SCIoI Alumni

Sean Ehlman

Postdoctoral Researcher

Behavioral Ecology

HU Berlin

   

Photo: SCIoI

← Alumni Overview

Sean Ehlman

Sean Ehlman

Photo: SCIoI

Sean Ehlman is a SCIoI alumnus and currently collaborates externally with SCIoI. Sean worked as a postdoctoral researcher at SCIoI on Project 21. He is now an external collaborator in Project 58.


Projects

Sean Ehlman is member of:


6984777 Ehlman 1 apa 50 date desc year 19842 https://www.scienceofintelligence.de/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
%7B%22status%22%3A%22success%22%2C%22updateneeded%22%3Afalse%2C%22instance%22%3Afalse%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22request_last%22%3A0%2C%22request_next%22%3A0%2C%22used_cache%22%3Atrue%7D%2C%22data%22%3A%5B%7B%22key%22%3A%22H8LWPQKU%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Scherer%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222026-04-02%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BScherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20Pen%2C%20I.%2C%20Krause%2C%20J.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282026%29.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BNon-genetic%20inheritance%20of%20stochastically%20induced%20behavioral%20individuality%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20fish%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B.%20bioRxiv.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.03.31.715612%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.03.31.715612%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22preprint%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Non-genetic%20inheritance%20of%20stochastically%20induced%20behavioral%20individuality%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20fish%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ido%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Pen%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jens%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Krause%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Research%20on%20stochastic%20phenotypic%20variation%20%28i.e.%2C%20variation%20arising%20despite%20the%20apparent%20absence%20of%20genetic%20and%20environmental%20differences%29%20has%20recently%20emerged%20as%20a%20rapidly%20growing%20area%20in%20biological%20research.%20But%20despite%20growing%20recognition%20of%20both%20its%20existence%20and%20fitness%20relevance%2C%20it%20remains%20unknown%20whether%20and%20to%20what%20extent%20such%20stochastically%20induced%20variation%20is%20transmitted%20across%20generations%2C%20potentially%20making%20it%20an%20unrecognized%20contributor%20to%20evolutionary%20processes%20and%20the%20adaptive%20potential%20of%20populations.%20In%20order%20to%20address%20this%20knowledge%20gap%2C%20we%20here%20performed%20a%20two-generation%20behavioral%20screening%20with%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20fish%3A%2034%20genetically%20identical%20mothers%20and%20their%20232%20offspring%20were%20separated%20directly%20after%20birth%20into%20near-identical%20environments%20and%20tracked%20continuously%20at%20high%20resolution%2C%20constituting%20a%20total%20of%20%5Cu223c19%2C000%20observation%20hours.%20We%20find%20that%20consistent%20among-individual%20differences%20in%20behavioral%20profiles%20%28i.e.%2C%20activity%20and%20feeding%20patterns%29%20of%20both%20mothers%20and%20offspring%20emerged%20despite%20the%20absence%20of%20apparent%20genetic%20and%20environmental%20differences.%20Mother%20feeding%20behavior%20%5Cu2013%20but%20not%20mother%20activity%20%5Cu2013%20was%20positively%20associated%20with%20offspring%20activity%3A%20mothers%20that%20spent%20more%20time%20feeding%20produced%20more%20active%20offspring%2C%20explaining%20%5Cu223c%2033%20%25%20of%20the%20total%20variation%20in%20offspring%20activity.%20This%20link%20between%20mother%20and%20offspring%20behavior%20was%20not%20mediated%20by%20mother%20size%20or%20offspring%20size%20at%20parturition.%20Our%20study%20provides%20first%20evidence%20for%20the%20non-genetic%20transmission%20of%20among-individual%20phenotypic%20differences%20that%20arise%20despite%20the%20apparent%20lack%20of%20genetic%20or%20environmental%20variation%2C%20highlighting%20the%20potential%20importance%20of%20this%20variation%20for%20evolutionary%20processes%20and%20the%20adaptability%20of%20populations.%22%2C%22genre%22%3A%22%22%2C%22repository%22%3A%22bioRxiv%22%2C%22archiveID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222026-04-02%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.64898%5C%2F2026.03.31.715612%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.biorxiv.org%5C%2Fcontent%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.03.31.715612v1%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T12%3A05%3A49Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%224PXGHVS5%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Scherer%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222026-02-27%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BScherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20Krause%2C%20J.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282026%29.%20Paternal%20effects%20without%20paternity%3F%20Testing%20non-genetic%20male%20influence%20on%20offspring%20size%20and%20brood%20size%20in%20a%20gynogenetic%20vertebrate%2C%20the%20Amazon%20molly%20%28Poecilia%20formosa%29.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BPLOS%20ONE%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B21%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%282%29%2C%20e0328962.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1371%5C%2Fjournal.pone.0328962%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1371%5C%2Fjournal.pone.0328962%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Paternal%20effects%20without%20paternity%3F%20Testing%20non-genetic%20male%20influence%20on%20offspring%20size%20and%20brood%20size%20in%20a%20gynogenetic%20vertebrate%2C%20the%20Amazon%20molly%20%28Poecilia%20formosa%29%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jens%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Krause%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Paternal%20effects%2C%20i.e.%2C%20effects%20of%20fathers%20on%20the%20phenotype%20of%20their%20offspring%20that%20are%20not%20mediated%20by%20the%20transmission%20of%20alleles%2C%20are%20increasingly%20recognized%20as%20a%20potentially%20significant%20source%20of%20phenotypic%20variation%20across%20taxa%20%5Cu2013%20even%20in%20the%20absence%20of%20paternal%20care.%20Gynogenetic%20systems%2C%20which%20rely%20on%20sperm%20to%20trigger%20embryogenesis%20without%20incorporating%20male%20genetic%20material%2C%20provide%20a%20powerful%20way%20to%20experimentally%20isolate%20paternal%20effects%20from%20effects%20caused%20by%20the%20integration%20of%20male%20genetic%20material.%20Up%20to%20now%2C%20however%2C%20paternal%20effects%20remain%20largely%20unexplored%20in%20these%20systems.%20Here%2C%20we%20tested%20for%20non-genetic%20paternal%20effects%20in%20the%20gynogenetic%20Amazon%20molly%20%28Poecilia%20formosa%29%3A%20a%20naturally%20clonal%2C%20all-female%20species%20with%20no%20parental%20care.%20Using%20a%20highly%20controlled%20breeding%20experiment%20involving%2060%20Atlantic%20molly%20males%20%28Poecilia%20mexicana%29%20and%2054%20Amazon%20molly%20females%20from%20a%20single%20clonal%20lineage%2C%20we%20generated%20128%20broods%20and%202%2C435%20offspring.%20While%20males%20were%20drawn%20from%20a%20naturally%20variable%20stock%20population%2C%20females%20%5Cu2013%20next%20to%20being%20genetically%20identical%20%5Cu2013%20were%20standardized%20for%20age%2C%20size%2C%20descent%2C%20and%20developmental%20experience.%20We%20asked%20whether%20male%20identity%20or%20body%20size%20predicted%20offspring%20size%20%5Cu2013%20a%20key%20offspring%20phenotypic%20trait.%20We%20also%20asked%20whether%20male%20identity%20or%20body%20size%20predicted%20brood%20size.%20Male%20identity%20explained%20either%20no%20or%20only%20very%20small%20proportions%20of%20the%20variation%20in%20offspring%20or%20brood%20size.%20Larger%20males%20were%20weakly%20associated%20with%20larger%20offspring%2C%20but%20this%20effect%20was%20minimal%20%28partial%20R2%20~%201.5%25%29.%20However%2C%20these%20patterns%20did%20not%20hold%20consistently%20across%20all%20data%20exclusion%20criteria%20and%20analytical%20variants%2C%20underscoring%20their%20tentative%20nature%20and%20highlighting%20the%20need%20for%20further%20investigation.%20Our%20study%20offers%20one%20of%20the%20first%20empirical%20tests%20of%20male%20effects%20in%20a%20gynogenetic%20vertebrate%2C%20providing%20valuable%20quantitative%20benchmarks%20for%20the%20magnitude%20of%20such%20effects%20in%20gynogenetic%20systems.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%2227.02.2026%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1371%5C%2Fjournal.pone.0328962%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fjournals.plos.org%5C%2Fplosone%5C%2Farticle%3Fid%3D10.1371%5C%2Fjournal.pone.0328962%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%221932-6203%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T12%3A05%3A55Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%224L7LLFKQ%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Scherer%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222026-02-23%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BScherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20Krause%2C%20J.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282026%29.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BActivity%20during%20the%20first%20days%20of%20life%20predicts%20lifespan%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20vertebrate%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B.%20bioRxiv.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.02.21.707185%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.02.21.707185%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22preprint%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Activity%20during%20the%20first%20days%20of%20life%20predicts%20lifespan%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20vertebrate%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jens%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Krause%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Lifespan%20varies%20widely%20among%20individuals%2C%20yet%20the%20extent%20to%20which%20such%20variation%20persists%20when%20genetic%20and%20environmental%20differences%20are%20minimized%20remains%20unclear.%20Here%20we%20quantify%20such%20stochastic%20lifespan%20variation%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20vertebrate%20and%20test%20whether%20and%20how%20this%20variation%20is%20linked%20to%20early-life%20behavioral%20individuality.%20We%20followed%20N%20%3D%2033%20genetically%20identical%20Amazon%20mollies%20%28Poecilia%20formosa%29%2C%20separated%20on%20day%201%20of%20their%20life%20into%20highly%20standardized%20environments%2C%20from%20birth%20to%20death.%20Despite%20genetic%20uniformity%20and%20environmental%20standardization%2C%20lifespan%20varies%20markedly%2C%20spanning%20502%20%5Cu2013%20826%20days.%20Continuous%20high-resolution%20behavioral%20tracking%20during%20the%20first%20four%20weeks%20of%20life%20reveals%20that%20seemingly%20stochastic%20early-life%20activity%20differences%20explain%2032.5%25%20of%20this%20variation.%20Higher%20activity%20predicts%20shorter%20lifespan%20during%20the%20first%20two%20weeks%2C%20but%20as%20activity%20levels%20and%20among-individual%20variation%20in%20activity%20decline%20over%20early%20development%2C%20a%20U-shaped%20relationship%20emerges%2C%20with%20both%20low-%20and%20high-activity%20individuals%20outliving%20those%20with%20intermediate%20activity.%20These%20findings%20show%20that%20signatures%20of%20lifespan%20emerge%20within%20days%20of%20birth%2C%20even%20among%20genetically%20identical%20individuals%2C%20highlighting%20developmental%20stochasticity%20and%20early-life%20contingencies%20as%20major%20contributors%20to%20variation%20in%20life-history%20outcomes.%22%2C%22genre%22%3A%22%22%2C%22repository%22%3A%22bioRxiv%22%2C%22archiveID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222026-02-23%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.64898%5C%2F2026.02.21.707185%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.biorxiv.org%5C%2Fcontent%5C%2F10.64898%5C%2F2026.02.21.707185v1%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-29T10%3A40%3A09Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22GYGPKL5M%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Ehlman%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222025-09-19%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BEhlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Scherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20St%26%23xE4%3Brk%2C%20L.%2C%20Beese%2C%20M.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282025%29.%20Developmental%20arcs%20of%20plasticity%20in%20whole%20movement%20repertoires%20of%20a%20clonal%20fish.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BiScience%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B28%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%289%29%2C%20113189.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1016%5C%2Fj.isci.2025.113189%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1016%5C%2Fj.isci.2025.113189%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Developmental%20arcs%20of%20plasticity%20in%20whole%20movement%20repertoires%20of%20a%20clonal%20fish%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Luka%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22St%5Cu00e4rk%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Marvin%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Beese%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Developmental%20plasticity%20at%20the%20behavioral%20repertoire%20level%20allows%20animals%20to%20incrementally%20adjust%20their%20behavioral%20phenotypes%20to%20match%20their%20environments%20through%20ontogeny.%20Quantifying%20this%20plasticity%20in%20sufficient%20resolution%20across%20substantial%20periods%20of%20development%2C%20however%2C%20has%20been%20challenging.%20Here%2C%20we%20use%20high-resolution%20tracking%20to%20monitor%2045%20genetically%20identical%20Amazon%20mollies%20%28Poecilia%20formosa%29%20reared%20in%20near-identical%20environments%20over%20their%20first%20four%20weeks%20of%20life.%20We%20analyze%20behavior%20at%200.2-s%20resolution%20to%20assess%20plasticity%20across%20entire%20behavioral%20repertoires.%20Testing%20a%20key%20prediction%20from%20Bayesian%20models%5Cu2014that%20plasticity%20should%20decline%20in%20stable%20environments%5Cu2014we%20measure%20plasticity%20using%20both%20individual%20behavioral%20metrics%20and%20a%20bespoke%20%5Cu201cbehavioral%20entropy%5Cu201d%20approach%20in%20a%20multi-dimensional%20phenotype%20space.%20Surprisingly%2C%20and%20despite%20closely%20conforming%20to%20model%20assumptions%2C%20we%20find%20a%20consistent%20initial%20two-week%20increase%20in%20movement%20plasticity%20before%20a%20decline.%20These%20results%20challenge%20expectations%20about%20how%20plasticity%20unfolds%20early%20in%20life%20and%20highlight%20the%20importance%20of%20continuous%20behavioral%20tracking%20for%20evaluating%20developmental%20theories.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222025-09-19%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1016%5C%2Fj.isci.2025.113189%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.sciencedirect.com%5C%2Fscience%5C%2Farticle%5C%2Fpii%5C%2FS2589004225014506%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222589-0042%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T12%3A02%3A26Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%229DT44W2T%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Scherer%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-11-25%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BScherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Laskowski%2C%20K.%2C%20Kressler%2C%20M.%2C%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%2C%20Wolf%2C%20M.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%20%282023%29.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BPerceived%20predation%20risk%20affects%20the%20development%20of%20among-individual%20behavioral%20variation%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20freshwater%20fish%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B.%20Animal%20Behavior%20and%20Cognition.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1101%5C%2F2023.11.25.568653%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1101%5C%2F2023.11.25.568653%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22preprint%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Perceived%20predation%20risk%20affects%20the%20development%20of%20among-individual%20behavioral%20variation%20in%20a%20naturally%20clonal%20freshwater%20fish%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22U%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22K%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Laskowski%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22M%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Kressler%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22S%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22M%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22D%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22ABSTRACT%5Cn%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Predation%20risk%20is%20a%20key%20driver%20of%20natural%20selection%2C%20influencing%20various%20aspects%20of%20prey%20behavior.%20While%20many%20studies%20focus%20on%20how%20predation%20risk%20affects%20average%20behavior%20at%20population%20level%2C%20less%20attention%20has%20been%20given%20to%20its%20potential%20impact%20on%20behavioral%20variation%20within%20prey%20populations.%20Here%2C%20we%20investigate%20the%20effect%20of%20perceived%20predation%20risk%20on%20among-individual%20behavioral%20variation%20in%20naturally%20clonal%20Amazon%20mollies.%20Juveniles%20were%20raised%20in%20two%20groups%3A%20one%20exposed%20to%20a%20predator%20during%20feeding%20%28visual%20cues%20only%29%20and%20the%20other%20one%20serving%20as%20a%20control%20group.%20We%20observed%20activity%20and%20feeding%20behavior%20%28time%20spent%20feeding%2C%20visits%20to%20feeding%20spot%29%20over%20a%20four-week%20period.%20%28I%29%20Individuals%20in%20the%20predator-exposed%20group%20were%20on%20average%20less%20active%20but%20there%20was%20no%20difference%20in%20average%20feeding%20behavior%20between%20the%20two%20groups%2C%20suggesting%20individuals%20strategically%20respond%20to%20threats%20based%20on%20behavior-specific%20cost-benefit%20trade-offs.