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

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 position in the huddle during the first postnatal week. We then tested the responses of these same individuals as nestlings, juveniles and young adults when confronted by a range of age-appropriate environmental challenges. Two behavioral tests appeared particularly discriminatory in identifying differences associated with early position in the huddle; latency of pre-weaning pups to jump down from a shelf, and the response of young adults to the fearful screams of a conspecific. In both cases animals that had occupied the periphery of the huddle showed behavioral responses indicative of a more proactive behavioral style than their “intermediate” or “central” littermates. We conclude that while consistent long-term differences in behavioral style associated with early position in the litter huddle exist in rabbits, future work is needed to confirm the causal nature of this association, to identify underlying mechanisms, and to refine methods of behavioral and physiological testing across the life span.