Conservation Bio Lecture 5

Define HIREC and list the 4 response options

Human Induced Rapid Environmental Change - anthropogenic changes to ecosystems occurring at an unnaturally rapid pace.

1. move

2. acclimate

3. adapt

4. die

why is behavioral change usually the first response

1. determines whether a population lives or dies

2. behavioral plasticity can buy time for physiological and genetic adaptation

how can behavioral change influence evolution

individuals that behave adaptively under HIREC drive natural selection on traits

how can pollution or noise affect foraging success (maximizing energy intake at lowest cost)

disrupts hunting efficiency (food availability, patch quality, predator risk, and competition)

Give one example of how pollution can impair anti-predator behavior (ability to detect and avoid predators)

loosing ability to detect or avoid predators

Ex: tadpoles exposed to microplastics lose predator avoidance

how does anthropogenic noise affect communication and stress in animals (used for mating, territory, group cohesion, aggression)

HIREC can distort or mask signals (noise, light)

EX: whales getting stuck in boat traffic

How can HIREC affect mating systems and parental care (affected by resource quality, energy, and mate access)

1. habitat fragmentation alters gecko mating systems

2. male fish expend more energy at higher temps = higher mortality

3. hunting selects against bold male elk

describe how pollution can alter social behavior in aquatic species

HIREC affects food availability, group visibility, and cognitive performance. Pollutants impair aggression / conflict resolution in round gobies

define dispersal

one way movement for gene flow (islands)

define migration

round trip movement. Requires energy, navigation, timing.

How does HIREC interfere with migration timing and dispersal success

HIREC can fragment routes, increase risks, and disrupt timing

1. highways block off bear routes / hit bears / loud affecting hunting behaviors

2. climate change alters bird migration timing

define ecological trap and give an example of how one might form

When a species develops a maladaptive behavior (responses that reduce survival or reproduction) (accelerates extinction)

ex: cues that once indicated good habitat / mates / food now leads to poor outcomes; the animal’s preference remains but the cues no longer match true quality

List the six main behavioral response types to HIREC

1. foraging behavior

2. anti - predator behavior

3. communication / signaling

4. reproductive behavior

5. social behavior

6. dispersal / migration