%20%28II%29%20Among-individual%20behavioral%20variation%20was%20affected%20by%20perceived%20predation%20risk%3A%20in%20the%20absence%20of%20the%20predator%2C%20individuals%20developed%20pronounced%20differences%20in%20the%20time%20spent%20feeding%20while%20no%20such%20development%20was%20observed%20in%20the%20predator-exposed%20group.%20This%20result%20has%20the%20potential%20of%20affecting%20a%20wide%20range%20of%20fitness-relevant%20intraspecific%20interactions%20if%20lower%20among-individual%20feeding%20variation%20translate%20into%20reduced%20sizes%20differences.%20The%20presence%20of%20the%20predator%20initially%20reduced%20among-individual%20variation%20in%20activity%20and%20visits%20to%20the%20feeding%20spot%2C%20but%20these%20differences%20did%20not%20persist%20over%20time.%20Our%20findings%20highlight%20the%20importance%20of%20considering%20both%20population-level%20and%20individual-level%20responses%20to%20predation%20risk%20for%20a%20more%20comprehensive%20understanding%20of%20its%20ecological%20and%20evolutionary%20consequences.%22%2C%22genre%22%3A%22%22%2C%22repository%22%3A%22Animal%20Behavior%20and%20Cognition%22%2C%22archiveID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023-11-25%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1101%5C%2F2023.11.25.568653%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fbiorxiv.org%5C%2Flookup%5C%2Fdoi%5C%2F10.1101%5C%2F2023.11.25.568653%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T11%3A55%3A30Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%224JBYM24V%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Scherer%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-11-24%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BScherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20Krause%2C%20J.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282023%29.%20Reproductive%20individuality%20of%20clonal%20fish%20raised%20in%20near-identical%20environments%20and%20its%20link%20to%20early-life%20behavioral%20individuality.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BNature%20Communications%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B14%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%281%29%2C%207652.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1038%5C%2Fs41467-023-43069-6%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1038%5C%2Fs41467-023-43069-6%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Reproductive%20individuality%20of%20clonal%20fish%20raised%20in%20near-identical%20environments%20and%20its%20link%20to%20early-life%20behavioral%20individuality%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jens%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Krause%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Abstract%5Cn%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Recent%20studies%20have%20documented%20among-individual%20phenotypic%20variation%20that%20emerges%20in%20the%20absence%20of%20apparent%20genetic%20and%20environmental%20differences%2C%20but%20it%20remains%20an%20open%20question%20whether%20such%20seemingly%20stochastic%20variation%20has%20fitness%20consequences.%20We%20perform%20a%20life-history%20experiment%20with%20naturally%20clonal%20fish%2C%20separated%20directly%20after%20birth%20into%20near-identical%20%28i.e.%2C%20highly%20standardized%29%20environments%2C%20quantifying%202522%20offspring%20from%20152%20broods%20over%20280%5Cu2009days.%20We%20find%20that%20%28i%29%20individuals%20differ%20consistently%20in%20the%20size%20of%20offspring%20and%20broods%20produced%20over%20consecutive%20broods%2C%20%28ii%29%20these%20differences%20are%20observed%20even%20when%20controlling%20for%20trade-offs%20between%20brood%20size%2C%20offspring%20size%20and%20reproductive%20onset%2C%20indicating%20individual%20differences%20in%20life-history%20productivity%20and%20%28iii%29%20early-life%20behavioral%20individuality%20in%20activity%20and%20feeding%20patterns%2C%20with%20among-individual%20differences%20in%20feeding%20being%20predictive%20of%20growth%2C%20and%20consequently%20offspring%20size.%20Thus%2C%20our%20study%20provides%20experimental%20evidence%20that%20even%20when%20minimizing%20genetic%20and%20environmental%20differences%2C%20systematic%20individual%20differences%20in%20life-history%20measures%20and%20ultimately%20fitness%20can%20emerge.