Bringing animal behaviour into marine conservation: insights and future directions

Abstract

The earliest response to natural and anthropogenic changes in the environment is typically behavioural. Due to the relevance of animal behaviour in predicting and mitigating the impacts of environmental changes on populations and ecosystems the interdisciplinary field of Conservation Behaviour has recently emerged. While it was formally acknowledged as a discipline about 30 years ago, it was only in 2011 that a theoretical framework was proposed by Berger-Tal and colleagues. Currently, numerous examples illustrate the use of animal behaviour in conservation and management efforts. However, most of these examples involve terrestrial animals. This is partly because both the behaviour and habitats of terrestrial animals are more accessible than those in the marine environment. Here, I provide an overview on how animal behaviour can contribute to marine conservation, namely in assessing anthropogenic impacts on animal behaviour, using behaviour as indicators and in guiding conservation and management interventions, using examples from the marine environment. Finally, I discuss future directions and how major technological advances in equipment and in artificial intelligence can be critical for developing effective conservation strategies and policies in a rapidly changing world.