Perceptual trap

In a 2004 article discussing source–sink dynamics, James Battin did not distinguish between high-quality habitats that are preferred or avoided, labelling both "sources".^[2] The latter scenario, in which a high-quality habitat is avoided, was first recognised as an important phenomenon in 2007 by Gilroy and Sutherland,^[3] who described them as "undervalued resources". The term "perceptual trap" was first proposed by Michael Patten and Jeffrey Kelly in a 2010 article.^[1] Hans Van Dyck^[4] argues that the term is misleading because perception is also a major component in other cases of trapping.

Animals use discrete environmental cues to select habitat.^[5] A perceptual trap occurs if change in an environmental cue leads an organism to avoid a high-quality habitat.^[1] It differs, therefore, from simple habitat avoidance, which may be a correct decision given the habitat's quality.^[1] The concept of a perceptual trap is related to that of an ecological trap, in which environmental change causes preference towards a low-quality habitat.^[1] There is expected to be strong natural selection against ecological traps, but not necessarily against perceptual traps, as Allee effects may restrict a population’s ability to establish itself.^[1]