ARTIFICIAL SELECTION ON RELATIVE BRAIN SIZE REVEALS A POSITIVE GENETIC CORRELATION BETWEEN BRAIN SIZE AND PROACTIVE PERSONALITY IN THE GUPPY

• DOI: 10.1111/evo.12341
• Publication Date: 2013-12-21T01:08:06Z
• Authors: Alexander Kotrschal; Eva JP Lievens; Josefin Dahlbom; Andreas Bundsen; Svetlana Semenova; Maria Sundvik; Alexei A Maklakov; Svante Winberg; Pertti Panula; Niclas Kolm
• Keywords: Guppy; Genetic correlation

Animal personalities range from individuals that are shy, cautious, and easily stressed (a "reactive" personality type) to bold, innovative, quick learn novel tasks, but also prone routine formation "proactive" type). Although differences should have important consequences for fitness, their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated how genetic variation in brain size affects personality. We put selection lines of large- small-brained guppies (Poecilia reticulata), with known cognitive ability, through three standard assays. First, found large-brained animals were faster habituate to, more exploratory in, open field tests. Large-brained females bolder. Second, excreted less cortisol a stressful situation (confinement). Third, slower feed food source, which interpret as being caused by reduced behavioral flexibility rather than lack innovation the lines. Overall, results point toward proactive type animals. Thus, this study provides first experimental evidence linking personality, an interaction may affect fitness-related aspects ecology such dispersal niche exploration.