Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance
Abstract Behavioral and physiological ecologists have long been interested in explaining the causes and consequences of trait variation, with a focus on individual differences in mean values. However, the majority of phenotypic variation typically occurs within individuals, rather than among individ...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7603 |
| _version_ | 1818438215338557440 |
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| author | David J. Mitchell Christa Beckmann Peter A. Biro |
| author_facet | David J. Mitchell Christa Beckmann Peter A. Biro |
| author_sort | David J. Mitchell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Behavioral and physiological ecologists have long been interested in explaining the causes and consequences of trait variation, with a focus on individual differences in mean values. However, the majority of phenotypic variation typically occurs within individuals, rather than among individuals (as indicated by average repeatability being less than 0.5). Recent studies have further shown that individuals can also differ in the magnitude of variation that is unexplained by individual variation or environmental factors (i.e., residual variation). The significance of residual variation, or why individuals differ, is largely unexplained, but is important from evolutionary, methodological, and statistical perspectives. Here, we broadly reviewed literature on individual variation in behavior and physiology, and located 39 datasets with sufficient repeated measures to evaluate individual differences in residual variance. We then analyzed these datasets using methods that permit direct comparisons of parameters across studies. This revealed substantial and widespread individual differences in residual variance. The magnitude of individual variation appeared larger in behavioral traits than in physiological traits, and heterogeneity was greater in more controlled situations. We discuss potential ecological and evolutionary implications of individual differences in residual variance and suggest productive future research directions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:37:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a28546f612f14d998e5866f599711738 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:37:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-a28546f612f14d998e5866f5997117382022-12-21T22:52:56ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-06-0111127201721010.1002/ece3.7603Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual varianceDavid J. Mitchell0Christa Beckmann1Peter A. Biro2Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life & Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong VIC AustraliaCentre for Integrative Ecology School of Life & Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong VIC AustraliaCentre for Integrative Ecology School of Life & Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong VIC AustraliaAbstract Behavioral and physiological ecologists have long been interested in explaining the causes and consequences of trait variation, with a focus on individual differences in mean values. However, the majority of phenotypic variation typically occurs within individuals, rather than among individuals (as indicated by average repeatability being less than 0.5). Recent studies have further shown that individuals can also differ in the magnitude of variation that is unexplained by individual variation or environmental factors (i.e., residual variation). The significance of residual variation, or why individuals differ, is largely unexplained, but is important from evolutionary, methodological, and statistical perspectives. Here, we broadly reviewed literature on individual variation in behavior and physiology, and located 39 datasets with sufficient repeated measures to evaluate individual differences in residual variance. We then analyzed these datasets using methods that permit direct comparisons of parameters across studies. This revealed substantial and widespread individual differences in residual variance. The magnitude of individual variation appeared larger in behavioral traits than in physiological traits, and heterogeneity was greater in more controlled situations. We discuss potential ecological and evolutionary implications of individual differences in residual variance and suggest productive future research directions.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7603animal personalitybehavioral plasticitybehavioral predictabilitybehavioral reaction normintraindividual variability |
| spellingShingle | David J. Mitchell Christa Beckmann Peter A. Biro Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance Ecology and Evolution animal personality behavioral plasticity behavioral predictability behavioral reaction norm intraindividual variability |
| title | Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| title_full | Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| title_short | Understanding the unexplained: The magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| title_sort | understanding the unexplained the magnitude and correlates of individual differences in residual variance |
| topic | animal personality behavioral plasticity behavioral predictability behavioral reaction norm intraindividual variability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7603 |
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