Conservation biology and behaviour: from frog perspective to a bird´s eye view

My plenary will explore the historical and ecological roots of the subdisciplines ≪conservation biology≫ and ≪behavioural ecology≫, which together make up the backbone of this session. Based on arguments about moral and factual necessities to halt biodiversity loss, I will discuss why, how and to what extent conservation biology and behavioural ecology have come to merge. I will highlight how this has affected conservation efforts in a variety of contexts and geographic settings. In doing so, most of my examples of successful integration between these research fields concern amphibians, reptiles and birds, spanning a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. My emphasis will be more on the conceptual cross-fertilization between the research fields than on the technical development permitting it. Rapid deterioration and reduction of natural habitats crucial for upholding biodiversity provides a backdrop for an analysis of research needs and a horizon scan of further integration of conservation and the study of animal behavior.