at the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene. This D4 receptor is statistically associated with personality traits in both humans and nonhuman animals, including the great tit. Previous work in this songbird failed to detect functional genetic polymorphisms within DRD4 that could account for the gene-trait association. However, our observation supports the idea that DRD4 is functionally involved in exploratory behaviour but that its effects are mediated by DNA methylation. While the exact mechanism underlying the transgenerational consistency of DRD4 methylation remains to be elucidated, this study shows that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in shaping natural variation in personality traits. We outline how this first finding provides a basis for investigating the epigenetic contribution to personality traits in natural systems and its subsequent role for understanding the ecology and evolution of behavioural consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline C Verhulst
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - A Christa Mateman
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathijs V Zwier
- Center for Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel P Caro
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Koen J F Verhoeven
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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42
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Holtmann B, Grosser S, Lagisz M, Johnson SL, Santos ESA, Lara CE, Robertson BC, Nakagawa S. Population differentiation and behavioural association of the two ‘personality’ genesDRD4andSERTin dunnocks (Prunella modularis). Mol Ecol 2016; 25:706-22. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Holtmann
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
| | - S. Grosser
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
| | - M. Lagisz
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - S. L. Johnson
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
| | - E. S. A. Santos
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
- Departamento de Zoologia; Universidade de São Paulo; Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, n˚ 101 Cid. Universitária São Paulo SP 05508-090 Brazil
| | - C. E. Lara
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
| | - B. C. Robertson
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
| | - S. Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; 340 Great King Street Dunedin 9016 New Zealand
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
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43
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Genetic Correlates of Individual Differences in Sleep Behavior of Free-Living Great Tits (Parus major). G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:599-607. [PMID: 26739645 PMCID: PMC4777123 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.024216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Within populations, free-living birds display considerable variation in observable sleep behaviors, reflecting dynamic interactions between individuals and their environment. Genes are expected to contribute to repeatable between-individual differences in sleep behaviors, which may be associated with individual fitness. We identified and genotyped polymorphisms in nine candidate genes for sleep, and measured five repeatable sleep behaviors in free-living great tits (Parus major), partly replicating a previous study in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Microsatellites in the CLOCK and NPAS2 clock genes exhibited an association with sleep duration relative to night length, and morning latency to exit the nest box, respectively. Furthermore, microsatellites in the NPSR1 and PCSK2 genes associated with relative sleep duration and proportion of time spent awake at night, respectively. Given the detection rate of associations in the same models run with random markers instead of candidate genes, we expected two associations to arise by chance. The detection of four associations between candidate genes and sleep, however, suggests that clock genes, a clock-related gene, or a gene involved in the melanocortin system, could play key roles in maintaining phenotypic variation in sleep behavior in avian populations. Knowledge of the genetic architecture underlying sleep behavior in the wild is important because it will enable ecologists to assess the evolution of sleep in response to selection.
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Canestrelli D, Bisconti R, Carere C. Bolder Takes All? The Behavioral Dimension of Biogeography. Trends Ecol Evol 2015; 31:35-43. [PMID: 26688444 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Animal personality can be seen as behavioral polymorphism that could play a direct and active role in driving evolutionary pathways. We argue here that consistent individual differences in key personality traits affecting dispersal and other density-dependent processes have provided substantial contributions to molding biogeographic patterns. Building upon opportunities recently opened by genomics and other novel approaches, we explore the hypothesis that Pleistocene range expansions, island colonizations, and other historical biogeographic processes could have been promoted by non-random samples of behavioral types of the founder populations. We provide context and testable hypotheses, based on case studies, that could bring new implications to our understanding of the processes shaping spatial and temporal patterns of variation in animal biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Canestrelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Roberta Bisconti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Claudio Carere
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, University of Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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45
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Urszán TJ, Garamszegi LZ, Nagy G, Hettyey A, Török J, Herczeg G. No personality without experience? A test on Rana dalmatina tadpoles. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:5847-56. [PMID: 26811759 PMCID: PMC4717344 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
