Animal Cultures Matter for Conservation Understanding the Rich Social Lives of Animals Benefits International Conservation Efforts
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INSIGHTS POLICY FORUM CONSERVATION Animal cultures matter for conservation Understanding the rich social lives of animals benefits international conservation efforts By Philippa Brakes, Sasha R. X. Dall, Lucy M. Aplin, Stuart Bearhop, Emma L. Carroll, Paolo Ciucci, Vicki Fishlock, John K. B. Ford, Ellen C. Garland, Sally A. Keith, Peter K. McGregor, Sarah L. Mesnick, Michael J. Noad, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Martha M. Robbins, Mark P. Simmonds, Fernando Spina, Alex Thornton, Paul R. Wade, Martin J. Whiting, James Williams, Luke Rendell, Hal Whitehead, Andrew Whiten, Christian Rutz nimal culture, defined as “informa- and other aspects of sociality (3) is now af- CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE tion or behavior—shared within a fording critical insights into what should An important aspect of social learning is community—which is acquired from be conserved (going beyond the protection the speed with which new behaviors can po- conspecifics through some form of of genetic diversity, to consider adaptive tentially spread through populations, with social learning” (1), can have impor- aspects of phenotypic variation), and why effects that may be positive (e.g., adaptive tant consequences for the survival specific conservation programs succeed exploitation of a new food source) or nega- Aand reproduction of individuals, social (e.g., through facilitating the resilience of tive (e.g., increasing conflict with humans, groups, and potentially, entire populations cultural diversity) while others fail (e.g., such as when sperm whales learn to remove (1, 2). Yet, until recently, conservation strat- by neglecting key repositories of socially fish from longlines) (2). Transmission can egies and policies have focused primarily transmitted knowledge). Here, we high- be mediated by an inherent propensity to on broad demographic responses and the light how international legal instruments, adopt innovations [e.g., “lobtail” feeding in preservation of genetically defined, evolu- such as the Convention on the Conserva- humpback whales (1)], or curbed by cultural tionarily significant units. A burgeoning tion of Migratory Species of Wild Animals conservatism [e.g., southern resident killer body of evidence on cultural transmission (CMS), can facilitate smart, targeted con- whales’ persistent foraging specialization servation of a wide range of taxa, by explic- on Chinook salmon (2)]. Author affiliations are listed in the supplementary materials. itly considering aspects of their sociality Social learning can result in the emer- Email: [email protected]; [email protected] and cultures. gence of subpopulations with distinctive ELEPHANTS FOR TRUST FISHLOCK/AMBOSELI V. PHOTO: 1032 8 MARCH 2019 • VOL 363 ISSUE 6431 sciencemag.org SCIENCE Published by AAAS An African elephant matriarch (center) servation and management of migratory can lead, and shape the success of, a family species in CMS Appendix II. Although, like for three decades or more. many other international agreements, CMS does not have a compliance mechanism, its Positive conservation outcomes can de- standing committee is in the process of crit- pend on the restoration of cultural knowl- ically reviewing the impacts of its decisions, edge. For example, because whooping to improve effectiveness (background CMS cranes learn migratory routes socially, hu- documents are available in the supplemen- man surrogates in ultralight aircraft can tary materials). guide naïve, captive-bred birds along their Impetus for an animal culture initiative first migration, potentially boosting the ef- was provided by a growing body of evidence fectiveness of reintroduction programs (8, for social learning and culture in cetaceans 9). Similarly, without the benefit of socially that raised important questions about inherited knowledge, bighorn sheep and how best to conserve these animals (12). moose translocated to unfamiliar habitats The CMS Scientific Council’s preexisting can take generations to master the skill of expertise in evaluating threats to aquatic tracking the seasonal distribution of high- mammals made CMS a natural avenue for quality forage (10). Social learning can also examining these issues further. In 2014, be exploited to ameliorate human-wildlife a formal consultation revealed an exten- conflict, for example, by artificially “seed- sive range of circumstances in which so- ing” desirable behavior, such as avoidance cial structure, social learning, and cultural Downloaded from of particular foods or sites (3, 11). variation in whales and dolphins can affect To improve the efficacy of conservation the planning or outcomes of conservation efforts, we