The heritability of behavior: a meta-analysis

The contribution of genetic variation to phenotypes is a central factor in whether and how populations respond to selection. The most common approach to estimating this influences is via the calculation of heritabilities, which summarize the contribution of genetic variation to phenotypic variation. Heritabilities also indicate the relative affect of genetic variation on phenotypes versus that of environmental sources of variation. For labile traits like behavioral responses, life-history traits, and physiological responses, estimation of heritabilities is important as these traits are strongly influenced by the environment. Thus, knowing whether or not genetic variation is present within populations is necessary to understand whether or not these populations can evolve in response to selection. Here we report the results of a meta-analysis summarizing what we currently know about the heritability of behavior. Using phylogenetically controlled methods we assessed the average heritabilit...