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023-11-24%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1038%5C%2Fs41467-023-43069-6%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.nature.com%5C%2Farticles%5C%2Fs41467-023-43069-6%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222041-1723%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T11%3A55%3A21Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22SJLRZUK7%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Ehlman%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-02-08%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BEhlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Scherer%2C%20U.%2C%20Bierbach%2C%20D.%2C%20Francisco%2C%20F.%20A.%2C%20Laskowski%2C%20K.%20L.%2C%20Krause%2C%20J.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282023%29.%20Leveraging%20big%20data%20to%20uncover%20the%20eco-evolutionary%20factors%20shaping%20behavioural%20development.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BProceedings%20of%20the%20Royal%20Society%20B%3A%20Biological%20Sciences%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B290%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%281992%29%2C%2020222115.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frspb.2022.2115%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frspb.2022.2115%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Leveraging%20big%20data%20to%20uncover%20the%20eco-evolutionary%20factors%20shaping%20behavioural%20development%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22David%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bierbach%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Fritz%20A.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Francisco%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Kate%20L.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Laskowski%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jens%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Krause%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Mapping%20the%20eco-evolutionary%20factors%20shaping%20the%20development%20of%20animals%5Cu2019%20behavioural%20phenotypes%20remains%20a%20great%20challenge.%20Recent%20advances%20in%20%5Cu2018big%20behavioural%20data%5Cu2019%20research%5Cu2014the%20high-resolution%20tracking%20of%20individuals%20and%20the%20harnessing%20of%20that%20data%20with%20powerful%20analytical%20tools%5Cu2014have%20vastly%20improved%20our%20ability%20to%20measure%20and%20model%20developing%20behavioural%20phenotypes.%20Applied%20to%20the%20study%20of%20behavioural%20ontogeny%2C%20the%20unfolding%20of%20whole%20behavioural%20repertoires%20can%20be%20mapped%20in%20unprecedented%20detail%20with%20relative%20ease.%20This%20overcomes%20long-standing%20experimental%20bottlenecks%20and%20heralds%20a%20surge%20of%20studies%20that%20more%20finely%20define%20and%20explore%20behavioural%5Cu2013experiential%20trajectories%20across%20development.%20In%20this%20review%2C%20we%20first%20provide%20a%20brief%20guide%20to%20state-of-the-art%20approaches%20that%20allow%20the%20collection%20and%20analysis%20of%20high-resolution%20behavioural%20data%20across%20development.%20We%20then%20outline%20how%20such%20approaches%20can%20be%20used%20to%20address%20key%20issues%20regarding%20the%20ecological%20and%20evolutionary%20factors%20shaping%20behavioural%20development%3A%20developmental%20feedbacks%20between%20behaviour%20and%20underlying%20states%2C%20early%20life%20effects%20and%20behavioural%20transitions%2C%20and%20information%20integration%20across%20development.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023-02-08%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1098%5C%2Frspb.2022.2115%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Froyalsocietypublishing.org%5C%2Fdoi%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frspb.2022.2115%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%220962-8452%2C%201471-2954%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-29T10%3A40%3A24Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22NUQNCTMP%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Snell%5Cu2010Rood%20and%20Ehlman%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BSnell%26%23x2010%3BRood%2C%20E.%20C.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Ehlman%2C%20S.%20M.%20%282023%29.%20Developing%20the%20genotype%26%23x2010%3Bto%26%23x2010%3Bphenotype%20relationship%20in%20evolutionary%20theory%3A%20A%20primer%20of%20developmental%20features.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BEvolution%20%26amp%3B%20Development%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B25%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%286%29%2C%20393%26%23x2013%3B409.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1111%5C%2Fede.12434%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1111%5C%2Fede.12434%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Developing%20the%20genotype%5Cu2010to%5Cu2010phenotype%20relationship%20in%20evolutionary%20theory%3A%20A%20primer%20of%20developmental%20features%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Emilie%20C.