therefore argue that it is criti- efforts. This culminated in the adoption of a cal to consider the interplay between social ground-breaking resolution, through which structure and the transmission of social the CMS signatories formally acknowledged information. This may be particularly im- the importance of social learning and cul- http://science.sciencemag.org/ portant if different categories of individu- ture for the conservation of some highly als vary in their propensity to innovate, or social species. are more likely to be copied by naïve group Following the 2014 resolution, the CMS members (11). In some cases, populations Scientific Council established an expert may be structured into distinct cultural group to broaden the scope of this initiative units with differing resource requirements. beyond cetaceans. The group determined For instance, cultural transmission of vocal that social learning has conservation rel- behavioral profiles, erecting social barriers, patterns among sperm whales in the East- evance across a wide range of vertebrate as observed in distinct vocal clans of sperm ern tropical Pacific results in distinct vocal taxa, including birds, fishes, and many ma- whales (see the figure ). Culturally mediated clans (1) (see the figure). Clans vary in their rine and terrestrial mammals (1, 3 ). At a on March 7, 2019 population structure has important impli- feeding success during El Niño and La Niña 2018 cross-taxa CMS culture workshop in cations for conservation efforts (4), as it can oceanographic cycles (1), meaning that if Parma, Italy, the authors of the present influence species-wide phenotypic diversity these cycles increase, as predicted under cli- article reviewed relevant evidence, with and adaptability to changing conditions (5). mate change, population-level impacts may a particular focus on species in which so- In some cases, such as humpback or blue not be uniform. cial learning has the potential to strongly whale song, cultural variation can reflect influence migratory behavior, habitat use, demography and facilitate more efficient, CETACEANS, AND BEYOND foraging, or interaction with human activi- or less invasive, assays of contemporary Despite mounting evidence that aspects of ties. On the basis of this work, we recom- genetic population structure (1, 4). Most sociality can have far-reaching implications mend, among other things (for details, see profoundly, culture can play a causal role in for wildlife conservation, international table S1): augmenting the designation of establishing and maintaining distinct evo- policy forums—where most large-scale con- evolutionarily significant units; conserving lutionary trajectories (6). servation strategies are conceived—have individuals that are critical repositories Another consequence of social learning so far not engaged substantially with the of social knowledge; refining the criteria can be the increased importance of key challenges and opportunities presented by used for identifying and prioritizing spe- individuals as repositories of accumulated this new scientific perspective. A notable cies and populations for assessment; im- knowledge, making their targeted protec- exception is the CMS Scientific Council, proving reintroduction schemes through tion particularly important for the per- which has conducted work at the interface strategic management of social knowledge; sistence of social units. For example, the of cutting-edge science and international planning effective mitigation strategies for experience of African elephant matriarchs policy-making. anthropogenic impacts using aspects of (see the photo) has been shown to posi- The CMS signatories work to develop sociality; systematically cataloging the di- tively influence the fertility rates of younger collaboration between range states for the mensions of cultural diversity; and raising females in their social group, through the conservation of species that move across awareness about the value of conserving transmission of information about the so- jurisdictional boundaries. They agree to animal cultures. cial and ecological landscape (7). Yet, tradi- support research, to endeavor to provide The overall aim of this initiative is to tional approaches to species conservation immediate protection for migratory spe- maximize the efficacy of conservation efforts often prioritize younger individuals for cies listed in CMS Appendix I, and to work through enhanced consideration of sociality their direct reproductive potential. toward developing agreements for the con- in general, and social learning and (both SCIENCE sciencemag.org 8 MARCH 2019 • VOL 363 ISSUE 6431 1033 Published by AAAS INSIGHTS | POLICY FORUM adaptive, and seemingly arbitrary) cultural triggered cameras, as exemplified by a will be to determine if evidence warrants processes in particular. Understanding recent attempt