title: Comparative cognition for conservationists.
abstract: Every animal occupies a unique cognitive world based on its sensory capacities, and attentional and learning biases. Behaviour results from the interaction of this cognitive world with the environment. As humans alter environments, cognitive processes ranging from perceptual processes to learned behaviour govern animals' reactions. By harnessing animals' perceptual biases and applying insights from cognitive theory, we can purposefully alter cues to reduce maladaptive responses and shape behaviour. Despite the fundamental connection between cognition and behaviour, the breadth of cognitive theory is underutilised in conservation practice. Bridging these disciplines could augment existing conservation efforts targeting animal behaviour. We outline relevant principles of perception and learning, and develop a step-by-step process for applying aspects of cognition towards specific conservation issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address: alg61@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Greggor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phalan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter, UK. Electronic address: alex.thornton@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thornton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003071:Cognition; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D007858:Learning; D010465:Perception
keywords: animal conservation; aversive conditioning; cognition; imprinting; learning; perception