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Snell%5Cu2010Rood%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Abstract%5Cn%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20For%20decades%2C%20there%20have%20been%20repeated%20calls%20for%20more%20integration%20across%20evolutionary%20and%20developmental%20biology.%20However%2C%20critiques%20in%20the%20literature%20and%20recent%20funding%20initiatives%20suggest%20this%20integration%20remains%20incomplete.%20We%20suggest%20one%20way%20forward%20is%20to%20consider%20how%20we%20elaborate%20the%20most%20basic%20concept%20of%20development%2C%20the%20relationship%20between%20genotype%20and%20phenotype%2C%20in%20traditional%20models%20of%20evolutionary%20processes.%20For%20some%20questions%2C%20when%20more%20complex%20features%20of%20development%20are%20accounted%20for%2C%20predictions%20of%20evolutionary%20processes%20shift.%20We%20present%20a%20primer%20on%20concepts%20of%20development%20to%20clarify%20confusion%20in%20the%20literature%20and%20fuel%20new%20questions%20and%20approaches.%20The%20basic%20features%20of%20development%20involve%20expanding%20a%20base%20model%20of%20genotype%5Cu2010to%5Cu2010phenotype%20to%20include%20the%20genome%2C%20space%2C%20and%20time.%20A%20layer%20of%20complexity%20is%20added%20by%20incorporating%20developmental%20systems%2C%20including%20signal%5Cu2010response%20systems%20and%20networks%20of%20interactions.%20The%20developmental%20emergence%20of%20function%2C%20which%20captures%20developmental%20feedbacks%20and%20phenotypic%20performance%2C%20offers%20further%20model%20elaborations%20that%20explicitly%20link%20fitness%20with%20developmental%20systems.%20Finally%2C%20developmental%20features%20such%20as%20plasticity%20and%20developmental%20niche%20construction%20conceptualize%20the%20link%20between%20a%20developing%20phenotype%20and%20the%20external%20environment%2C%20allowing%20for%20a%20fuller%20inclusion%20of%20ecology%20in%20evolutionary%20models.%20Incorporating%20aspects%20of%20developmental%20complexity%20into%20evolutionary%20models%20also%20accommodates%20a%20more%20pluralistic%20focus%20on%20the%20causal%20importance%20of%20developmental%20systems%2C%20individual%20organisms%2C%20or%20agents%20in%20generating%20evolutionary%20patterns.%20Thus%2C%20by%20laying%20out%20existing%20concepts%20of%20development%2C%20and%20considering%20how%20they%20are%20used%20across%20different%20fields%2C%20we%20can%20gain%20clarity%20in%20existing%20debates%20around%20the%20extended%20evolutionary%20synthesis%20and%20pursue%20new%20directions%20in%20evolutionary%20developmental%20biology.%20Finally%2C%20we%20consider%20how%20nesting%20developmental%20features%20in%20traditional%20models%20of%20evolution%20can%20highlight%20areas%20of%20evolutionary%20biology%20that%20need%20more%20theoretical%20attention.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%2211%5C%2F2023%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1111%5C%2Fede.12434%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com%5C%2Fdoi%5C%2F10.1111%5C%2Fede.12434%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%221520-541X%2C%201525-142X%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T11%3A54%3A05Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22QKGE97TU%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A6984777%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Ehlman%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222022%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BEhlman%2C%20S.%20M.%2C%20Scherer%2C%20U.%2C%20%26amp%3B%20Wolf%2C%20M.%20%282022%29.%20Developmental%20feedbacks%20and%20the%20emergence%20of%20individuality.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BRoyal%20Society%20Open%20Science%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3B9%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2811%29%2C%20221189.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-DOIURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frsos.221189%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frsos.221189%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Developmental%20feedbacks%20and%20the%20emergence%20of%20individuality%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Sean%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Ehlman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Ulrike%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Scherer%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Max%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Wolf%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Behavioural%20individuality%20is%20a%20hallmark%20of%20animal%20life%2C%20with%20major%20consequences%20for%20fitness%2C%20ecology%2C%20and%20evolution.%20One%20of%20the%20most%20widely%20invoked%20explanations%20for%20this%20variation%20is%20that%20feedback%20loops%20between%20an%20animal%26%23039%3Bs%20behaviour%20and%20its%20state%20%28e.g.%20physiology%2C%20informational%20state%2C%20social%20rank%2C%20etc.%29%20trigger%20and%20shape%20the%20development%20of%20individuality.%20Despite%20their%20often-cited%20importance%2C%20however%2C%20little%20is%20known%20about%20the%20ultimate%20causes%20of%20such%20feedbacks.%20Expanding%20on%20a%20previously%20employed%20model%20of%20adaptive%20behavioural%20development%20under%20uncertainty%2C%20we%20find%20that%20%28i%29%20behaviour-state%20feedbacks%20emerge%20as%20a%20direct%20consequence%20of%20adaptive%20behavioural%20development%20in%20particular%20selective%20environments%20and%20%28ii%29%20that%20the%20sign%20of%20these%20feedbacks%2C%20and%20thus%20the%20consequences%20for%20the%20development%20of%20behavioural%20individuality%2C%20can%20be%20directly%20predicted%20by%20the%20shape%20of%20the%20fitness%20function%2C%20with%20increasing%20fitness%20benefits%20giving%20rise%20to%20positive%20feedbacks%20and%20trait%20divergence%20and%20decreasing%20fitness%20benefits%20leading%20to%20negative%20feedbacks%20and%20trait%20convergence.%20Our%20findings%20provide%20a%20testable%20explanatory%20framework%20for%20the%20emergence%20of%20developmental%20feedbacks%20driving%20individuality%20and%20suggest%20that%20such%20feedbacks%20and%20their%20associated%20patterns%20of%20behavioural%20diversity%20are%20a%20direct%20consequence%20of%20adaptive%20behavioural%20development%20in%20particular%20selective%20environments.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%2211%5C%2F2022%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1098%5C%2Frsos.221189%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Froyalsocietypublishing.org%5C%2Fdoi%5C%2F10.1098%5C%2Frsos.221189%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222054-5703%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222026-06-22T11%3A51%3A10Z%22%7D%7D%5D%7D
Scherer, U., Ehlman, S. M., Bierbach, D., Pen, I., Krause, J., & Wolf, M. (2026). Non-genetic inheritance of stochastically induced behavioral individuality in a naturally clonal fish. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.31.715612
Scherer, U., Ehlman, S. M., Bierbach, D., Krause, J., & Wolf, M. (2026). Paternal effects without paternity? Testing non-genetic male influence on offspring size and brood size in a gynogenetic vertebrate, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa). PLOS ONE, 21(2), e0328962. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328962
Scherer, U., Ehlman, S. M., Bierbach, D., Krause, J., & Wolf, M. (2026). Activity during the first days of life predicts lifespan in a naturally clonal vertebrate. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.21.707185
Ehlman, S. M., Scherer, U., Bierbach, D., Stärk, L., Beese, M., & Wolf, M. (2025). Developmental arcs of plasticity in whole movement repertoires of a clonal fish. iScience, 28(9), 113189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113189
Scherer, U., Laskowski, K., Kressler, M., Ehlman, S., Wolf, M., & Bierbach, D. (2023). Perceived predation risk affects the development of among-individual behavioral variation in a naturally clonal freshwater fish. Animal Behavior and Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.25.568653
Scherer, U., Ehlman, S. M., Bierbach, D., Krause, J., & Wolf, M. (2023). Reproductive individuality of clonal fish raised in near-identical environments and its link to early-life behavioral individuality. Nature Communications, 14(1), 7652. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43069-6
Ehlman, S. M., Scherer, U., Bierbach, D., Francisco, F. A., Laskowski, K. L., Krause, J., & Wolf, M. (2023). Leveraging big data to uncover the eco-evolutionary factors shaping behavioural development. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290(1992), 20222115. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2115
Snell‐Rood, E. C., & Ehlman, S. M. (2023). Developing the genotype‐to‐phenotype relationship in evolutionary theory: A primer of developmental features. Evolution & Development, 25(6), 393–409. https://doi.org/10.1111/ede.12434
Ehlman, S. M., Scherer, U., & Wolf, M. (2022). Developmental feedbacks and the emergence of individuality. Royal Society Open Science, 9(11), 221189. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221189

DFG Eigene Stelle Fellowship

Research

An overview of our scientific work

See our Research Projects