Utilisation of animal personality has potential benefit for conservation management. Due to logistics of robust behavioural evaluation in situ, the majority of studies on wild animals involve taking animals into captivity for testing, potentially compromising results. Three in situ tests for evaluation of boldness in San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) were developed (ENOT: extended novel object test; RNOT: rapid novel object test; TH: trap/handling test). Each test successfully identified variation in boldness within its target age class(es). The TH test was suitable for use across all age classes. Tests were assessed for in situ suitability and for quantity/quality of data yielded. ENOT was rated as requiring high levels of time, cost and labour with greater likelihood of failure. However, it was rated highly for data quantity/quality. The TH test was rated as requiring little time, labour and cost, but yielding lower quality data. RNOT was rated in the middle. Each test had merit and could be adapted to suit project or species constraints. We recommend field-based evaluation of personality, reducing removal of animals from the wild and facilitating routine incorporation of personality assessment into conservation projects.

中文翻译：

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原位评估圣华金狐狸的个性：基于实地的实验方法的有效性和对保护管理的影响

利用动物个性对保护管理有潜在的好处。由于可靠的原位行为评估的物流，对野生动物的大多数研究都涉及将动物圈养进行测试，这可能会影响结果。开发了三种用于评估 San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) 胆量的原位测试（ENOT：扩展新对象测试；RNOT：快速新对象测试；TH：陷阱/处理测试）。每个测试都成功识别了其目标年龄段内的粗体变化。TH 测试适用于所有年龄段。对原位适用性和产生的数据的数量/质量进行了评估。ENOT 被评为需要大量时间、成本和劳动力，失败的可能性更大。然而，它的数据数量/质量评价很高。TH 测试被评为需要很少的时间、劳动力和成本，但产生的数据质量较低。RNOT 被评为中等。每个测试都有优点，可以适应项目或物种的限制。我们建议对个性进行实地评估，减少将动物从野外移走，并促进将个性评估常规纳入保护项目。