Incorporating cognitive behaviour into conservation efforts

Human-induced urbanization, invasive species and land clearing are changing the environment at a far quicker pace than animals are able to adapt. How can animals survive such changes?

Cognitive mechanisms, such as associative learning, can play a crucial role in determining how well animals cope with changing environments.

Previous work with wild animals shows the incredible potential ‘learning’ could have for long-term conservation; for example, by using taste aversion to train animals not to forage on toxic invasive species or by using visual signals to avoid man-made structures such as roads.

Furthermore, new behaviours can be socially learnt in some species; enabling large groups of animals to adopt new behaviours without the need to invest time in training each individual separately.

Captive populations commonly benefit from the use of well-established cognitive techniques for management and husbandry purposes, but cognition is generally underutilised in conservation outside captivity.

This event explored how integrating cognitive mechanisms into conservation strategies offers a new approach that can help animals adapt to fast-changing environments and ensure their survival.

Speakers

• Graham Martin, Emeritus Professor, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham: "A sideways look through birds' eyes"

• Dr Alex Thornton, Associate Professor of Cognitive Evolution, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus: "Animal cognition in a changing world"

• Robert Harland, Team Leader of Animal Activities at ZSL London Zoo: "Training a rescue serval"