Risk Perception:

Evolution at the Service of Wildlife Management and Conservation

Time & Date: 15:30-17:00, February 11 (Tuesday)

Venue: TxC 301

Language: English

Biography:

Cécile Sarabian is a cognitive ecologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, France. She earned her PhD from Kyoto University, Japan, in 2019 and has since held postdoctoral positions at Kyoto University, The University of Hong Kong and Nagoya University. Her research focuses on the origins of disgust, examining the evolution of disease risk perception and avoidance in animals, including humans. With over a decade of experience conducting field and laboratory studies on this topic, she has developed a keen interest in the practical applications of risk perception – such as disease, predation and competition – for wildlife management and conservation. For more information, please see www.cecilesarabian.com.

Abstract:

Disgust, a neurobiological adaptive mechanism, serves as a trigger for behavioral immunity in vertebrates, evolving to protect hosts from disease. Previously underestimated in animals, disgust has now been observed across diverse taxa, manifesting in primitive and refined forms, from crustaceans and birds to non-human primates. Through a combination of experimental and observational approaches, our work shows that our closest phylogenetic relatives exhibit aversion and avoidance towards sensory cues associated with biological contaminants and infection risks. Individuals who avoid contaminated food have lower levels of infection compared to less cautious individuals. Additionally, I found evidence suggesting that disgust is partly learnt and potentially interact with physiological immunity. Moreover, I highlighted that disgust influences cognitive processes in primates, and this in different ways than fear. These findings align with human studies, supporting the protective function hypothesis of disgust. Moving forward, I explore potential applications of disgust in various domains. Disgust has previously been used in public health campaigns and political contexts, aiming to promote handwashing and influence voting decisions. Here, I propose extending the application of disgust-related avoidance behaviors to wildlife management and conservation efforts. To this end, I outline five specific contexts, offering examples of species where such behaviors could be beneficial. These include endangered species reintroduction and survival, invasive species, crop-damage, urban pests and animal tourism. For each context, I provide an adapted ‘disgust recipe’ along with methods to gauge effectiveness. Moreover, I delve into the potential synergies between disgust and other emotional incentives, such as fear and anger, to heighten risk perception and shape behavioral outcomes concerning disease, predation and competition risks.