Given that humans display a wide range of personality types, it might not come as a surprise to know scientists are increasingly finding evidence of personality traits in non-human species as well. Researchers have documented personality differences in a diversity of species, from jumping spiders to elephants. But what is animal personality, exactly, and why should we care about it? We will explore the causes and consequences of animal personality as it pertains to the ecology and conservation of wildlife, paying special attention to how personality influences a day in the life of a ground squirrel. As part of this story, we will discuss the history of studying animal personality, as well as recent research on personality in golden-mantled ground squirrels in Gothic, Colorado.
Course Code
508590