Behavioural biology: fortune favours bold and shy personalities.
A new study has shown that in the great tit (Parus major) bold males and shy females apparently flourish after rich winter pickings, while shy males and bold females profit from meagre winters. This groundbreaking work exemplifies the approach required for a biological understanding of an apparently common animal trait - personality.
Dall
Sasha R X
SR
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK. srxd2@hermes.cam.ac.uk
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012792:Shyness