Adaptation, Exaptation, and Constraint: A Hormonal Perspective

Ketterson, Ellen D.; Nolan, Val

doi:10.1086/303280

Cited by 547 publications

(187 citation statements)

References 139 publications

(89 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

184

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the existence of behavioral correlations. The constraint hypothesis assumes that a shared proximate link between personality traits, e.g., physiological or genetic factors (Ketterson and Nolan, 1999;van Oers et al, 2005), is responsible for the behavioral correlations. Conversely, the adaptive hypothesis states that correlations between personality traits emerge when selection favors correlated behaviors in particular environments, this correlation being adaptive itself (Bell, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Correlations Associated with Fear of Humans Differ between Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls

Carrete

Tella

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Behavioral studies are fundamental to understanding how animal populations face global change. Although much research has centered upon the idea that individuals can adaptively modify their behaviors to cope with environmental changes, recent evidence supports the existence of individual differences in suites of correlated behaviors. However, little is known about how selection can change these behavioral structures in populations subject to different environmental constraints. The colonization of urban environments by birds has been related to their inter-individual variability in their fear of humans, measured as their flight initiation distance to an approaching human, such that urban life would select for fearless individuals. This behavior has been demonstrated to be heritable and highly consistent throughout the adult lifespan of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). Here, we experimentally assessed, in field conditions, whether urban life involves changes in other behaviors such as exploration and antipredatory response through their correlation with fear of humans. Breeding urban birds were more fearless toward humans and were quicker to explore a new food resource and defend their nests from predators than their rural counterparts. However, while fear of humans positively correlated with exploration and antipredatory response in the rural population, it only correlated with exploration in the urban one. Predator release in urban environments could relax-and even counterselect-antipredator behaviors, thus dismantling the behavioral correlation existent in natural populations. Altogether, our results suggest that rural and urban animals may differ in some behavioral aspects, may be as a consequence of the selection processes acting during the colonization of urban areas as well as the different ecological environments encountered by individuals.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Correlations Associated with Fear of Humans Differ between Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls

Carrete

Tella

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…R. Soc. B 370: 20150014 the original target of the selective pressure; these by-products are commonly referred to as exaptations, and artificial selection experiments may quantify the linkage between traits, resulting in trade-offs and constraints on adaptation [6]. Changes in the acute reactivity of specific target tissues, such as mutations in receptor density or function, are more likely to be the original target of selection, and therefore reflect adaptations.…”

Section: (B) Studying Hormonal Mechanisms Can Inform Ultimate Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a systemic by-product of high testosterone, female hyaenas are masculinized and develop penile-like clitorises which are used in greetings and rank-display between adult females [11]. In this case, the adaptation is higher baseline testosterone to facilitate competition, and the exaptation is the co-option of the pseudo-penis in social behaviour [6]. Generally speaking, evolutionary changes in acute reactivity and responsiveness of specific target tissue, e.g.…”

Section: (B) Studying Hormonal Mechanisms Can Inform Ultimate Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may explain some sex differences in male and female response to exogenous testosterone (table 1); studies in humans find that males given testosterone supplementation show changes in behaviour on economic games [33], while women show no behavioural change [34]. Interestingly, female hyaenas are one of relatively few species where testosterone regulates female aggression, and females have relatively high levels of circulating androgens in utero and during the peri-pubertal period; female hyaenas thus develop androgen receptors and behaviour typically associated with male mammals [6,11].…”

Section: Synthesis and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also highlight other neurohormones and variation in hormone receptor genes that have been associated with cooperation. In doing so, we aim to provide a roadmap for identifying shared and derived mechanisms underlying human and primate cooperation that can give insights into the ecological and social selection pressures that produced them [6] (figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evolving the neuroendocrine physiology of human and primate cooperation and collective action

Trumble¹,

Jaeggi²,

Gurven³

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While many hormones play vital roles in facilitating or reinforcing cooperative behaviour, the neurohormones underlying competitive and cooperative behaviours are largely conserved across all mammals. This raises the question of how endocrine mechanisms have been shaped by selection to produce different levels of cooperation in different species. Multiple components of endocrine physiology—from baseline hormone concentrations, to binding proteins, to the receptor sensitivity and specificity—can evolve independently and be impacted by current socio-ecological conditions or individual status, thus potentially generating a wide range of variation within and between species. Here, we highlight several neurohormones and variation in hormone receptor genes associated with cooperation, focusing on the role of oxytocin and testosterone in contexts ranging from parenting and pair-bonding to reciprocity and territorial defence. While the studies reviewed herein describe the current state of the literature with regard to hormonal modulators of cooperation and collective action, there is still a paucity of research on hormonal mechanisms that help facilitate large-scale collective action. We end by discussing several potential areas for future research.

show abstract

Effects of captivity and testosterone on the volumes of four brain regions in the dark‐eyed junco ( Junco hyemalis )

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adaptation, Exaptation, and Constraint: A Hormonal Perspective

Cited by 547 publications

References 139 publications

Behavioral Correlations Associated with Fear of Humans Differ between Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls

Behavioral Correlations Associated with Fear of Humans Differ between Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls

Evolving the neuroendocrine physiology of human and primate cooperation and collective action

Effects of captivity and testosterone on the volumes of four brain regions in the dark‐eyed junco ( Junco hyemalis )

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About