Early-life behavior, survival, and maternal personality in a wild marsupial

Abstract Individual behavior varies for many reasons, but how early in life are such differences apparent, and they under selection? We investigated variation early-life a wild eastern gray kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) population, quantified associations of with survival. Behavior young was measured while still the pouch as subadults, survival to weaning monitored. found consistent between offspring different mothers levels activity at stage, flight initiation distance (FID) subadult survival, indicating similarity siblings. There no evidence covariance measures versus stages, nor behavioral traits However, there strong FIDs those their tested times. Further, total repeatability FID (51.5%), more than half could be attributed mothers. Our results indicate that 1) is apparent very stage development (still case this marsupial); 2) between-mother can explain much (or “personality”) juvenile behavior; 3) exhibit similar responses stimuli. 4) we selection via or maternal marsupial.