Meeting Abstract
Chronotypes, or repeatable between-individual differences in circadian behavior and/ or physiology, have been demonstrated in numerous taxa, including humans. When important behaviors such foraging and mating or periods of rest and activity are timed differently across individuals, they have the potential to generate fitness differences, and may be under both natural and sexual selection. Despite the potential biological importance of individual chronotypes, few chronotype studies have been conducted in free-living animals. In this study, we asked what factors regulate activity patterns in free-living arctic ground squirrels and hypothesized that daily burrow immergence and emergence times are influenced by individual chronotype as well as local environmental conditions. We tested this expectation by monitoring daily immergence and emergence times of free-living arctic ground squirrels using collar mounted light loggers across the 2014-2016 spring and summer seasons. We discuss the extent to which daily patterns of activity exhibit repeatable between-individual differences and how they vary between the sexes and across the active season. We evaluate our findings in light of the changing selective pressures facing arctic ground squirrels as they transition between periods of mate competition, parental care, and preparation for hibernation.
