1Using personality of individuals as a means of improving reintroduction success

Dr Sam Bremner-HarrisonNottingham Trent University

(California State University, Stanislaus, Endangered Species Recovery Program)

2Personality research Farm animals research into suitability of

animals for particular needs

Zoo management research into individual behavioural types and relationship to factors such as enclosure design or breeding success

Wild animals? more limited research, but some occurring

3 Release candidates selected on the basis ofAgeSexHealthGenotype

Behaviour

ShyBold

Personality research in conservation

4Effect of boldness on success of reintroduced animals

Personality research for in-situ conservation of small canids

5 Swift fox (Vulpes velox)

Santa Catalina Island fox(Urocyon littoralis catalinae)

San Joaquin kit fox(Vulpes macrotis mutica)

6All 3 species showed evidence of personality influencing behaviour and survival Swift fox

bolder foxes had higher levels of mortality(t14 = -2.291, P < 0.04)

bolder foxes moved further from release site and further between telemetry fixes.(r14 = 0.588, P

7 Island fox

foxes that were bolder showed trend towards dispersing further

foxes that were bolder showed trend towards having higher levels of reproduction

Bremner-Harrison, S. & Cypher, B. L. 2005. Island fox behavioural assessment on Santa Catalina. Report prepared for Institute of Wildlife Studies and Catalina Island Conservancy.

8 San Joaquin kit fox

foxes in urban vs. natural lands differed in levels of boldness

higher boldness in urban areas = larger litters

higher boldness = higher levels of mortality

higher boldness = increased movementsBremner-Harrison, S. & Cypher, B. L. In Prep.

9 Recommended

Increase likelihood of success of release programme

Improves welfare on an individual basis

Incorporating personality into reintroduction/translocation practices?

Incorporating personality into reintroduction/translocation practices?

Constraints? Effort (labour and time) Financial implications

In-situ versus ex-situ?

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Assessing personality ex-situ versus in-situ

Ex-situ Swift fox: 5 months assessed 84 individuals Island fox: 4 weeks assessed 11 individuals

In-situ SJ kit fox: 5 years assessed 87 individuals

Can we add this step?

Ex-situ Additional step could be added in fairly

easily

Size or characteristics of the animal less of a constraining factor

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Can we add this step?

In-situ Smaller species or those with individual

markings more easily assessed May involve repeated capture of individuals May cause time-delay between initial capture

and decision whether suitable release candidate

Could be assessed during quarantine period

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Additional effort? Ex-situ

Little additional cost in terms of both money or labour

In-situ Smaller species: less impact Larger species: could add significantly to budget Need for quick and valid personality field test for

larger species Currently comparing results of novel object tests

with behaviour during handling for SJ kit fox14

Founder populations and personality?

The mix matters!!

Dont only release the individuals with the optimal boldness score for the release environment...

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Founder populations and personality? New populations should contain range of

boldness levels Provide a mix of individual temperaments to

increase chances of successful release:

greater diversity = greater adaptability

Combination of mix may alter with subsequent releases.

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Final thoughts Personality and Welfare Swift fox reintroduction programmes

Considered successful: both achieved self-sustaining, linked populations

Canada: 1983 1997 Released 942 foxes

Montana: 1998 2002 Released 121 foxes

Overall survival outweighed mortality, but still significant levels of mortality

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Can we use personality to reduce numbers of individuals required to achieve success, thereby improving welfare?

Supporters