Description
Animal personality has been studied in a wide variety of taxa in evolutionary and ecological terms, yet rarely in context of conservation management programs. One common population management tool is translocation _ the active movement of animals between locations _ yet rarely is the organism's behavioral ecology taken into account. Even fewer studies have examined the influence of personality on translocation outcomes. California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) were translocated to three sites in southern California between 2011 and 2013, as part of a larger conservation program to create suitable habitat for burrowing owls. In this study I examined the effect of personality on survival and movement patterns for a radio-collared subset of translocated ground squirrels. I identified seven personality traits within three contexts, (1) an open-field test, (2) focal sampling in the field before and after translocations and (3) breath and heart rates as biometric indicators for handling stress. A subset of squirrels fitted with radio-telemetry collars were followed for three months to determine survivorship, settlement and movement patterns. I applied an information-theoretic approach to time-to-event and linear regression models to evaluate the effects of personality and other biotic and abiotic factors on survival and movement. Olfactory investigation and alarm calling during the open-field test predicted survival. During focal observations, squirrels that displayed agonistic behaviors dispersed sooner and squirrels that scent marked moved less. Animal personality is an influential factor and should be considered when implementing reintroduction or translocation programs. Managers may increase translocation success by initially selecting one behavioral type, however the ideal is a heterogeneous mix of individuals within the released population.
