title: Interplay between environmental and genetic factors in temperament/personality traits in horses (Equus caballus).
abstract: The aim of the present study was to broach the question of the relative influence of different genetic and environmental factors on different temperament/personality traits of horses (Equus caballus). The researchers submitted 702 horses to standardized experimental tests and investigated 9 factors, either genetic or environmental. Genetic factors, such as sire or breed, seemed to influence more neophobic reactions, whereas environmental factors, such as the type of work, seemed to play a more dominant role in reactions to social separation or learning abilities. Additive effects were evident, showing how environmental factors may modulate behavioral traits. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding the relative weights of genetic factors and how the environment may intervene in determining individual behavioral characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Ethologie-Evolution-Ecologie, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France. Martine.Hausberger@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hausberger
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruderer
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Le Scolan
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pierre
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000523:psychology*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology