Correlated evolution of personality, morphology and performance. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kern, Elizabeth M.A.; Robinson, Detric; Gass, Erika; Godwin, John; Langerhans, R. Brian
• Is Part Of: Animal behaviour. Volume 117(2016)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: behavioural syndrome -- morphology -- personality -- pleiotropy -- stress coping style -- swimming performance -- zebrafish; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.04.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3472

Abstract

Abstract : Evolutionary change in one trait can elicit evolutionary changes in other traits due to genetic correlations. This constrains the independent evolution of traits and can lead to unpredicted ecological and evolutionary outcomes. Animals might frequently exhibit genetic associations among behavioural and morphological-physiological traits, because the physiological mechanisms behind animal personality can have broad multitrait effects and because many selective agents influence the evolution of multiple types of traits. However, we currently know little about genetic correlations between animal personalities and nonbehavioural traits. We tested for associations between personality, morphology and locomotor performance by comparing zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) collected from the wild and then selectively bred for either a proactive or reactive stress coping style ('bold' or 'shy' phenotypes). Based on adaptive hypotheses of correlational selection in the wild, we predicted that artificial selection for boldness would produce correlated evolutionary responses of larger caudal regions and higher fast-start escape performance (and the opposite for shyness). After four to seven generations, morphology and locomotor performance differed between personality lines: bold zebrafish exhibited a larger caudal region and higher fast-start performance than fish in the shy line, matching predictions. Individual-level phenotypic correlations suggested that pleiotropy or physical gene linkage likely explained the correlated response of locomotor performance, while the correlated response of body shape may have reflected linkage disequilibrium, which is breaking down each generation in the laboratory. Our results indicate that evolution of personality can result in concomitant changes in morphology and whole-organism performance, and vice versa. Highlights: Zebrafish were selectively bred for bold or shy behavioural traits. Selection for boldness resulted in higher fast-start swimming performance. Selection for boldness resulted in more elongate bodies with larger caudal regions. Pleiotropy and linkage disequilibrium likely explain the correlated responses. Selection for personality may often result in correlated evolution in other traits.