Effects of developmental environment on animal personality in a tropical skink

Abstract Developmental environments play a significant role in shaping animal phenotype, including behavior. Within species, individuals often differ behavior consistent and repeatable way (i.e., demonstrate personality). This consistency can be affected by differences conditions experienced early life. It is, however, unclear whether effects of developmental on personality are driven changes within- or between-individual variation. To investigate this, we measured activity, exploration, sociability, boldness adult male southern rainforest sunskinks, Lampropholis similis , incubated at either 23 °C 26 °C, compared behavioral phenotypes between these incubation treatments. We also the groups to cohort wild-caught skinks determine rearing captivity lizards. Skinks that had been higher temperature were more explorative demonstrated larger suite traits lizards lower caught wild. These among environment primarily within-individual variation, which tended high treatment. found no evidence for syndrome captive- wild-reared skinks. Our results suggest potential greater plasticity temperature, may enable them cope with environmental change, such as climate warming, short term. Overall, show complex pivotal personality. Significance statement Experiences during development expected influence how animals develop, their tested sunskinks comparing different temperatures well those reared wild captive environments. exploratory. Furthermore, both captivity/wild-rearing pronounced behavior—in directions traits—demonstrating have strong Such likely flow-on animal’s fitness biotic interactions.