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<p>In animals with biparental care, animal personality can impact an individual’s reproductive success through both individual and partner traits. Bolder individuals (more willing to take risks) tend to reproduce more successfully, and this higher reproductive success may lead to higher mate and site fidelity. To test this idea, we studied personality, reproduction, and mate choice in a burrow-nesting seabird, the rhinoceros auklet (<i>Cerorhinca monocerata</i>) in two years when the colony was actively expanding into novel habitat (nest boxes). We measured boldness with a novel object test and a human intrusion hand test, and calculated boldness scores using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Boldness scores were repeatable within individuals and across years, but there was no assortative mating with boldness or association with reproductive success. However, shyer individuals were more likely to switch both sites and mates. We conclude that during periods of habitat expansion shy individuals may engage less in intraspecific competition for mates and territories, opting instead to invest in forming a new match, but with minimal impact on overall fitness.</p>

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Unfaithful yet successful: Low mate and nest fidelity in shy rhinoceros auklets does not affect reproductive success

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月13日

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  • Eliane Miranda,
  • Shannon Whelan,
  • Sydney M. Collins,
  • Kyle H. Elliott

摘要

In animals with biparental care, animal personality can impact an individual’s reproductive success through both individual and partner traits. Bolder individuals (more willing to take risks) tend to reproduce more successfully, and this higher reproductive success may lead to higher mate and site fidelity. To test this idea, we studied personality, reproduction, and mate choice in a burrow-nesting seabird, the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) in two years when the colony was actively expanding into novel habitat (nest boxes). We measured boldness with a novel object test and a human intrusion hand test, and calculated boldness scores using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Boldness scores were repeatable within individuals and across years, but there was no assortative mating with boldness or association with reproductive success. However, shyer individuals were more likely to switch both sites and mates. We conclude that during periods of habitat expansion shy individuals may engage less in intraspecific competition for mates and territories, opting instead to invest in forming a new match, but with minimal impact on overall fitness.