VEBITA is researching what animals’ movement patterns reveal about the state of their environment. This is because animals often change their behavior even before a population begins to decline in numbers. To this end, the inter- and transdisciplinary LOEWE research cluster analyzes movement data using artificial intelligence methods and develops early warning indicators for changes in biodiversity. This results in a transformative environmental monitoring system that is made accessible through a knowledge hub for research and practice and supports the proactive protection of species and habitats.
Research Approach
The inter- and transdisciplinary LOEWE research cluster VEBITA explores the central question of what animals’ movement behavior reveals about the state of their environment and how this information can be used to identify early warning signs of changes in biodiversity. Using modern biologging technologies, movement data from animal sensors is analyzed using artificial intelligence methods. The goal is to reveal the behavioral plasticity of animals and better understand patterns of change in their behavior. From this, indicators are developed to support societal decision-making processes aimed at precautionary biodiversity conservation. In the future, this transformative environmental monitoring will be made available to stakeholders in research and practice via a knowledge hub. In this way, the project contributes to establishing the scientific foundations for the effective protection of biodiversity and habitats.
The ISOE team is bridging between the project’s scientific findings and their application in nature conservation practice: Stakeholders from nature conservation, public administration, politics, and business are involved early on in the development of meaningful early-warning indicators and the design of the knowledge hub, contributing their practical expertise, understanding of the issues, and interests regarding future applications. This takes place on two levels: Two case studies focus on local decision-making in nature conservation. Together with local stakeholders, concrete use cases are developed that link precautionary strategies in biodiversity conservation with changes in animal behavior. At the same time, the ISOE examines how the AI-generated indicators are accepted in practice and what obstacles exist, for example with regard to trust in artificial intelligence. At the European level, ISOE is also engaging stakeholders from politics, government, and business to support the implementation of international and European regulations, such as the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
These two levels give rise to different use cases, each with its own specific requirements—both for the behavioral indicators themselves and for their accessibility within the knowledge hub. Through collaboration among the project partners, a scientifically sound, transformative environmental monitoring system is thus being established iteratively.
Background
The movement patterns of animals reveal how well they cope with a changing environment—such as climate change, new roads, fences, or wind turbines. At the same time, animal movements are a key factor in the population dynamics of species and in the stability of ecosystem functions. Changes in movement patterns can signal successful adaptation to altered ecological conditions, but they can also indicate disturbances. Because animal behavior often changes before a population declines in numbers, conspicuous patterns can serve as early warning signals and even point to changes whose causes are still unknown.
Modern sensors, known as biologgers, record the movements of wild animals. This movement data is stored in the ever-growing global database Movebank. So far, however, this vast treasure trove of data has been of little use for proactive nature conservation. This is where VEBITA comes in, with the development of transformative environmental monitoring and access via a knowledge hub.
Research and Project Partners
- Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) (lead partner) with the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), the International Science-Policy Unit, and the Senckenberg Synthesis & Solutions Labs
- Philipps University of Marburg (UMR) with the Department of Biology and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Associated partners
- Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Biology (MPIAB)
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA (SCBI)
- Frankfurt Conservation Center (FCC)
- d-fine Management Consulting (DFINE)
- KPMG AG Auditing Firm (KPMG)
- Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment, and Geology (HLNUG)
- Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia (WSCCM)
- Hessian Society for Ornithology and Nature Conservation (HGON)
Funding
The project “Behavioral Plasticity in a Changing World: Biologging as the Key to Assessing Animal Adaptability (VEBITA)” is funded as part of the 19th funding round of the Hessian State Program LOEWE.
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