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The ecology and evolution of human‐wildlife cooperation

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Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pjats:listjats:list-itemjats:pHuman‐wildlife cooperation is a type of mutualism in which a human and a wild, free‐living animal actively coordinate their behaviour to achieve a common beneficial outcome.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pWhile other cooperative human‐animal interactions involving captive coercion or artificial selection (including domestication) have received extensive attention, we lack integrated insights into the ecology and evolution of human‐wildlife cooperative interactions.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pHere, we review and synthesise the function, mechanism, development, and evolution of human‐wildlife cooperation.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pActive cases involve people cooperating with greater honeyguide birds and with two dolphin species, while historical cases involve wolves and orcas.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pIn all cases, a food source located by the animal is made available to both species by a tool‐using human, coordinated with cues or signals.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pThe mechanisms mediating the animal behaviours involved are unclear, but they may resemble those underlying intraspecific cooperation and reduced neophobia.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pThe skills required appear to develop at least partially by social learning in both humans and the animal partners. As a result, distinct behavioural variants have emerged in each type of human‐wildlife cooperative interaction in both species, and human‐wildlife cooperation is embedded within local human cultures.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pWe propose multiple potential origins for these unique cooperative interactions, and highlight how shifts to other interaction types threaten their persistence.</jats:p></jats:list-item>jats:list-itemjats:pFinally, we identify key questions for future research. We advocate an approach that integrates ecological, evolutionary and anthropological perspectives to advance our understanding of human‐wildlife cooperation. In doing so, we will gain new insights into the diversity of our ancestral, current and future interactions with the natural world.</jats:p></jats:list-item></jats:list></jats:p>jats:pRead the free<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://relationalthinkingblog.com/?p=4190">Plain Language Summary</jats:ext-link>for this article on the Journal blog.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

Zoology, REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS, REVIEWS AND SYNTHESIS, animal culture, cooperation, dolphins, honeyguides, human‐wildlife interaction, mutualism, orcas, social learning, wolves

Journal Title

People and Nature

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2575-8314
2575-8314

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (308867/2019‐0)
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (#88887.374128/2019‐00)
H2020 European Research Council (725185)
Templeton World Charity Foundation (0271)