Analýza faktorů určujících lidské preference a tím i úsilí vkládané do ochrany živočišných druhů

Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall...V posledních letech se ukazuje, že lidé na zvířata, která považují za atraktivní, pohlíží poněkud odlišně, než na zvířata "ošklivá". Ta krásná se těší větší pozornosti a vyšším počtem ochranářsky zaměřených projektů. Cílem této studie proto bylo prozkoumat fenomén zvířecí krásy do detailů, a to na příkladu populárního zvířecího taxonu - ptáků. Ve třech po sobě jdoucích studiích jsme změřili lidské preference vůči různým skupinám ptáků: prvně to byli všichni zástupci papoušků, dále náhodně vybraní reprezentanti ze všech nepěvčích čeledí, a nakonec pity, pestrobarevná skupina pěvců čeledi Pittidae. První studie ukázala, že papoušci, které lidé považují za krásné, jsou v zoologických zahradách chováni ve vyšších počtech, nezávisle na statutu jejich ohrožení (status IUCN). V článku diskutujeme možné následky této skutečnosti a také výhody, kterých je možno dosáhnout, pokud budou ochranáři brát v potaz důležitost krásy jakožto faktoru zasahujícího do problematiky ochrany zvířat. Dále jsme zjistili, že lidé preferují zejména dlouhoocasé papoušky, kteří jsou modře či žlutě zbarvení. Zelená barva naopak papouškům na kráse ubírala, což vysvětlujeme tím, že většina papoušků je zelená a tudíž může respondentům připadat nezajímavá. V následujících dvou studiích se ukázalo, že lidské preference ptáků jsou...Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Being Attractive Brings Advantages: The Case of Parrot Species in Captivity

Background: Parrots are one of the most frequently kept and bred bird orders in captivity. This increases poaching and thus the potential importance of captive populations for rescue programmes managed by zoos and related institutions. Both captive breeding and poaching are selective and may be influenced by the attractiveness of particular species to humans. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that the size of zoo populations is not only determined by conservation needs, but also by the perceived beauty of individual parrot species assessed by human observers. Methodology/Principal Findings: For the purpose of data collection, we defined four sets of species (40 parrots, 367 parrots, 34 amazons, 17 macaws). Then, we asked 776 human respondents to evaluate parrot pictures of the selected species according to perceived beauty and we analyzed its association with color and morphological characters. Irrespective of the species set, we found a good agreement among the respondents. The preferred species tended to be large, colorful, and long-tailed. Conclusions/Significance: We repeatedly confirmed significant, positive association between the perceived beauty and the size of worldwide zoo population. Moreover, the range size and body size appeared to be significant predictors of zoo population size. In contrast, the effects of other explanatory variables, including the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) listing, appeared insignificant. Our results may suggest that zoos preferentially keep beautifu

Analysis of factors affecting human preferences and thus effort given to the conservation of animal species

Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall..

How evolution of coloration in parrots (Psittaciformes) affects species conservation through human preferences

Each year, several new species are recognized as threatened or endangered. Today's worldwide zoos and aquariums are highly concerned in their conservation and the species kept in large numbers have high chances for possible future reintroduction. However, the selection of the species kept is decided by men and as such can be affected by human aesthetic preferences. The aim of this thesis was to test the hypothesis that zoos preferentially keep species that are attractive rather than endangered, using the parrot family (Psittaciformes) as an example. We collected data from 460 human respondents who evaluated the attractiveness of parrots presented on painted illustrations. After analyzing which traits affect the perceived beauty we found that humans prefer parrots that are big, long-tailed and colourful (blue, orange and yellow). There was a considerable agreement among the respondents. We repeatedly confirmed significant positive association between the perceived beauty and the size of worldwide zoo population. In addition of perceived beauty, area of distribution and body size appeared significant predictors of zoo population size. In contrast, the effects of conservation status and taxonomic uniqueness appeared insignificant. Our results suggest that zoos preferentially keep beautiful parrots and pay less..

