Wildlife is watching us, too – and changing their behavior in response
A new study from the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change reveals that wildlife alters its behavior in response to human presence and habitat changes. The research, which involved tracking 37 species across the U.S., highlights the importance of considering human activity in wildlife conservation efforts. Findings indicate that over 65% of species modified their behavior based on human presence, with responses varying significantly among different species.
- ▪The study tracked 37 species, including birds and mammals, using GPS devices.
- ▪More than 65% of species changed their behavior based on human presence, particularly in natural settings.
- ▪The research utilized mobile phone data to assess human presence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Listen to this story Wildlife is watching us, too — and changing their behavior in response 0:00 / 0:00 A new large-scale study led by a research team from the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change has found that wildlife responds not only to how humans reshape their habitats, but also to the simple presence of humans — and sometimes in surprising ways.Even small changes in how people move through environments can significantly affect animal behavior and could have implications for wildlife conservation efforts, the study finds.“Our findings provide an important nuance in our understanding of wildlife in a rapidly changing world,” said Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and director of the Yale Center for…
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