Using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes: an example using domestic dogs.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic integration describes the complex interrelationships between organismal traits, traditionally focusing on morphology. Recently, research has sought to represent behavioural phenotypes as composed of quasi-independent latent traits. Concurrently, psychologists have opposed latent variable interpretations of human behaviour, proposing instead a network perspective envisaging interrelationships between behaviours as emerging from causal dependencies. Network analysis could also be applied to understand integrated behavioural phenotypes in animals. Here, we assimilate this cross-disciplinary progression of ideas by demonstrating the use of network analysis on survey data collected on behavioural and motivational characteristics of police patrol and detection dogs (Canis lupus fam

SUBMITTER: Goold C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5098969 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature