We found that genotypes predisposed to be aggressive (due to DGEs) strongly decreased aggressiveness in opponents (due to IGEs). We tested this prediction using a pedigreed laboratory population of Mediterranean field crickets ( Gryllus bimaculatus), in which both exploratory tendency and aggression are heritable. This requires tight negative genetic correlations between direct genetic effects (DGEs) of an individual’s genes on its own phenotype and the indirect genetic effects (IGEs) it has on conspecifics, as this could diminish the amount of genetic variation available to selection to act upon. Nevertheless, evolutionary stasis may occur for traits involved in social interactions. Evolutionary theory predicts that directional selection leads to evolutionary change while depleting standing genetic variation. Behavioural ecology research increasingly focuses on why genetic behavioural variation can persist despite selection.
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