Exploiting common senses: Sensory ecology meets wildlife conservation and management

Laura K. Elmer, Christine L. Madliger, Daniel T. Blumstein, Chris K. Elvidge, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Andrij Z. Horodysky, Nicholas S. Johnson, Liam P. McGuire, Ronald R. Swaisgood, Steven J. Cooke

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multidisciplinary approaches to conservation and wildlife management are often effective in addressing complex, multi-factor problems. Emerging fields such as conservation physiology and conservation behaviour can provide innovative solutions and management strategies for target species and systems. Sensory ecology combines the study of 'how animals acquire' and process sensory stimuli from their environments, and the ecological and evolutionary significance of 'how animals respond' to this information. We review the benefits that sensory ecology can bring to wildlife conservation and management by discussing case studies across major taxa and sensory modalities. Conservation practices informed by a sensory ecology approach include the amelioration of sensory traps, control of invasive species, reduction of human-wildlife conflicts and relocation and establishment of new populations of endangered species. We illustrate that sensory ecology can facilitate the understanding of mechanistic ecological and physiological explanations underlying particular conservation issues and also can help develop innovative solutions to ameliorate conservation problems.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbercoab002
JournalConservation Physiology
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Conservation
  • multidisciplinary
  • sensory ecology
  • sensory modality

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