Genomic tools for behavioural ecologists to understand repeatable individual differences in behaviour

Sarah E. Bengston, Romain A. Dahan, Zoe Donaldson, Steven M. Phelps, Kees Van Oers, Andrew Sih, Alison M. Bell

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)944-955
Number of pages12
JournalNature Ecology and Evolution
Volume2
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology

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