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Editor's choice Behavioral syndromes as evolutionary constraints

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  • Ned A. Dochtermann
  • Niels J. Dingemanse

Abstract

Behaviors are commonly correlated between individuals in so-called "behavioral syndromes." Between-individual correlations of phenotypic traits can change the trajectories of evolutionary responses available to populations and even prevent evolutionary change if underpinned by genetic correlations. Whether behavioral syndromes also influence the course of evolution in this manner remains unknown. Here, we provide the first test of the degree to which evolutionary responses might be affected by behavioral syndrome structure. This test, based on a meta-analysis of additive genetic variance–covariance matrices, shows that behavioral syndromes constrain potential evolutionary responses by an average of 33%. For comparison, correlations between life-history or between morphological traits suggest constraints of 13–18%. This finding demonstrates that behavioral syndromes might substantially constrain the evolutionary trajectories available to populations, prompts novel future directions for the study of behavioral syndromes, emphasizes the importance of viewing syndrome research from an evolutionary perspective, and provides a bridge between syndrome research and theoretical quantitative genetics.

Suggested Citation

  • Ned A. Dochtermann & Niels J. Dingemanse, 2013. "Editor's choice Behavioral syndromes as evolutionary constraints," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(4), pages 806-811.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:24:y:2013:i:4:p:806-811.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/art002
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    Cited by:

    1. Jon E. Brommer & Patrik Karell & Kari Ahola & Teuvo Karstinen, 2014. "Residual correlations, and not individual properties, determine a nest defense boldness syndrome," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 25(4), pages 802-812.
    2. Jack A Brand & Annalise C Naimo & Marcus Michelangeli & Jake M Martin & Andrew Sih & Bob B M Wong & David G Chapple, 2021. "Population differences in the effect of context on personality in an invasive lizard," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 32(6), pages 1363-1371.
    3. Marcus Michelangeli & David G Chapple & Celine T Goulet & Michael G Bertram & Bob B M Wong, 2019. "Behavioral syndromes vary among geographically distinct populations in a reptile," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 30(2), pages 393-401.
    4. Bruce E Kendall & Gordon A Fox & Joseph P Stover & Shinichi NakagawaHandling editor, 2018. "Boldness-aggression syndromes can reduce population density: behavior and demographic heterogeneity," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(1), pages 31-41.
    5. Erica F Stuber & Ben S Carlson & Brett R Jesmer, 2022. "Spatial personalities: a meta-analysis of consistent individual differences in spatial behavior," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 33(3), pages 477-486.
    6. Ádám Z Lendvai & Jenny Q Ouyang & Laura A Schoenle & Vincent Fasanello & Mark F Haussmann & Frances Bonier & Ignacio T Moore, 2014. "Experimental Food Restriction Reveals Individual Differences in Corticosterone Reaction Norms with No Oxidative Costs," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-10, November.

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