Conserving avian vocal culture

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Over 40% of bird species learn their vocalizations from conspecifics. Avian therefore represent one the most pervasive and quantifiable examples culturally acquired behaviour that evolves is maintained within populations through conformity selection. We review research exploring loss vocal culture in wild birds synthesize how this may occur three processes, defined as erosion/fragmentation, divergence convergence. discuss potential to conserve avian cultures captivity, using regent honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia a case study. Given current rates global biodiversity decline, we predict more will emerge future. There need, therefore, for better understanding (i) birds; (ii) what factors predispose culture; (iii) fitness costs culture, including population size or density range which be greatest; (iv) can best conserved restored. This knowledge could then inform management actions such diversity world's generations come.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: conservation changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Worlds that collide: conservation applications of behaviour and culture in human–wildlife interactions

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

The behaviour of both humans and wildlife is central to the conservation biodiversity because requires human actions at multiple scales. In species with evidence socially learned culture, juxtaposition animal culture increases complexity human-wildlife interactions their investigation but also offers opportunities mitigate negative interactions. this paper, we consider language used analyse human-animal review effect behaviours on those We investigate how knowledge theory from behavioural studies can be negotiate complex between wildlife, providing specific examples mined for developing policies regarding highlight that are such a key target conservation. Integrating social learning into research scope leverage gaps, misconceptions concerns targeted, relevant meaningful.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: in changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Integrating culture into primate conservation

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Primates exhibit the richest cultural repertoire among animal taxa, spanning foraging, communication, sociality and tool use. Understanding behaviours of primates has strongly influenced study behaviour challenged traditional views that culture is exclusive to humans. With nearly 60% primate species endangered owing human-driven habitat changes, recent calls have emerged integrate diversity into conservation strategies. However, integration requires careful planning avoid misallocation resources or skewed priorities. Our review reveals studies on are limited less than 3% extant species, largely taxonomic methodological biases favouring long-term observations in protected habitats. We propose including policies can broaden scope research, fostering more inclusive agendas address taxa with diverse habitats underexplored traits. Furthermore, anthropogenic changes both erode foster behaviours, emphasizing need for context-specific suggest recognizing traits frameworks may enhance resilience populations changing environments. This approach promises a comprehensive equitable allocation efforts, preserving biological primates.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: world'.

Language: Английский

---

Concerted conservation actions to support chimpanzee cultures

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Chimpanzees were among the first animals recognized to have culture, and our understanding of breadth their cultural repertoire has grown significantly since 1960s. Throughout range, chimpanzee populations come under increasing pressure, with endangered status necessitating immediate long-term conservation interventions. Recognizing importance diverse behavioural repertoires for chimpanzees' survival, there been a recent focus efforts on preserving culturally transmitted behaviours environments in which they are exhibited. This article evaluates practicality developing measures focused culture. We highlight innovative strategies aimed at integrating into policies. review synergistic initiatives led by International Union Conservation Nature, UN Convention Migratory Species Wild Animals other international local groups that share goal diversity. underline how successful implementation requires engagement collaboration group interested or affected people. Finally, we provide recommendations guiding future incorporate animal cultures strategies.This is part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

On the interface between cultural transmission, phenotypic diversity, demography and the conservation of migratory ungulates

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Recent evidence indicates that green-wave surfing behaviour in ungulates and the migrations stem from this are socially learned, culturally transmitted across generations become more efficient via cumulative cultural evolution. But given a lack of corroborative evidence, whether ungulate migration is phenomenon remains hypothesis deserving further testing. In opinion piece, we summarize role memory social learning play underlies migration, when combined with natural history ungulates, argue most likely mechanism for maintenance animal culture. We our argument by providing synopsis processes promote diversification migratory link these to their emergent ecological patterns, which common nature but have not historically been considered as potential phenomena. The notion diverse portfolios may buffer populations environmental change emerges synthesis requires empirical Finally, contend that, because stems largely transmission opposed genetic programme, diversity observed strategies represents 'culturally significant units' same conservation effort afforded evolutionarily units.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Animal culture: conservation in a changing world

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Social learning and animal culture can influence conservation outcomes in significant ways. Culture is a dynamic phenomenon; socially learned behaviours be transmitted within and/or between generations among populations, which facilitate resilience, or other circumstances generate vulnerability. driver of evolutionary diversification, population structure demography, shaping sociality influencing underlying biological processes such as reproduction survival, affecting fitness. This theme issue synthesizes the current state knowledge on cultural variation major vertebrate taxa, offering practical insights how social interface directly with interventions. It ranges over topics that include translocations, human-wildlife interactions adaptation to anthropogenic change. complex; integrating into challenging. No one-size-fits-all policy recommended. Instead, we aim balance understanding diversity implementations this nascent field, exploring supporting developing pathways towards efficiencies. Key themes emerge conserving capacity, benefits data sharing, along intrinsic value cultures role Indigenous Peoples local communities.This article part 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Social learning and culture in birds: emerging patterns and relevance to conservation

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

There is now abundant evidence for a role of social learning and culture in shaping behaviour range avian species across multiple contexts, from migration routes geese foraging crows, to passerine song. Recent emerging has further linked fitness outcomes some birds, highlighting its potential importance conservation. Here, we first summarize the state knowledge on focusing best-studied contexts migration, foraging, predation We identify extensive gaps taxa but argue that existing suggests that: (i) are taxonomically clustered (ii) reliance one behavioural domain does not predict others. Together, use this build predictive framework aid conservationists species-specific decision-making under imperfect knowledge. Second, review link between conservation birds. understanding which behaviours birds likely learn socially can help refine strategies, improving trajectories threatened populations. Last, present practical steps how consideration be integrated into actions including reintroductions, translocations captive breeding programmes.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Cold-blooded culture? Assessing cultural behaviour in reptiles and its potential conservation implications

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

It is becoming clear that the cognition of a species plays an important role in successful conservation, with cultural processes being fundamental part this. However, contrast to mammals and birds, very little known about (and social learning underlies these) reptiles. Here, we summarize current state knowledge, consider why this information so limited assess candidate behaviours observed wild, which warrant further investigation through lens traditions. We then make suggestions for next steps necessary start address issue. This includes future experimental work also consideration how existing datasets, such as those capturing animal movement or acoustic activity, can be used questions. In addition, emphasize engaging key conservation stakeholders, zoos, aquaria ecotourism providers, could play furthering our understanding behaviour group potential implications knowledge. Whether there reptiles relationship has remain unclear; however, findings review suggest these are areas worthy research.This article theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Knowledge transmission, culture and the consequences of social disruption in wild elephants

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Cultural knowledge is widely presumed to be important for elephants. In all three elephant species, individuals tend congregate around older conspecifics, creating opportunities social transmission. However, direct evidence of learning and cultural traditions in elephants scarce. Here, we briefly outline that then provide a systematic review how societies respond the loss potentially knowledgeable or transfer, which characterize as disruption. We consider observations from 95 peer-reviewed, primary research papers describe disruption networks via removal death individuals. Natural deaths were mentioned 14 papers, while 70 detailed human-caused Grouping descriptions according consequences behaviour sociality, demography fitness, show severely disrupted populations are less cohesive, may exhibit reduced fitness calf survival inappropriately threats predators. suggest severe can inhibit break potential pathways information transmission, providing indirect role transmission This has implications conservation amid increasing anthropogenic change across their habitats.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

---

Strategies for integrating animal social learning and culture into conservation translocation practice

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

Conservation translocations are increasingly used in species' recovery. Their success often depends upon maintaining or restoring survival-relevant behaviour, which is socially learned many animals. A lack of species- population-appropriate learning can lead to the loss adaptive increasing likelihood negative human interactions and compromising animals' ability migrate, exploit resources, avoid predators, integrate into wild populations, reproduce survive. When applied well, behavioural tools address deficiencies behaviours boost survival. However, their use has been uneven between species translocation programmes, behaviour commonly contributes failure. Critically, current international guidance (e.g. International Union for Nature's guidelines) does not directly discuss social its facilitation. We argue that linking knowledge about appropriate strategies will enhance direct future research. offer a framework incorporating animal planning, implementation, monitoring evaluation across captive settings. Our recommendations consider barriers practitioners face contending with logistics, time constraints intervention cost. emphasize stronger links researchers, wildlife agencies would increase support research, improve perceived relevance feasibility facilitating learning.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: conservation changing world'.

Language: Английский

---