Data from: Born to aggressive mothers – are certain chicks more susceptible to early life exposure to aggression?

Adverse experiences, such as poor nutrition, disease or social adversity, can have lasting effects on behaviour and cognition. Yet, the extent to which these outcomes are shaped by the interplay between early environmental conditions and genetic predispositions remains poorly understood.

We investigated these mechanisms in domestic canaries (Serinus canaria), where mothers often show maternal aggression (MA) towards their nestlings. We hypothesised that early MA exposure would increase impulsivity, promote resource acquisition through reduced neophobia, and enhance aggression, potentially leading to higher dominance ranks at the juvenile stage. Furthermore, we expected that these effects would be amplified under socially challenging conditions (i.e., high social densities), and in individuals genetically predisposed to aggression.