Animal Personality and Conservation: Basics for Inspiring New Research

Abstract

The number of animal species threatened with extinction are increasing every year, and biologists are conducting animal translocations, as one strategy, to try to mitigate this situation. Furthermore, researchers are evaluating methods to increase translocation success, and one area that shows promise is the study of animal personality. Animal personality can be defined as behavioral and physiological differences between individuals of the same species, which are stable in time and across different contexts. In the present paper, we discuss how animal personality can increase the success of translocation, as well as in the management of animals intended for translocation by evaluating personality characteristics of the individuals. Studies of the influence of birthplace, parental behavior, stress resilience, and risk assessment can be important to select the most appropriate individuals to be released. Finally, we explain the two methods used to gather personality data.

Is Virtual Fencing an Effective Way of Enclosing Cattle? Personality, Herd Behaviour and Welfare

“…Many factors can influence this intra-specific variation in behaviour, but one important factor to consider when choosing individuals for virtual fencing could be the expression of personality [ 21 , 22 ]. Animal personality can be defined as individual differences in behavioural traits that are consistent over time and across contexts [ 23 , 24 ]. Another apparent problem with pooling individuals in welfare assessments is the fact that cattle are social animals living together in herds.…”

Foraging personalities modify effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity

“…Behavioral differences are still poorly integrated in biodiversity research, but it has been called out as an additional level of diversity with implications for conservation (Cordero‐Rivera 2017, de Azevedo and Young 2021). Maintaining alternative personalities as characteristics of animal populations seems a crucial element in the adaptability of animals to new environments (Cordero‐Rivera 2017).…”

Individual‐based assessment of post‐translocation fitness of ungulates: Lessons from the critically endangered Derby eland conservation programme

“…The individual‐based approach presents possibilities to select animals with specific personality traits (e.g., boldness, aggressiveness, and sociability) coping with novel environment in different ways, and thereby to increase post‐release survival. Diverse personalities entail the behavioral diversity (de Azevedo & Young, 2021), which is as important as genetic diversity in the establishment of viable populations (Cordero‐Rivera, 2017; Wolf & Weissing, 2012). Even though such selections are vital, and decisively affect survival and reproductive rates (de Azevedo & Young, 2021; Tetzlaff et al, 2019), they are not always possible, especially in the case of species at the brink of extinction, because the source population is low, and may not provide a high diversity in behaviors and personalities anymore.…”

“…Diverse personalities entail the behavioral diversity (de Azevedo & Young, 2021), which is as important as genetic diversity in the establishment of viable populations (Cordero‐Rivera, 2017; Wolf & Weissing, 2012). Even though such selections are vital, and decisively affect survival and reproductive rates (de Azevedo & Young, 2021; Tetzlaff et al, 2019), they are not always possible, especially in the case of species at the brink of extinction, because the source population is low, and may not provide a high diversity in behaviors and personalities anymore. In this case, and in the case of the WDE semi‐captive population, the genetic diversity and selection based on kinship and pedigree become a priority (Kubátová et al, 2020).…”