Toward a unified framework for studying behavioural tolerance

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Animal Behavior
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Animals often exhibit behavioral responses to cope with human-induced environmental changes.
• The adaptive value of behavioral inaction, specifically tolerance, is less understood.
• Tolerance to perceived risks, even when nonexistent, can be advantageous.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a framework for understanding the causes and consequences of behavioral tolerance in animals.
• To explore the mechanisms underlying the development of behavioral tolerance.
• To inform human-wildlife interaction management in the Anthropocene.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development.
• Review of existing literature on animal behavior, genetics, epigenetics, and learning.
• Analysis of the interplay between tolerance mechanisms and environmental stressors.

Main Results:

• Behavioral tolerance can arise from genetic, epigenetic, or learning mechanisms.
• These mechanisms differ in their speed of acquisition, reversibility, specificity, and duration.
• The fitness consequences depend on the interaction between tolerance mechanisms and the specific stressor.

Conclusions:

• Absence of behavioral response, or tolerance, can be an adaptive strategy.
• Understanding the mechanistic basis of tolerance is crucial for predicting its impact on animal fitness.
• Mechanistic clarity is essential for effective management of human-wildlife interactions.