The Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology of Amphibians

考虑到全球生物多样性的现状和物种（尤其是两栖动物）由于其赖以生存的环境受到人为威胁而减少的速度，了解物种的表型行为特征及其参考其他生物和环境因素的灵活性比以往任何时候都更加重要。我建议对影响多肢大叶蝉（Alytes mulletensis）进化适应性的行为指标和因素进行实证测试，这是一种受到保护关注的物种，目前在现有的科学文献中缺少保护应用所需的重要信息。我的方法将利用广泛的方法，包括使用机器学习，来理解关键的进化过程——即捕食者回避行为的表达。这些发现在设计原地保护措施和优化圈养动物迁地管理方面的应用，有可能增加个体的整体福利，促进自然过程的运作，并缓解全球两栖动物种群数量的破坏性下降。

The understanding of a species' phenotypic behavioural traits and their flexibility with reference to other biological and environmental factors is more important than ever given the current state of biodiversity globally and the rate at which species - and, in particular, amphibians - are declining due to anthropogenic threats to their environment which underpins their survival. I propose to empirically test behavioural indicators of welfare and factors influencing evolutionary fitness in Alytes muletensis, a species of conservation concern for whom vital information required for conservation applications is currently missing from the existing scientific literature. My approach will utilise a broad range of methodologies, including the use of machine learning, to understand key evolutionary processes - namely the expression of predator avoidance behaviours. The application of these findings in designing in-situ conservation measures and optimising ex-situ management of captive animals has the potential to increase the overall welfare of individuals, facilitate the operation of natural processes, and mitigate the devastating declines in amphibian populations observed globally.