Individual variation in corticosterone and personality traits in the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus

Arnold, K., Herborn, K. A., Henderson, L. J., Adam, A., Alexander, L. and Evans, N. (2016) Individual variation in corticosterone and personality traits in the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus. Behaviour, 153(13-14), pp. 1611-1637. (doi: 10.1163/1568539X-00003408)

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Abstract

Variation in personality traits is predicted to reflect physiology, but the extent to which variations in stress hormones derive from differences in personality and/or state-dependent factors remains unclear. To investigate this, wild blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) were briefly brought into captivity and scored for personality and corticosterone (Cort) concentrations. More active females had lower baseline Cort than less active individuals. Exploratory tendency and neophobia did not co-vary with baseline Cort. Stress-induced Cort concentrations were correlated negatively with exploratory tendency and haematocrit, but positively with mass gain in captivity. Therefore, baseline and stress-induced Cort concentrations in wintering blue tits were associated with state-dependent variables, sex, age and personality traits. Key to interpreting the physiology of personality traits seems to be their interactions with other traits that mediate ability to utilise resources, and thus influence an individual’s perception of its current and future energy balance.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Adam, Ms Aileen and Evans, Professor Neil and Herborn, Dr Katherine
Authors: Arnold, K., Herborn, K. A., Henderson, L. J., Adam, A., Alexander, L., and Evans, N.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Behaviour
Publisher:Brill Academic Publishers
ISSN:0005-7959
ISSN (Online):1568-539X
Published Online:17 October 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 Koninklijke Brill NV
First Published:First published in Behaviour 153(13-14): 1611-1637
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
527591Responsive PhD - NERC DTG (N. Metcalfe)Neil MetcalfeNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/H526886/1RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED