Journal ArticleDOI
Behavioural responses to human-induced environmental change.
Ulla Tuomainen,Ulrika Candolin +1 more
TLDR
A growing number of studies find human disturbances to induce behavioural responses, both directly and by altering factors that influence fitness as mentioned in this paper, such as changes in the transmission of information, the concentration of endocrine disrupters, the availability of resources, the possibility of dispersal and the abundance of interacting species.Abstract:
The initial response of individuals to human-induced environmental change is often behavioural. This can improve the performance of individuals under sudden, large-scale perturbations and maintain viable populations. The response can also give additional time for genetic changes to arise and, hence, facilitate adaptation to new conditions. On the other hand, maladaptive responses, which reduce individual fitness, may occur when individuals encounter conditions that the population has not experienced during its evolutionary history, which can decrease population viability. A growing number of studies find human disturbances to induce behavioural responses, both directly and by altering factors that influence fitness. Common causes of behavioural responses are changes in the transmission of information, the concentration of endocrine disrupters, the availability of resources, the possibility of dispersal, and the abundance of interacting species. Frequent responses are alterations in habitat choice, movements, foraging, social behaviour and reproductive behaviour. Behavioural responses depend on the genetically determined reaction norm of the individuals, which evolves over generations. Populations first respond with individual behavioural plasticity, whereafter changes may arise through innovations and the social transmission of behavioural patterns within and across generations, and, finally, by evolution of the behavioural response over generations. Only a restricted number of species show behavioural adaptations that make them thrive in severely disturbed environments. Hence, rapid human-induced disturbances often decrease the diversity of native species, while facilitating the spread of invasive species with highly plastic behaviours. Consequently, behavioural responses to human-induced environmental change can have profound effects on the distribution, adaptation, speciation and extinction of populations and, hence, on biodiversity. A better understanding of the mechanisms of behavioural responses and their causes and consequences could improve our ability to predict the effects of human-induced environmental change on individual species and on biodiversity.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Evolution and behavioural responses to human-induced rapid environmental change.
TL;DR: Using a sensory ecology approach, a mechanistic framework for predicting variation in behavioural responses to environmental change is presented, drawing from models of decision‐making processes and an understanding of the selective background against which they evolved.
Journal ArticleDOI
Life History Evolution
TL;DR: An excellent review of life history theory, which integrates this well with results from the empirical literature, and gives an invaluable route into the literature, with a bibliography of 1600 or so items.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecological implications of behavioural syndromes
TL;DR: How insights from the concept and study of behavioural syndromes provide fresh understanding of major issues in population ecology are explored, including limits to species' distribution and abundance and relative responses to human-induced rapid environmental change.
Journal ArticleDOI
Behavioral responses to changing environments
Bob B. M. Wong,Ulrika Candolin +1 more
TL;DR: This review considers the pivotal role that behavior plays in determining the fate of species under human-induced environmental change and discusses the importance of behavioral plasticity and whether adaptive plastic responses are sufficient in keeping pace with changing conditions.
Journal ArticleDOI
The influence of human disturbance on wildlife nocturnality
TL;DR: A global study of anthropogenic effects on mammal diel activity patterns, conducting a meta-analysis of 76 studies of 62 species from six continents revealed a strong effect of humans on daily patterns of wildlife activity.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
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