It’s no secret that humans affect wildlife in a myriad of ways. But scientists are discovering that even seemingly benign human activities can have enormous consequences when they create evolutionary traps.
An evolutionary trap occurs when a species applies an important survival behavior to something foreign in its environment, leading to negative consequences. For example, vervet monkeys crave energy-rich foods like bananas out of biological necessity. But in St. Kitts, where tourists have encroached on their habitat, the monkeys have learned to steal piña coladas. The impulse to take advantage of an energy-rich, readily available food source is correct – but the result is drunken monkeys.
Dozens of other such traps have been identified by scientists. Take the case of aquatic insects. They must lay their eggs on water, which they identify by polarized light – created when light bounces off of water. But so many man-made structures now polarize light in the same way that the insects have begun laying their eggs on solar panels and buildings.
As we identify and better understand these traps, we can mitigate their damages. Some can be addressed with relatively simple fixes – like putting white curtains in buildings to minimize the attraction to aquatic insects laying eggs.
Scientists are even looking to take things one step further, harnessing evolutionary traps for the greater good. For example, could a strategically-designed trap lead malaria-carrying mosquitoes away from human populations, reducing new infections and saving lives? Environmental scientists are hopeful that such applications are on the horizon.
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Web Links
Evolution’s traps: When our world leads animals astray
Five animals caught out by traps we didn’t mean to set
Photo, taken August 11, 2009, courtesy of Justin Norton via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.