Integrating space, time, and culture in animal conservation practice

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Conservation Biology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Theoretical integration of spatiotemporal and cultural elements in animal behavior is increasing.
• Implementation of animal culture in conservation is sparse due to disconnects between theory and practice.
• Spatiotemporal conservation approaches typically do not acknowledge inherent cultural interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Bridge the gap between theoretical animal culture concepts and spatiotemporal conservation practice.
• Clarify that spatiotemporal conservation interventions inherently interact with animal culture.
• Identify feasible entry points for incorporating animal culture into conservation.

Main Methods:

• Review theoretical frameworks integrating animal behavior dimensions.
• Analyze dynamic management strategies for conservation.
• Examine case studies, particularly from cetaceans, on space-time protection and cultural conservation.

Main Results:

• Spatiotemporal conservation interventions inherently interact with animal culture.
• Dynamic management strategies offer a space for integrating animal culture into conservation.
• Protection in space and time can facilitate the conservation of animal culture.
• Conserving culturally distinct groups can yield spatial and temporal protection.

Conclusions:

• Human interventions can explicitly consider interwoven spatiotemporal and cultural dimensions.
• Holistic protections for diverse taxa are achievable by integrating animal culture into conservation.
• Modern conservation approaches can integrate additional dimensions of animal behavior, including culture.