Behavioural Responses to a Changing World Mechanisms and Consequences

Human-induced environmental change currently represents the single greatest threat to global biodiversity. Species are typically adapted to the local environmental conditions in which they have evolved. Changes in environmental conditions initially influence behaviour, which in turn affects species interactions, population dynamics, evolutionary processes and, ultimately, biodiversity. How animals respond to changed conditions, and how this influences population viability, is an area of growing research interest. Yet, despite the vital links between environmental change, behaviour, and population dynamics, surprisingly little has been done to bridge these areas of research.

Behavioural Responses to a Changing World is the first book of its kind devoted to understanding behavioural responses to environmental change. The volume is comprehensive in scope, discussing impacts on both the mechanisms underlying behavioural processes, as well as the longer-term ecological and evolutionary consequences. Drawing on international experts from across the globe, the book covers topics as diverse as endocrine disruption, learning, reproduction, migration, species interactions, and evolutionary rescue.

Foreword, Nick Davies
Introduction, Ulrika Candolin and Bob Wong
PART I: Mechanisms
1. Understanding behavioural responses and their consequences, Andres Lopez-Sepulcre and Hanna Kokko
2. Environmental disturbance and animal communication, Gil G. Rosenthal and Devi Stuart-Fox
3. The endocrine system: can homeostasis be maintained in a changing world?, Katherine L. Buchanan and Jesko Partecke
4. Experience and learning in changing environments, Culum Brown
PART II: Responses
5. Dispersal, Alexis S. Chaine and Jean Clobert
6. Migration, Phillip Gienapp
7. Foraging, Ronald C. Ydenberg and Herbert H.T. Prins
8. Reproductive behaviour, Anders Pape Moller
9. Social behaviour, Daniel T. Blumstein
10. Species interactions, Shelley E.R. Hoover and Jason M. Tylianakis
PART III: Implications
11. Behavioural plasticity and environmental change, Josh Van Buskirk
12. Population consequences of individual variation in behaviour, Fanie Pelletier and Dany Garant
13. Ecosystem consequences of behavioural plasticity and contemporary evolution, Eric P. Palkovacs and Christopher M. Dalton
14. The role of behavioural variation in the invasion of new areas, Ben L. Phillips and Andy Suarez
15. Sexual selection in changing environments: consequences for individuals and populations, Ulrika Candolin and Bob Wong
16. Evolutionary rescue under environmental change?, Rowan D.H. Barrett and Andrew P. Hendry
17. Ecotourism, wildlife management, and behavioural biologists: changing minds for conservation, Richard Buchholz and Edward M. Hanlon
Index