Individual differences in behavioral and physiological responses to stress should be considered in conservation programs for the Greater rhea

LECHE A.; DELLA COSTA N. S.; GUZMAN D. A.; MARIN R. H.; MARTELLA M. B.; NAVARRO J. L.

Paracas

Congreso; Congreso Internacional de manejo de fauna silvestre de la amazonia y latinoamérica.; 2021

Individual behavioral and physiological responses depend on each bird´s personality. Animalpersonalities influence population-level processes and result in relevant ecological interactionsthat can be important for wildlife management and conservation. Thus, some behavioral andphysiological traits are better suited to captivity, reintroduction, and translocation. The Greaterrhea (Rhea americana) is a flightless bird endemic to South America whose wild populationshave drastically declined in many areas of their distribution. Captive breeding is an importantconservation tool for this ratite, providing a source of individuals for repopulation. Previousstudies involving conservation and management aspects have not considered the possibleexistence of individual differences in this species. Here we investigate individual variation inGreater rheas´ stress responses after a short transport by monitoring their behavior andmeasuring their fecal glucocorticoids metabolites. Our results indicate that glucocorticoid levels and behavioral responses to this acute stressorcan vary markedly among individuals, suggesting the existence of proactive and reactivepersonalities. These traits have implications for releasing individuals in different environments, wild or captive, where distinct stressors are present. It would be appropriate to choose individuals with a personality that matches the better with the environment where they will be released. This information is relevant for promoting and preserving physiological andbehavioral diversity in captive Greater rhea populations and taking into account the personalityof these birds in management plans for its conservation.