Prey availability influences the effect of boldness on reproductive success in a mammalian predator

Boldness is an important trait in wild populations and among-individual differences can link to individual fitness. The strength and direction of relationships between behavioral and life-history traits may however vary according to environmental conditions, where fluctuating selection acting on behavioral traits contributes to the maintenance of personality differences. We explored sources of variation in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) boldness and investigated how temporal variation in the abundance of a main prey (lemmings) influences the relationship between fox boldness and reproductive success. We measured the behavioral reaction of individuals when escaping after handling, as an indicator of their boldness. We obtained 70 measurements from 42 individuals during two years of low lemming abundance and two years of high lemming abundance and assessed fox litter size as an indicator of reproductive success. First, individual characteristics (age, sex, mass) did not affect Arctic fox bol..., , The README file contains column descriptions. General information for the analyses is presented in the article.