ANIMAL PERSONALITIES AND BEHAVIORAL SYNDROMES: CONCEPTION, MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS

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 well-cited 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.