Searching for an effective pre-release screening tool for translocations: can trap temperament predict behaviour and survival in the wild?

摘要: Individuals often respond to threatening situations in consistently different ways and these differences may predict later translocation success. Thus, the ability easily identify prior assist improving conservation outcomes. We asked whether burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur), a marsupial species that has undergone significant decline since introduction of exotic predators Australia, responded capture traps, if so, this was related anti-predator behaviour, ranging behaviour survival following translocation. Behavioural responses 40 were measured included response removal from traps (trap docility), latency leave trap or bag escape upon release. used flight initiation distance measure moved diurnal refuges during nocturnal foraging behaviour. Survival through radiotracking after Behaviours scored consistent repeatable, formed behavioural syndrome with Less docile foraged closer had longer distances. also more likely survive release, although sample size mortalities small. Our results suggest behaviours trapping could be useful metric for pre-release screening programs enhance chances individual post-release.