动物个性和行为集:概念、测试和分析

ANIMAL PERSONALITIES AND BEHAVIORAL SYNDROMES:CONCEPTION, MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS

行为学研究越来越受到动物科研工作者的重视,尤其是动物个性研究。然而,目前在个性的概念、实验设计和统计方法上仍存在不少问题,因而规范行为学研究方法有着十分重要的意义。鉴于以上目的,文章对动物个性和行为集概念的发展过程进行了简要回顾,并归纳了动物个性和行为集研究的实验设计和目前最佳的数据统计分析方法。这些标准的建立,可以帮助科研人员避免动物个性研究中常见的错误,使个性研究的设计更加缜密、实验结果更加可靠,从而推动行为生态学的蓬勃发展。

Since behavioral ecology has emphasized its importance in ecological and evolutionary bases, more and more studies involving animal personalities and behavioral syndromes are being carried out, to reveal how animals behave when faced with diverse intrinsic and extrinsic environments. However, the field is fraught with conceptual and methodological difficulties. It is therefore necessary to create acceptable criteria guiding studies in this field. We review the current agreement of definitions and methods used in animal personality and behavioral syndrome studies, and we are here to provide a brief summary of some key issues regarding of the conception, experimental protocol and wellcited statistical methodology involved in behavioral studies. Our aim here is to assist and to guide authors in avoiding common problems and help them to produce robust data, which could further link the personality researches with ecology and evolution to promote the vigorous development in future behavioral studies.