Aggressive females become aggressive males in a sex-changing reef fish

Sprenger, Dennis, Dingemanse, Niels J., Dochtermann, Ned A., Theobald, Jennifer, and Walker, Stefan P.W. (2012) Aggressive females become aggressive males in a sex-changing reef fish. Ecology Letters, 15 (9). pp. 986-992.

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Abstract

Many animal populations display consistent individual differences in suites of correlated behaviours. While these so called 'animal personalities' can substantially influence the ecology and evolution of populations, little is known about cross-sex correlations of behaviour and thus the potential of personality to limit sex-specific behavioural adaptations. Here, we experimentally induced sex-change in the sequentially hermaphroditic reef fish Parapercis cylindrica and demonstrate the existence of tight cross-sex correlations for two behaviours with presumed different sex-specific optima. Individuals that were relatively more active and aggressive females were found to become relatively more active and aggressive males. By identifying personality as a potential genetic constraint on the resolution of intralocus sexual conflict over behaviour, our findings have important ecological and evolutionary implications for a wide range of species.

Item ID: 23188
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1461-0248
Keywords: animal personality, behavioural consistency, behavioural syndrome, behavioural variation, intralocus sexual conflict, intersexual correlation, phenotypic plasticity, hermaphroditism
Date Deposited: 22 Aug 2012 05:25
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060303 Biological Adaptation @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060201 Behavioural Ecology @ 25%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 25%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 50%
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