Context dependency of trait repeatability and its relevance for management and conservation of fish populations.

ABSTRACT: Repeatability of behavioural and physiological traits is increasingly a focus for animal researchers, for which fish have become important models. Almost all of this work has been done in the context of evolutionary ecology, with few explicit attempts to apply repeatability and context dependency of trait variation toward understanding conservation-related issues. Here, we review work examining the degree to which repeatability of traits (such as boldness, swimming performance, metabolic rate and stress responsiveness) is context dependent. We review methods for quantifying repeatability (distinguishing between within-context and across-context repeatability) and confounding factors that may be especially problematic when attempting to measure repeatability in wild fish. Environmental fact

SUBMITTER: Killen SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4922260 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature