The relationship between movement and personality is dependent upon the seasons in the western diamond-backed rattlesnake

Behavioural traits have been recently integrated within the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis to explain intraspecific variations in life-history traits. However, this hypothesis has been challenged by the lack of support found in recent meta-analyses, raising new questions on the relationship between behaviour and life history. Investigating intraspecific variation in resource acquisition, especially in natural settings, has been overlooked despite its importance in understanding life-history trait associations. We investigated the relationship between personality and spatial ecology in the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox. We tested the predictions that bolder, more active and exploratory individuals move more and have larger territories compared to shyer, less active, less exploratory individuals. We tracked 14 rattlesnakes for 1 year and assessed their behaviour in captivity across four different axes: activity, boldness, exploration and reactivity. Bolder individuals travelled faster than shyer individuals, but only during the nonmating season. Shyer individuals increased movement significantly more than bolder individuals during the mating season, thus leading to a nonsignificant difference in movement between shy and bold individuals during the mating season. These results suggest that movement might be the best strategy for locating mates and that the increased movement of males during the mating season, regardless of personality type, might be a selected trait to increase reproductive success. These findings highlight the role of personality and motivational state in resource acquisition (food and mates). Further research is required to uncover the life-history mechanisms and consequences of these strategies for this species.