Records |
Author |
Kralj-Fiser, S.; Scheiber, I.B.R.; Blejec, A.; Moestl, E.; Kotrschal, K. |
Title |
Individualities in a flock of free-roaming greylag geese: behavioral and physiological consistency over time and across situations |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Hormones and Behavior |
Abbreviated Journal |
Horm Behav |
Volume |
51 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
239-248 |
Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal/*physiology; Corticosterone/metabolism; Feces; Female; Geese/*physiology; Individuality; Male; Personality/*physiology; Population Density; Reproducibility of Results; Seasons; *Social Behavior; Social Environment; Testosterone/*metabolism |
Abstract |
The concept of personality implies individual differences in behavior and physiology that show some degree of repeatability/consistency over time and across contexts. Most studies of animal personality, particularly studies of individuals' variation in physiological mechanisms, have been conducted on selected individuals in controlled conditions. We attempted to detect consistent behaviors as well as physiological patterns in greylag ganders (Anser anser) from a free-roaming flock living in semi-natural conditions. We tested 10 individuals repeatedly, in a handling trial, resembling tests for characterization of “temperaments” in captive animals. We recorded the behavior of the same 10 individuals during four situations in the socially intact flock: (1) a “low density feeding condition”, (2) a “high density feeding condition”, (3) a “low density post-feeding situation” and (4) while the geese rested. We collected fecal samples for determination of excreted immuno-reactive corticosterone (BM) and testosterone metabolites (TM) after handling trials, as well as the “low density feeding” and the “high density feeding” conditions. BM levels were very highly consistent over the repeats of handling trials, and the “low density feeding condition” and tended to be consistent over the first two repeats of the “high density feeding condition”. Also, BM responses tended to be consistent across contexts. Despite seasonal variation, there tended to be inter-test consistency of TM, which pointed to some individual differences in TM as well. Aggressiveness turned out to be a highly repeatable trait, which was consistent across social situations, and tended to correlate with an individual's resistance during handling trials. Also, “proximity to the female partner” and “sociability” – the average number of neighboring geese in a close distance while resting – were consistent. We conclude that aggressiveness, “affiliative tendencies” and levels of excreted corticosterone and testosterone metabolites may be crucial factors of personality in geese. |
Address |
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Slovenia. simona.kralj@guest.arnes.si |
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0018-506X |
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PMID:17196200 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4189 |
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Author |
Nettle, D. |
Title |
The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
The American Psychologist |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am Psychol |
Volume |
61 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
622-631 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds; *Evolution; Female; Fishes; Humans; Insects; Male; Personality/*genetics/*physiology |
Abstract |
A comprehensive evolutionary framework for understanding the maintenance of heritable behavioral variation in humans is yet to be developed. Some evolutionary psychologists have argued that heritable variation will not be found in important, fitness-relevant characteristics because of the winnowing effect of natural selection. This article propounds the opposite view. Heritable variation is ubiquitous in all species, and there are a number of frameworks for understanding its persistence. The author argues that each of the Big Five dimensions of human personality can be seen as the result of a trade-off between different fitness costs and benefits. As there is no unconditionally optimal value of these trade-offs, it is to be expected that genetic diversity will be retained in the population. |
Address |
University of Newcastle, Newcastle, United Kingdom. daniel.nettle@ncl.ac.uk |
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0003-066X |
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PMID:16953749 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4105 |
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Author |
Lafferty, K.D. |
Title |
Look what the cat dragged in: do parasites contribute to human cultural diversity? |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Behavioural Processes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav. Process. |
Volume |
68 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
279-282 |
Keywords |
Adaptation, Physiological/physiology; Adaptation, Psychological/physiology; Animals; Behavior/physiology; *Behavior Control; Cats/*parasitology; Cultural Diversity; Host-Parasite Relations; Humans; Personality/*physiology; Toxoplasma/*physiology; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/*psychology |
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Address |
Western Ecological Research Center, United States Geological Survey, c/o Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. lafferty@lifesci.ucsb.edu |
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0376-6357 |
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Notes |
PMID:15792708 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4148 |
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