Emerging technologies for behavioral research in changing environments

The first response exhibited by animals to changing environments is typically behavioral. Behavior is thus central to predicting, and mitigating, the impacts that natural and anthropogenic environmental changes will have on populations and, consequently, ecosystems. Yet the inherently multiscale nature of behavior, as well as the complexities associated with inferring how animals perceive their world, and make decisions, has constrained the scope of behavioral research. Major technological advances in electronics and in machine learning, however, provide increasingly powerful means to see, analyze, and interpret behavior in its natural complexity. We argue that these disruptive technologies will foster new approaches that will allow us to move beyond quantitative descriptions and reveal the underlying generative processes that give rise to behavior.

Automated summary

The first response exhibited by animals to changing environments is usually behavioral and behavior is crucial in predicting and mitigating the effects of environmental changes on populations and ecosystems. However, the complexity of behavior and the difficulties in understanding how animals perceive their world and make decisions have limited behavioral research scope. Nevertheless, advances in electronics and machine learning offer powerful tools to observe, analyze, and interpret behavior, enabling the exploration of underlying generative processes.