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Humanity's Dual Response to Dogs and Wolves
Adrian Treves1, Cristian Bonacic2
1Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin, 30A Science Hall, 550 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|May 18, 2016
Summary
Humans developed a dual response to canids, impacting dog and wolf evolution and ecology. This inherited attraction or aversion influences our relationship with domestic dogs and wild wolves.
Area of Science:
- Paleoecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Dogs were domesticated 31,000-41,000 years ago, initiating complex ecological interactions between humans, dogs, and wolves.
- Humanity has faced both ecological costs and benefits from these interactions throughout history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that humans possess an inherited dual response (attraction/aversion) towards domestic and wild canids.
- To explore the evolutionary and ecological consequences of this dual response on humans, dogs, and wolves.
Main Methods:
- This study is primarily theoretical, proposing a framework based on existing ecological and evolutionary data.
- Analysis of historical and contemporary human-canid interactions and their ecological impacts.
Main Results:
- Humans exhibit distinct attraction or aversion responses to domestic dogs versus wild canids.
- This dual response has significantly shaped the co-evolutionary trajectories of humans, dogs, and wolves.
Conclusions:
- The inherited dual canid response has had profound, far-reaching ecological and evolutionary consequences.
- Understanding this response is crucial for comprehending the global ecological footprint of domestic dogs and the conservation status of wolves.
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