Developing Theory to Understand Variation in Behavioral Responses to Human-induced Rapid Environmental Change

发展理论来理解人类引起的快速环境变化的行为反应变化

• 批准号: 1456724
• 负责人: Andrew Sih
• 金额: $ 50.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-05-15 至 2020-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1456724&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Developing; Theory; Understand; Variation; Behavioral

Almost all living organisms (including humans) are now living in a world altered by environmental change including climate change, habitat change, and exposure to exotic species (e.g., novel predators or diseases). Some species are coping poorly with environmental change and declining in numbers, while others are thriving (e.g., invasive or urbanized pests). The relative ability of organisms to respond well behaviorally to novel conditions associated with environmental change often has critical effects on their success in the modern world. A better understanding of variation in behavioral responses to environmental change will be useful for enhancing the recovery of declining species, for more efficiently controlling pest species, and for anticipating ecological problems before new changes unfold. This project develops new theory to explain observed patterns and generate new predictions on the variation in behavioral response to human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC). It thus has potential to substantially advance our scientific understanding of one the most important ecological issues of our time. The project brings together a team of behavioral/evolutionary ecology modelers to develop theory to better understand variation in behavioral responses to environmental change. To explain both adaptive and maladaptive responses to novel situations, the modeling team will employ novel extensions of signal detection theory, bet hedging (generalist-specialist) theory, adaptive plasticity theory, and theory on adaptive learning. The team will also integrate these modeling approaches in fresh ways to generate novel insights for both basic behavioral ecology and for understanding responses to environmental change. Finally, the modelers will collaborate with empiricists to review relevant empirical literature and to write conceptual overview papers on behavioral responses to environmental change. The project offers abundant opportunities for training a new generation of young scientists on the interface between math and biology. The project will also include workshops that will involve not just the team and mentees, but also dozens of other empiricists and applied scientists. The project will create a new website that will feature: 1) summaries of the models, predictions, and implications, with 2) advice to empiricists on which models to apply to specific scenarios, and 3) computer code including user-friendly models suitable for use in undergraduate courses. Finally, the project will seek to collaboratively develop classroom modules for potential implementation as part of Next Generation Science Standards that have been adopted in much of the United States.

几乎所有的生物体（包括人类）现在都生活在一个被环境变化所改变的世界，包括气候变化、栖息地变化和接触外来物种（例如，新的捕食者或疾病）。 一些物种对环境变化的应对能力很差，数量在下降，而另一些物种则在蓬勃发展（例如，入侵或城市化害虫）。生物体对与环境变化相关的新条件做出良好行为反应的相对能力往往对它们在现代世界中的成功具有关键影响。更好地了解行为对环境变化的反应变化，将有助于促进衰退物种的恢复，更有效地控制害虫物种，并在新的变化出现之前预测生态问题。该项目开发了新的理论来解释观察到的模式，并对人类引起的快速环境变化（HIREC）的行为反应变化产生新的预测。 因此，它有可能大大促进我们对我们这个时代最重要的生态问题之一的科学理解。 该项目汇集了一个行为/进化生态学建模团队，以开发理论，以更好地了解行为对环境变化的反应变化。 为了解释适应性和适应不良的反应，新的情况下，建模团队将采用信号检测理论，赌注对冲（通才专家）理论，自适应可塑性理论和自适应学习理论的新扩展。 该团队还将以新的方式整合这些建模方法，为基本行为生态学和理解对环境变化的反应提供新的见解。最后，建模者将与生态学家合作，审查相关的实证文献，并撰写有关环境变化的行为反应的概念概述论文。 该项目为培养新一代的年轻科学家提供了丰富的机会，使他们了解数学和生物学之间的联系。 该项目还将包括研讨会，不仅涉及团队和学员，还涉及数十名其他经验主义者和应用科学家。 该项目将创建一个新的网站，其功能：1）模型，预测和影响的摘要，2）建议化学家将哪些模型应用于特定场景，3）计算机代码，包括适合本科课程使用的用户友好模型。最后，该项目将寻求合作开发课堂模块，作为美国大部分地区采用的下一代科学标准的一部分。