Consistent inter-individual variability in movement traits shapes the wild boar movement syndrome

Consistent intraspecific variation in behavior directly impacts reactions
to environmental challenges, including life in human-altered landscapes.
Yet, it is rarely considered in free-ranging species thriving in
anthropogenic landscapes and causing human-wildlife conflict. Here, we
examine the consistent inter-individual variability in wild boar movement
traits and highlight its potential for ecology and practical management.
We used satellite telemetry data from 95 GPS-tracked wild boars monitored
in Czechia and computed weekly movement rate (activity), intensity of
space use (exploration), and diurnality (boldness). Using a variance
partitioning approach, we tested whether these traits were repeatable over
time and therefore considered personality traits, and using Bayesian
multivariate mixed-effect models, we examined the correlations among these
traits to describe a behavioral syndrome while controlling for external
and internal sources of variation. Wild boar showed significant consistent
inter-individual variation in all three traits, with repeatability ranging
from 0.16 to 0.35. We found significant correlations between traits,
indicating the existence of a remarkable movement syndrome. Individuals
staying within familiar areas were less nocturnal and moved slower, as
opposed to individuals roaming more outside familiar areas, faster and
with striking nocturnality. The movement syndrome and, most importantly,
its variability, with individuals ranging in between extremes of activity
and exploration, likely contributes to the success of this species and
helps them thrive in human-dominated landscapes while maximizing resource
acquisition. Integrating intraspecific behavioral variation into ecology
and practical population management could improve models predicting wild
boar movement and alleviate the biodiversity and economic loss caused by
expanding wild boar populations.