Cultural processes and demography: implications for conservation and beyond

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

Published: May 1, 2025

Social transmission of cultural variants in wildlife can cause population level effects with implications for conservation science, policy and practice. learning animal culture generate resilience populations through the spread adaptive behaviour but may also vulnerabilities. Distilling comprehensive management advice this field remains challenging. Animal is important defining 'units to conserve', managing human-wildlife interactions, reintroductions or translocations, influences evolutionary change. However, processes remain poorly understood. Given breadth issues which inform conservation, it timely consider underlying more detail. We coupling dynamics explore conditions under social tip a declining into growth. Simulations on model system two interacting units are used tensions between coupled demographic processes. show that even simple bias, outcomes complex. In concert urgent targeted action, we highlight need develop deeper process-based understanding field, yield fundamental principles applicable broader range encultured species.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

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Tool evolution as a prerequisite for consciousness

Reviews in the Neurosciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Abstract Within the concept of extended mind, active modification external objects, externalizations, is seen as an auxiliary means to adapt environment. Toolmaking and use are advanced stages externalizations that evolve. All past or present tools can, theoretically, be precisely assigned a location in evolutionary tree with predecessors progeny. Tools reliably replicated, modified, selected by their ability facilitate human needs. Tool evolution, therefore, fulfills Darwinian criteria where material tool phenotype instruction build it code. The ostensive triangle consisting pointing individual, observing pointed-at object germ cell social transmission instructions. Tool-building instructions ultimately can reduced distinct sequences motor acts recombined socially transmitted. When executed, they replicate for reward convenience improved fitness. elicit affordances relating synchronize different individuals’ perceptions, result psychological “understanding,” thereby modify networks. Massive fabrication today “tool-sphere” has, accelerated prosociality over time led acquisition individual’s third person perspective. entangled biological evolution ongoing cumulative cultural selecting traits facilitating transmission. In this context, corresponding acquired individual instructional content precondition emergence higher cognition “consciousness.” A neuroscience investigating starting point process urgently needed.

Language: Английский

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Social learning is triggered by environmental cues in immigrant birds

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(11), P. e3002904 - e3002904

Published: Nov. 15, 2024

After dispersal, what cues trigger social learning in immigrants? A new study wild-caught great tits PLOS Biology suggests that changes the physical environment, rather than are key prompting by immigrants.

Language: Английский

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