Social connections and their welfare implications in the wild
Grantee: Alex Thornton
Institutions: University of Exeter, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Grant amount: $157,962
Grant type: Challenge grants
Focal species: Jackdaws (Coloeus sp.)
Conservation status: Least concern
Disciplines: Animal behavior, ornithology, animal welfare science
Research location: United Kingdom
Publications
Hahn, L. G., McDowall, J., Vanhussel, M., Mendl, M., & Thornton, A. (2026). Social information about others' affective states in a human-altered world. Journal of Animal Ecology, 00, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70208
Project summary
This project seeks to understand the relationship between welfare and social interactions in wild bird populations. Using historical data, the researchers will also seek insight into how welfare varies among individuals in relation to the social system, early-life experiences, and interactions among individuals. They will also investigate whether social systems might play a role in helping to mitigate some of the negative anthropogenic impacts on welfare.
Why we funded this project
We funded this project because it addresses a fundamental question important for understanding wild animal welfare: how welfare relates to social interactions. The project could provide valuable insights into positive welfare and which interventions might be possible to enhance positive experiences in the wild. The project could provide data to accelerate the development of interventions to promote positive welfare in wild animals, possibly resulting in viable near-term interventions. The researchers will also use diverse metrics to assess welfare, and as such, the project also offers the potential to advance the measurement of welfare.
