Possible contribution of position in the litter huddle to long-term differences in behavioral style in the domestic rabbit

@article{ReyesMeza2011PossibleCO,
  title={Possible contribution of position in the litter huddle to long-term differences in behavioral style in the domestic rabbit},
  author={Ver{\'o}nica Reyes-Meza and Robyn Hudson and Margarita Mart{\'i}nez-G{\'o}mez and Leticia Nicol{\'a}s and Heiko G. R{\"o}del and Amando Bautista},
  journal={Physiology \& Behavior},
  year={2011},
  volume={104},
  pages={778-785}
}
Many aspects of an animal's early development might potentially contribute to long-term individual differences in physiology and behavior. Here we asked whether differences among littermates of the domestic rabbit in the position in the litter huddle that they occupy during the early nest period might contribute to the development of distinct behavioral and physiological phenotypes. In each of 12 litters we determined the pup occupying the most peripheral, the most central, and an intermediate… 
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During early development littermates of the rabbit experience differing degrees of activation of the sympathetic nervous system as a consequence of exposure to different thermal environments associated with different positions in the litter huddle, suggesting differences in the physiological response to cold.
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Within-litter differences in personality and physiology relate to size differences among siblings in cavies
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Physiological state variables were tightly correlated with personality traits and also influenced by the size rank within litter, suggesting that the size relative to littermates constitutes an important factor in shaping an individual's developmental trajectory.
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