Consistent individual differences in paternal behavior: a field study of threespine stickleback.

ABSTRACT: Consistent individual differences in parenting are widespread; however, we know little about why there is variation in parenting behavior among individuals within species. One possible explanation for consistent individual differences in parenting is that individuals invest in different aspects of parental care, such as provisioning or defense. In this field study we measured consistent individual differences in parenting behavior and evaluated correlations between parenting and other behaviors in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We repeatedly measured male parenting behavior and male behavior in the presence of three different types of live intruders: a female, a conspecific male, and a predator, meant to provoke courtship, aggressive and antipredator behavior, resp

SUBMITTER: Stein LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4317326 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature