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Genetic variance for behavioural 'predictability' of stress response.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Houslay, Thomas M 
Martin, Julien GA 
Wilson, Alastair J 

Abstract

Genetic factors underpinning phenotypic variation are required if natural selection is to result in adaptive evolution. However, evolutionary and behavioural ecologists typically focus on variation among individuals in their average trait values and seek to characterize genetic contributions to this. As a result, less attention has been paid to if and how genes could contribute towards within-individual variance or trait 'predictability'. In fact, phenotypic 'predictability' can vary among individuals, and emerging evidence from livestock genetics suggests this can be due to genetic factors. Here, we test this empirically using repeated measures of a behavioural stress response trait in a pedigreed population of wild-type guppies. We ask (a) whether individuals differ in behavioural predictability and (b) whether this variation is heritable and so evolvable under selection. Using statistical methodology from the field of quantitative genetics, we find support for both hypotheses and also show evidence of a genetic correlation structure between the behavioural trait mean and individual predictability. We show that investigating sources of variability in trait predictability is statistically tractable and can yield useful biological interpretation. We conclude that, if widespread, genetic variance for 'predictability' will have major implications for the evolutionary causes and consequences of phenotypic variation.

Description

Keywords

behavioural stress response, double hierarchical generalized linear model, heritability, personality, phenotypic variation, predictability, quantitative genetics, within-individual variance, Animals, Escape Reaction, Female, Genetic Variation, Male, Models, Genetic, Poecilia, Quantitative Trait, Heritable

Journal Title

J Evol Biol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1010-061X
1420-9101

Volume Title

33

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (grant BB/L022656/1) and by a BBSRC studentship to PMP.