Connecting animal and human cognition to conservation.

Expanding human populations favors a few species while extinguishing and endangering many others (Maxwell ., 2016; Pimm ., 2014). Understanding how animals perceive and learn about dangers and rewards can aid conservationists seeking to limit abundant or restore rare species (Schakner and Blumstein, 2016; Greggor ., 2014; Angeloni ., 2008; Fernández-Juricic and Schulte, 2016). Cognition research is informing conservation science by suggesting how naïve prey learn novel predators (Griffin ., 2000; Moseby ., 2015; Schakner ., 2016; Blumstein, 2016), the mechanisms underlying variation in tolerance of human disturbance (Bostwick ., 2014), and when natural aversions and fear learning can be leveraged to humanely control predators (Nielsen ., 2015; Colman ., 2014; Norbury ., 2014; Lance ., 2010; Cross ., 2013). Insights into the relationships between cognition and adaptability suggest that behavioral inflexibility often presages species rarity (Amiel ., 2011; Reif ., 2011; Sol ., 2008; Zhang ., 2014; but see Kellert, 1984). Human compassion and restraint are ultimately required to conserve species. Cognitive science can therefore further inform conservation by revealing the complex inner worlds of the animals we threaten and, in partnership with environmental psychologists, explore how such newfound knowledge affects our empathy for other species and ultimately the public's actions on behalf of species in need of conservation (Collado ., 2013; Zhang ., 2014).