Animal Personality as Cause and Consequence of Contest Behaviour

(2015) Animal Personality as Cause and Consequence of Contest Behaviour. Biology Letters, 11. p. 20141007.

Text (Animal Personality and Contests) animal personality contests.pdf - Accepted Version Access to this file is restricted: this item is under permanent embargo. Download (404kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

We review the evidence for a link between consistent among-individual variation in behaviour (animal personality) and the ability to win contests over limited resources. Explorative and bold behaviours often covary with contest behaviour and outcome, although there is evidence that the structure of these ‘behavioural syndromes’ can change across situations. Aggression itself is typically repeatable, but also subject to high within-individual variation as a consequence of plastic responses to previous fight outcomes and opponent traits. Common proximate mechanisms (gene expression, endocrine control and metabolic rates) may underpin variation in both contest behaviour and general personality traits. Given the theoretical links between the evolution of fighting and of personality, we suggest that longitudinal studies of contest behaviour, combining behavioural and physiological data, would be a useful context for the study of animal personalities.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2015 10:28
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2018 11:42
DOI:	10.1098/rsbl.2014.1007
URI:	http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/2009545

Repository Staff Access