Indirect genetic effects and the genetic bases of social dominance: evidence from cattle

Genetic studies of social behaviour have currently received new impetus from models including indirect genetic effects (IGEs) of social partners. This study aimed at investigating the contribution of conspecifics in social dominance, considered as response of dyadic interaction that is, winning (dominant individual) or losing (subordinate). A genetic correlation of −1 is expected between the attitude to win and the attitude to loose, and because a population always accounts for half winners and half losers, the heritability of the dominant status should be close to zero. Specifically, social dominance was studied in Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Black Pied (Bos taurus) breeds, alpine rustic cattle famous for traditional tournaments where pairs of cows assess dominant status in bloodless fights. The outcomes of 25 590 dyadic interactions performed by 8159 individuals in 11 years were analysed by applying a classical quantitative model and models including indirect effects. Data were analysed ...

当前，社会行为的遗传研究正从包含社会伙伴间接遗传效应（Indirect Genetic Effects, IGEs）的模型中获得新的推动力。本研究旨在探究同种个体对社会优势地位的贡献——该地位被视为二元互动的结果，即获胜（优势个体）或失败（从属个体）。预期获胜倾向与失败倾向之间的遗传相关为−1；由于群体中获胜者与失败者的比例始终各占一半，优势地位的遗传力应接近于零。具体而言，研究以奥斯塔栗色牛（Aosta Chestnut）和奥斯塔黑 Pied 牛（Aosta Black Pied，Bos taurus）这两个阿尔卑斯山区的地方品种为对象，这类牛因传统竞技活动闻名，成对母牛通过无血腥争斗确定优势地位。研究对8159个个体在11年间进行的25590次二元互动结果展开分析，分别应用经典数量模型及包含间接效应的模型。数据的分析过程……