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From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:46:54 -0400
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A significant shift in thinking about behavior is taking place. People are no longer considering insects, etc. to be mechanistic and unvarying in their response, but rather -- they identify behaviors for which they use the term "personality."

> Research on animal personality variation has been burgeoning in the last 20 years but surprisingly few studies have investigated personalities in invertebrate species although they make up 98% of all animal species. Such lack of invertebrate studies might be due to a traditional belief that invertebrates are just ‘minirobots’. Lately, studies highlighting personality differences in a range of invertebrate species have challenged this idea.

> Personality is a form of behavioural specialization; another form of behavioural specialization, division of labour, can be observed in eusocial species. Eusociality is characterized by cooperative brood care, overlapping adult generations and division of labour by reproductive and (partially) nonreproductive groups 

Consistent behavioural differences between individuals over time, situations and/or contexts (in Honey bee):
* Activity (across comb); boldness (defensive response); foraging; comb repair; removal of dead bees
* Decision-making behaviour (decision speed; waggle dance rate; shaking/piping signals; scouting activity)

Kralj-Fišer, S., & Schuett, W. (2014). Studying personality variation in invertebrates: why bother?. Animal Behaviour, 91, 41-52.

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