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. This 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.

Understanding behavioural responses and their consequences / Andrés López-Sepulcre and Hanna Kokko -- Environmental disturbance and animal communication / Gil G. Rosenthal and Devi Stuart-Fox -- Endocrine system: can homeostasis be maintained in a changing world? / Katherine L. Buchanan and Jesko Partecke -- Experience and learning in changing environments / Culum Brown -- Dispersal / Alexis S. Chaine and Jean Clobert -- Migration / Phillip Gienapp -- Foraging / Ronald C. Ydenberg and Herbert H.T. Prins -- Reproductive behavior / Anders Pape Moeller -- Social behaviour / Daniel T. Blumstein -- Species interaction / Shelley E.R. Hoover and Jason M. Tylianakis -- Behavioural plasticity and environmental change / Josh Van Buskirk -- Population consequences of individual variation in behaviour / Fanie Pelletier and Dany Garant -- Ecosystem consequences of behavioural plasticity and contemporary evolution / Eric P. Palkovacs and Christopher M. Dalton -- The role of behavioural variation in the invasion of new areas / Ben L. Phillips and Andrew V. Suarez -- Sexual selection in changing environments: consequences for individuals and populations / Ulrika Candolin and Bob Wong -- Evolution…