Personality over ontogeny in zebra finches: long-term repeatable traits but unstable behavioural syndromes

摘要: A crucial assumption of animal personality research is that behaviour consistent over time, showing a high repeatability within individuals. This often made, sometimes tested using short time intervals between behavioural tests, but rarely thoroughly investigated across long crossing different stages ontogeny. We performed such longitudinal test three life in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), representing about 15-20% their span captivity, and found repeatabilities ranging from 0.03 to 0.67. Fearlessness exploration were the most repeatable traits both stages. Activity aggression across, not or only partly Boldness was repeatable. Furthermore, we no evidence for syndrome structure Our results indicate consistency correlations might be overestimated suggest life-long stability should simply assumed.