5. Behavior Conservation Flashcards
where did behavior ecology emerge from
from the combination of evolutionary biology with classical ethology
where did behavior conservation emerge from
from the combination of behavioral ecology and conservation biology
what does conservation biology focus on
population level variables and not behavior
what are the two exceptions to the use of behavior in conservation
Captive breeding involved understanding of behavioral idiosyncrasy; Species reintroduction where survival depended on behavior
how can behavior help conservation
Habitat requirements of species; Reduced predation; Mating sexual selection; Reintroduction schemes; Measuring stress and health; Exploitation
Five reasons for application of ethology/behavioral ecology in conservation research
Not considered as rigorous as a subject; cultural separation between the fields; patterns of funding reinforce separation of cultural divisions; technically difficult to combine two areas of research
what is ontogeny
behavioral development
what are two ontological elements with direct bearing on restoration projects
acquiring anti-predator responses and imprinting
how do animals acquire anti-predator responses
animals are pre-exposed to predators before reintroduction
how does imprinting have a direct bearing on restoration projects
animals reared in isolation face survival challenges; filial and sexual imprinting to humans in captive species
what are examples of imprinting in restoration projects
condor chicks fed with hand puppets; whooping crane reintroduction
what are conceptual links between behavior and conservation
proximate mechanisms of behavior; hormonal effects; interference of sensory modalities
what are hormonal effects in conservation
stress hormones and reproductive hormones effects in wildlife conservation; hormonal therapies to enhance low reproductive rates in captive and wild populations
what is interference of sensory modalities in conservation
environmental pollution detrimental to migration and orientation
what are examples of interference of sensory modalities
phototaxis in hatching sea turtles ensures orientation toward water, but artificial lighting interferes with behavioral process
why is the design of the wildlife reserve important
it affects the survival of the species
what are the three criteria for how behavior apply to conservation
How behavior varies in response to social or environmental factors; How this variation changes the way a population responds to exploitation or restoration projects; How management alters the conservation program as a consequence
what are the three classes of impediment between behavior and conservation
conceptual; social problems; institutional problems
what is the conceptual impediment between behavior and conservation
Differential emphasis on individual vs. population variables; Many interesting behavior have little impact on species survival
what is the social problems impediment between behavior and conservation
Conservationist view behavioral approaches as time consuming and difficult for the rapid needs involved in conservation; Interest in behavioral approaches to conservation is higher in students than faculty that all too often fail to bridge the gap between disciplines; Few intellectually rich areas have developed, few well-worked studies have been published
what is the institutional problems impediment between behavior and conservation
Separate cultures of sciences; Lack of interaction in professional settings; Distinct sources of funding for behavior and conservation
what is an emerging sub-discipline in social science that is concerned with human/nature interactions
Conservation psychology
what are the four research findings that illustrate the challenges of changing human behavior
education does not typically result in increases in conservation behavior; human thinking is biased and promotes short-sighted responses to environmental threats; individuals generally perceive themselves as separate from nature; social norms guide behavior
what are the strongest barriers to integration of the social sciences in conservation biology
the lack of common vocabulary between biologists and social scientists; the fact that traditional academic reward systems discourage interdisciplinary collaboration and applied problem solving;
the lack of funding for collaborative work; limited opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration
