The Heritability of Behavior: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

The contribution of genetic variation to phenotypes is a central factor in whether and how populations respond to selection. The most common approach to estimating these influences is via the calculation of heritabilities, which summarize the contribution of genetic variation to phenotypic variation. Heritabilities also indicate the relative effect of genetic variation on phenotypes versus that of environmental sources of variation. For labile traits like behavioral responses, life history traits, and physiological responses, estimation of heritabilities is important as these traits are strongly influenced by the environment. Thus, knowing whether or not genetic variation is present within populations is necessary to understand whether or not these populations can evolve in response to selection. Here we report the results of a meta-analysis summarizing what we currently know about the heritability of behavior. Using phylogenetically controlled methods we assessed the average heritability of behavior (0.235)—which is similar to that reported in previous analyses of physiological and life history traits—and examined differences among taxa, behavioral classifications, and other biologically relevant factors. We found that there was considerable variation among behaviors as to how heritable they were, with migratory behaviors being the most heritable. Interestingly, we found no effect of phylogeny on estimates of heritability. These results suggest, first, that behavior may not be particularly unique in the degree to which it is influenced by factors other than genetics and, second, that those factors influencing whether a behavioral trait will have low or high heritability require further consideration.

Sex differences in the genetic architecture of aggressiveness in a sexually dimorphic spider

“…The present study contributes to expanding our knowledge on the genetic bases of behavioral traits by providing quantitative genetic estimates in aggressiveness and activity in the orb‐weaving spider N. umbratica . We found that both, aggressiveness and activity, are heritable (Tables and ) and that the heritability estimates are in line with those found in vertebrates for these traits (reviewed by Dochtermann, Schwab, Anderson Berdal, Dalos, & Royauté, ; van Oers & Sinn, ). We showed sex differences in the heritability of aggressiveness, being higher in males compared to females.…”

Criteria for acceptable studies of animal personality and behavioural syndromes

“…An important associated issue here is that many behaviours exhibit plasticity in response to environmental factors that change relatively slowly (compared to the lifetime of the species), creating strong temporal (Allegue et al., 2017; Mitchell, Dujon, Beckmann, & Biro, 2019) or spatial (Niemelä & Dingemanse, 2017) autocorrelations. Individuals may therefore be repeatable only because of being assessed in the same repeatable environmental conditions to which they are responding plastically (Dingemanse, Kazem, et al, 2010; Martin & Réale, 2008) and not because of any genuine among‐individual variation caused by genetics or developmental effects (Dochtermann, Schwab, Berdal, Dalos, & Royaute, 2019; Dochtermann, Schwab, & Sih, 2015; Stamps & Frankenhuis, 2016). This phenomenon is called “pseudo‐repeatability” or “pseudo‐personality” (Dingemanse & Dochtermann, 2013; Westneat, Hatch, Wetzel, & Ensminger, 2011) and has been firmly documented by meta‐analyses showing that repeatability values decrease with increasing length of inter‐test intervals (Bell et al., 2009).…”

Different preference functions act in unison: mate choice and risk-taking behaviour in the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana)

“…Behavioural differences among individuals that are consistent over time and across contexts (animal personality or temperament) can be found throughout the Animal Kingdom (Gosling, 2001; Kralj-Fišer & Schuett, 2014; Weiss, 2018). Additive genetic effects contribute to variation in animal personality traits (Dochtermann, Schwab & Sih, 2015), and heritability estimates are often comparable to those reported for life-history and physiological traits (Dochtermann, Schwab, Anderson Berdal, Dalos & Royauté, 2019). This renders animal personality a potential target of both natural and sexual selection (Dingemanse & Réale, 2005; Schuett, Tregenza & Dall, 2010).…”