Evolution of avian coloration: phylogenetic analysis in selected taxa of parrots

Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Evolution of avian coloration: phylogenetic analysis in selected taxa of parrots

Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Analýza faktorů určujících lidské preference a tím i úsilí vkládané do ochrany živočišných druhů

Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall...V posledních letech se ukazuje, že lidé na zvířata, která považují za atraktivní, pohlíží poněkud odlišně, než na zvířata "ošklivá". Ta krásná se těší větší pozornosti a vyšším počtem ochranářsky zaměřených projektů. Cílem této studie proto bylo prozkoumat fenomén zvířecí krásy do detailů, a to na příkladu populárního zvířecího taxonu - ptáků. Ve třech po sobě jdoucích studiích jsme změřili lidské preference vůči různým skupinám ptáků: prvně to byli všichni zástupci papoušků, dále náhodně vybraní reprezentanti ze všech nepěvčích čeledí, a nakonec pity, pestrobarevná skupina pěvců čeledi Pittidae. První studie ukázala, že papoušci, které lidé považují za krásné, jsou v zoologických zahradách chováni ve vyšších počtech, nezávisle na statutu jejich ohrožení (status IUCN). V článku diskutujeme možné následky této skutečnosti a také výhody, kterých je možno dosáhnout, pokud budou ochranáři brát v potaz důležitost krásy jakožto faktoru zasahujícího do problematiky ochrany zvířat. Dále jsme zjistili, že lidé preferují zejména dlouhoocasé papoušky, kteří jsou modře či žlutě zbarvení. Zelená barva naopak papouškům na kráse ubírala, což vysvětlujeme tím, že většina papoušků je zelená a tudíž může respondentům připadat nezajímavá. V následujících dvou studiích se ukázalo, že lidské preference ptáků jsou...Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Analysis of factors affecting human preferences and thus effort given to the conservation of animal species

Recently, it was reported that humans treat animals that they perceive as aesthetically attractive unequally to the "ugly" ones, turning more attention to them and setting more conservation programs for their protection. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the issue focusing around animal beauty in more detail by examining human preferences towards one of the most popular animal taxon, the birds. In three subsequent studies, we assessed human preferences towards selected bird species: all members of the order of parrots, randomly selected representatives of all non- passerine bird families, and all members of the vividly colored passerine family Pittidae. The first study revealed that the preferred parrots were kept in zoos in higher numbers, regardless of their conservation priority (IUCN status). We discussed possible consequences of this finding and the benefits that may arise in the light of animal conservation if this bias in species preferences was to be considered by conservation specialists. We also found that people preferred long-tailed parrots possessing blue and yellow colors over green ones, which were probably perceived as dull and uninteresting as the majority of the parrots are fully or partially green. In the next two studies, we found that shape, pattern, and overall..

Human Preferences for Colorful Birds: Vivid Colors or Pattern?

In a previous study, we found that the shape of a bird, rather than its color, plays a major role in the determination of human preferences. Thus, in the present study, we asked whether the preferences of human respondents towards uniformly shaped, colorful birds are determined by pattern rather than color. The experimental stimuli were pictures of small passerine birds of the family Pittidae possessing uniform shape but vivid coloration. We asked 200 participants to rank 43 colored and 43 identical, but grayscaled, pictures of birds. To find the traits determining human preferences, we performed GLM analysis in which we tried to explain the mean preference ranks and PC axes by the following explanatory variables: the overall lightness and saturation, edges (pattern), and the portion of each of the basic color hues. The results showed that the mean preference ranks of the grayscale set is explained mostly by the birds' pattern, whereas the colored set ranking is mostly determined by the overall lightness. The effect of colors was weaker, but still significant, and revealed that people liked blue and green birds. We found no significant role of the color red, the perception of which was acquired relatively recently in evolution

Mammalian Collection on Noah's Ark: The Effects of Beauty, Brain and Body Size

<div><p>The importance of today's zoological gardens as the so-called “Noah's Ark” grows as the natural habitat of many species quickly diminishes. Their potential to shelter a large amount of individuals from many species gives us the opportunity to reintroduce a species that disappeared in nature. However, the selection of animals to be kept in zoos worldwide is highly selective and depends on human decisions driven by both ecological criteria such as population size or vulnerability and audience-driven criteria such as aesthetic preferences. Thus we focused our study on the most commonly kept and bred animal class, the mammals, and we asked which factors affect various aspects of the mammalian collection of zoos. We analyzed the presence/absence, population size, and frequency per species of each of the 123 mammalian families kept in the worldwide zoo collection. Our aim was to explain these data using the human-perceived attractiveness of mammalian families, their body weight, relative brain size and species richness of the family. In agreement with various previous studies, we found that the body size and the attractiveness of mammals significantly affect all studied components of the mammalian collection of zoos. There is a higher probability of the large and attractive families to be kept. Once kept, these animals are presented in larger numbers in more zoos. On the contrary, the relative mean brain size only affects the primary selection whether to keep the family or not. It does not affect the zoo population size or the number of zoos that keep the family.</p></div