Lauren Stanton

Keywords anthropogenic effects culture individual specialization functional traits novel ecosystems Predator–prey interactions and human-induced trait shifts Predator–prey interactions are fundamental drivers of ecosystem structure and function [1,2]. Predators shape prey abundance and distribution by killing prey while modifying prey behavior through fear-driven, nonlethal effects [3,4].

Abstract How and why cognitive phenotypes vary between and within species remain contested. The cognitive demands associated with social interactions and environmental variability are hypothesized to be the predominant factors governing cognitive evolution. However, these factors fail to account for a large fraction of variation in animal cognition.

By Christine E. Wilkinson, Tal Caspi, Lauren A. Stanton, Deb Campbell, and Christopher J. Schell. Read the full paper here. Global change is increasing the frequency and severity of human-wildlife interactions as people and wildlife increasingly share spaces with limited resources. Cities are a microcosm of these interactions, demonstrating how social, cultural, and ecological factors can work together to drive human-wildlife interactions.