While the number of studies reporting the presence of individual behavioral consistency (animal personality, behavioral syndrome) has boomed in the recent years, there is still much controversy about the proximate and ultimate mechanisms resulting in the phenomenon. For instance, direct environmental effects during ontogeny (phenotypic plasticity) as the proximate mechanism behind the emergence of consistent individual differences in behavior are usually overlooked compared to environmental effects operating across generations (genetic adaptation). Here, we tested the effects of sociality and perceived predation risk during ontogeny on the strength of behavioral consistency in agile frog (Rana dalmatina) tadpoles in a factorial common garden experiment. Tadpoles reared alone and without predatory cues showed zero repeatability within (i.e., lack of personality) and zero correlation between (i.e., lack of syndrome) activity and risk-taking. On the other hand, cues from predators alone induced both activity and risk-taking personalities, while cues from predators and conspecifics together resulted in an activity - risk-taking behavioral syndrome. Our results show that individual experience has an unequivocal role in the emergence of behavioral consistency. In this particular case, the development of behavioral consistency was most likely the result of genotype × environment interactions, or with other words, individual variation in behavioral plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás J Urszán
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Pázmány Péter sétány, 1/c Budapest H-1117 Hungary
| | - László Z Garamszegi
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Estacion Biologica de Donana - CSIC c/Americo Vespucio, s/n Seville 41092 Spain
| | - Gergely Nagy
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Pázmány Péter sétány, 1/c Budapest H-1117 Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group MTA ATK NÖVI Herman Ottó út 15 Budapest 1022 Hungary
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Pázmány Péter sétány, 1/c Budapest H-1117 Hungary
| | - Gábor Herczeg
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Pázmány Péter sétány, 1/c Budapest H-1117 Hungary
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46
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Edwards HA, Hajduk GK, Durieux G, Burke T, Dugdale HL. No Association between Personality and Candidate Gene Polymorphisms in a Wild Bird Population. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138439. [PMID: 26473495 PMCID: PMC4608812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Consistency of between-individual differences in behaviour or personality is a phenomenon in populations that can have ecological consequences and evolutionary potential. One way that behaviour can evolve is to have a genetic basis. Identifying the molecular genetic basis of personality could therefore provide insight into how and why such variation is maintained, particularly in natural populations. Previously identified candidate genes for personality in birds include the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), and serotonin transporter (SERT). Studies of wild bird populations have shown that exploratory and bold behaviours are associated with polymorphisms in both DRD4 and SERT. Here we tested for polymorphisms in DRD4 and SERT in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) population on Cousin Island, Seychelles, and then investigated correlations between personality and polymorphisms in these genes. We found no genetic variation in DRD4, but identified four polymorphisms in SERT that clustered into five haplotypes. There was no correlation between bold or exploratory behaviours and SERT polymorphisms/haplotypes. The null result was not due to lack of power, and indicates that there was no association between these behaviours and variation in the candidate genes tested in this population. These null findings provide important data to facilitate representative future meta-analyses on candidate personality genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah A. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Gabriela K. Hajduk
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Durieux
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah L. Dugdale
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Nature Seychelles, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles
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47
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Staes N, Koski SE, Helsen P, Fransen E, Eens M, Stevens JMG. Chimpanzee sociability is associated with vasopressin (Avpr1a) but not oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variation. Horm Behav 2015; 75:84-90. [PMID: 26299644 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The importance of genes in regulating phenotypic variation of personality traits in humans and animals is becoming increasingly apparent in recent studies. Here we focus on variation in the vasopressin receptor gene 1a (Avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and their effects on social personality traits in chimpanzees. We combine newly available genetic data on Avpr1a and OXTR allelic variation of 62 captive chimpanzees with individual variation in personality, based on behavioral assessments. Our study provides support for the positive association of the Avpr1a promoter region, in particular the presence of DupB, and sociability in chimpanzees. This complements findings of previous studies on adolescent chimpanzees and studies that assessed personality using questionnaire data. In contrast, no significant associations were found for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss1388116472 of the OXTR and any of the personality components. Most importantly, our study provides additional evidence for the regulatory function of the 5' promoter region of Avpr1a on social behavior and its evolutionary stable effect across species, including rodents, chimpanzees and humans. Although it is generally accepted that complex social behavior is regulated by a combination of genes, the environment and their interaction, our findings highlight the importance of candidate genes with large effects on behavioral variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Staes
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sonja E Koski
- Helsinki University, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Intersubjectivity in Interaction, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Philippe Helsen
