Advances in biologging can identify nuanced energetic costs and gains in predators

Abstract

Foraging is a key driver of animal movement patterns, with specific challenges for predators which must search for mobile prey. These patterns are increasingly impacted by global changes, principally in land use and climate. Understanding the degree of flexibility in predator foraging and social strategies is pertinent to wildlife conservation under global change, including potential top-down effects on wider ecosystems. Here we propose key future research directions to better understand foraging strategies and social flexibility in predators. In particular, rapid continued advances in biologging technology are helping to record and understand dynamic behavioural and movement responses of animals to environmental changes, and their energetic consequences. Data collection can be optimised by calibrating behavioural interpretation methods in captive settings and strategic tagging decisions within and between social groups. Importantly, many species’ social systems are increasingly being found to be more flexible than originally described in the literature, which may be more readily detectable through biologging approaches than behavioural observation. Integrating the effects of the physical landscape and biotic interactions will be key to explaining and predicting animal movements and energetic balance in a changing world.

Landing force reveals new form of motion-induced sound camouflage in a wild predator

“…In conclusion, we use high-frequency movement data to propose a novel form of acoustic camouflage and demonstrate that the magnitude of predator cues can influence hunting success ( English et al, 2024 ). Minimizing landing force, and associated sound production is likely to be particularly pertinent for nocturnal predators, which operate in quiet environments and target prey with an acute sense of hearing ( Gerkema et al, 2013 ; Popper and Fay, 1997 ; Webster and Plassmann, 1992 ).…”

Herbivorous fish feeding dynamics and energy expenditure on a coral reef: Insights from stereo‐video and AI‐driven 3D tracking

“…Our approach offers potential for studying movement and energy budgets of keystone species across habitats and ecosystems, rapidly assessing metabolic traits in entire communities (Nathan et al., 2022 ). By analyzing acceleration patterns across communities, we can deduce “energy seascapes” in marine environments, mapping the varied energy costs of foraging in diverse settings (English et al., 2024 ; Wilson et al., 2012 ). These contributions are pivotal for developing ecosystem health indicators and shaping effective conservation strategies (Bograd et al., 2010 ).…”

Innovative Use of Depth Data to Estimate Energy Intake and Expenditure in Adélie Penguins

“…Given the difficulties in simultaneously measuring both energy expenditure and energy acquisition in wild animals, information comes from different data types (English et al, 2024) making long-term analysis or study comparisons difficult.…”

“…However, these approaches are costly, logistically difficult, invasive and, therefore, challenging to consistently use in long-term species monitoring programs. Given the difficulties in simultaneously measuring both energy expenditure and energy acquisition in wild animals, information comes from different data types (English et al, 2024) making long-term analysis or study comparisons difficult.…”

“…Recent advances in bio-logging technologies allowed researchers to validate the use of accelerometers to accurately estimate animals’ energetics across a wide range of taxa and habitats (English et al, 2024; Wilson et al, 2020). Top predators integrate information from the bottom to the top of the food webs.…”