The second warning to humanity—Why ethology matters?

Abstract

In 2017, more than 15,000 scientists signed a second warning to humanity to halt human‐made destruction of our planet. The authors of that study encouraged further contributions highlighting specific subjects. With this perspectives article, we follow their call and explore why and how behavioural studies can matter for a better stewardship of the planet. The second warning article suggested 13 effective steps humanity needs to take to transition to a sustainable life. Here, we first provide some examples of how concepts and tools of behavioural biology can aid understanding and solving real‐world conservation problems relating to some of the effective sustainability steps suggested by Ripple et al., (Bioscience, 67, 2017, 1026). Then, we outline how ethological research can contribute to sustainability beyond its contributions to conserving species. Finally, we turn to the second warning and the behaviour of scientists themselves. Science has provided unequivocal evidence that we are destroying the very basis of the existence of millions of species including ourselves. To convince humanity about the urgent necessity to halt and change our behaviour, science organizations, funding bodies and scientists themselves need to become role models for sustainability.

Climate and nature emergency: From scientists’ warnings to sufficient action

“… 3. Including wildfire ( Coogan et al, 2019 ), wetlands management ( Finlayson et al, 2019 ), subterranean ecosystems ( Mammola et al, 2019 ), medicinal plants ( Applequist et al, 2020 ), insect extinctions ( Cardoso et al, 2020 ), ethology ( Goymann and Küblbeck, 2020 ), food webs ( Heleno et al, 2020 ), large lakes ( Jenny et al, 2020 ), the Mediterranean ( Kopnina et al, 2020 ), human population ( Lidicker, 2020 ), invasive alien species ( Pysek et al, 2020 ), avoiding a ghastly future ( Bradshaw et al, 2021 ), conservation physiology ( Madliger et al, 2021 ) and wildfire and water supply ( Robinne et al, 2021 ). …”

Grand Challenges in Animal Conservation

“…Of course, new horizons are not governed solely by technology, but also by new ideas, such as the importance of preserving animal culture (Brakes et al, 2019) or behavior (Greggor et al, 2016;Goymann and Küblbeck, 2020), the idea of using ecological replacements to fulfill the ecological role of long-extinct species (Corlett, 2016), or integrating disease ecology with behavioral ecology to better manage pathogens impacting animal populations (Herrera and Nunn, 2019). Some disciplines, like animal behavior (Greggor et al, 2016) and physiology (Cooke and O'Connor, 2010) have yet to fulfill their conservation potential, so offer especially rich opportunities for future application.…”