Behavioural individuality in clonal fish arises despite near-identical rearing conditions.

ABSTRACT: Behavioural individuality is thought to be caused by differences in genes and/or environmental conditions. Therefore, if these sources of variation are removed, individuals are predicted to develop similar phenotypes lacking repeatable individual variation. Moreover, even among genetically identical individuals, direct social interactions are predicted to be a powerful factor shaping the development of individuality. We use tightly controlled ontogenetic experiments with clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), to test whether near-identical rearing conditions and lack of social contact dampen individuality. In sharp contrast to our predictions, we find that (i) substantial individual variation in behaviour emerges among genetically identical individuals isolated directly after bi

SUBMITTER: Bierbach D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5442312 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature