DNA methylation and its influence on exploratory behaviour in great tits

This PhD project focusses on the epigenetics of animal personality, in particular DNA methylation and its influence on exploratory behaviour in great tits (Parus major). By using established selection lines of fast and slow exploratory birds and a long-term natural population, we aim to identify genetic and environmental control mechanism underlying genome-wide DNA methylation and possible functional consequences of (candidate) gene methylation for natural variation in great tit personality.