Personalities are not associated with different reproductive tactics in male Cape ground squirrels, Xerus inauris

Abstract

Personality may influence social living and the maintenance of alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). In some species, suppressing aggression may be important for facilitating social living, and different personalities may be linked with different types of social associations. Yet, few studies have examined personality in species with low levels of aggression. In Cape ground squirrels, males have two discrete ARTs. Males either live in family groups (‘natal’) or all-male groups (‘band’) and lack physical aggression and territoriality. We measured docility (during trapping and handling in 2014–2019, N males = 275) and activity and exploration (during an open field test in 2015, N males = 34) in adult males to determine whether personality contributes to the maintenance of ARTs. We found repeatability in docility (adjusted repeatability = 0.25–0.26) but not in activity or exploration, and docility was not associated with different ARTs. However, docility and ARTs were influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. Males were more docile after their first capture, and older males (longer on-site tenure) tended to be less docile. In years of higher rainfall, there were more band males, suggesting that ARTs may depend on ecological conditions. • Cape ground squirrels are a highly social species with low rates of aggression. • Males have two discrete reproductive tactics; ‘natal’ and all-male ‘band’ groups. • Males have docile personalities. • Personalities are not associated with different reproductive tactics. • Males became less docile with longer on-site tenure (years captured).