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Erik Fransen
- University of Antwerp, Statua Center for Statistics, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Jeroen M G Stevens
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
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48
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Kappeler PM, Fichtel C. Eco-evo-devo of the lemur syndrome: did adaptive behavioral plasticity get canalized in a large primate radiation? Front Zool 2015; 12 Suppl 1:S15. [PMID: 26816515 PMCID: PMC4722368 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-12-s1-s15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive explanations of behavioral adaptations rarely invoke all levels famously admonished by Niko Tinbergen. The role of developmental processes and plasticity, in particular, has often been neglected. In this paper, we combine ecological, physiological and developmental perspectives in developing a hypothesis to account for the evolution of 'the lemur syndrome', a combination of reduced sexual dimorphism, even adult sex ratios, female dominance and mild genital masculinization characterizing group-living species in two families of Malagasy primates. RESULTS We review the different components of the lemur syndrome and compare it with similar adaptations reported for other mammals. We find support for the assertion that the lemur syndrome represents a unique set of integrated behavioral, demographic and morphological traits. We combine existing hypotheses about underlying adaptive function and proximate causation by adding a potential developmental mechanism linking maternal stress and filial masculinization, and outline an evolutionary scenario for its canalization. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new hypothesis linking ecological, physiological, developmental and evolutionary processes to adumbrate a comprehensive explanation for the evolution of the lemur syndrome, whose assumptions and predictions can guide diverse future research on lemurs. This hypothesis should also encourage students of other behavioral phenomena to consider the potential role of developmental plasticity in evolutionary innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Mueller JC, Kuhl H, Timmermann B, Kempenaers B. Characterization of the genome and transcriptome of the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus: polymorphisms, sex-biased expression and selection signals. Mol Ecol Resour 2015. [PMID: 26220359 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Decoding genomic sequences and determining their variation within populations has potential to reveal adaptive processes and unravel the genetic basis of ecologically relevant trait variation within a species. The blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus--a long-time ecological model species--has been used to investigate fitness consequences of variation in mating and reproductive behaviour. However, very little is known about the underlying genetic changes due to natural and sexual selection in the genome of this songbird. As a step to bridge this gap, we assembled the first draft genome of a single blue tit, mapped the transcriptome of five females and five males to this reference, identified genomewide variants and performed sex-differential expression analysis in the gonads, brain and other tissues. In the gonads, we found a high number of sex-biased genes, and of those, a similar proportion were sex-limited (genes only expressed in one sex) in males and females. However, in the brain, the proportion of female-limited genes within the female-biased gene category (82%) was substantially higher than the proportion of male-limited genes within the male-biased category (6%). This suggests a predominant on-off switching mechanism for the female-limited genes. In addition, most male-biased genes were located on the Z-chromosome, indicating incomplete dosage compensation for the male-biased genes. We called more than 500,000 SNPs from the RNA-seq data. Heterozygote detection in the single reference individual was highly congruent between DNA-seq and RNA-seq calling. Using information from these polymorphisms, we identified potential selection signals in the genome. We list candidate genes which can be used for further sequencing and detailed selection studies, including genes potentially related to meiotic drive evolution. A public genome browser of the blue tit with the described information is available at http://public-genomes-ngs.molgen.mpg.de.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob C Mueller
- Department of Behavioural Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Sequencing Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestrasse 73, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Timmermann
- Sequencing Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestrasse 73, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
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50
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Genetic Basis Underlying Behavioral Correlation Between Fugu Takifugu rubripes and a Closely Related Species, Takifugu niphobles. Behav Genet 2015; 45:560-72. [PMID: 26067468 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-015-9728-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Correlated suits of behaviors (behavioral syndrome) are commonly observed in both inter- and intraspecific studies. In order to understand the genetic basis of such a correlation between species, we compared ten behaviors classified into five categories (acclimation, feeding, normal swimming, reaction to a novel object and activity in a novel environment) between two pufferfish species, Takifugu rubripes and T. niphobles. The two species showed consistent differences in nine behaviors with a significant correlation among behaviors. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using second generation hybrids revealed that different sets of small effect QTL are associated with the observed interspecific behavioral disparity. This indicates that correlations in temperament traits between them are governed by many genes with small effects, and each behavior has been selected to form particular combination patterns. One of the QTL showing small pleiotropic effect includes the Drd4 gene known for its association with behavioral traits in some animal taxa including mammals.
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