Mechanoethology: The Physical Mechanisms of Behavior

Abstract

Research that integrates animal behavior theory with mechanics—including biomechanics, physiology, and functional morphology—can reveal how organisms accomplish tasks crucial to their fitness. Despite the insights that can be gained from this interdisciplinary approach, biomechanics commonly neglects a behavioral context and behavioral research generally does not consider mechanics. Here, we aim to encourage the study of “mechanoethology,” an area of investigation intended to encompass integrative studies of mechanics and behavior. Using examples from the literature, including papers in this issue, we show how these fields can influence each other in three ways: 1) the energy required to execute behaviors is driven by the kinematics of movement, and mechanistic studies of movement can benefit from consideration of its behavioral context; 2) mechanics sets physical limits on what behaviors organisms execute, while behavior influences ecological and evolutionary limits on mechanical systems; and 3) sensory behavior is underlain by the mechanics of sensory structures, and sensory systems guide whole-organism movement. These core concepts offer a foundation for mehanoethology research. However, future studies focused on merging behavior and mechanics may reveal other ways by which these fields are linked, leading to further insights in integrative organismal biology.

Studies of the Behavioral Sequences: The Neuroethological Morphology Concept Crossing Ethology and Functional Morphology

“…Two types of behavioral sequences are investigated under experimental conditions and in free-living animals: (i) sequences of a single individual (e.g., locomotion, feeding), and (ii) sequences of a group of individuals (e.g., predation, schooling behavior, social cooperation and competition, migration, play). In the case of collective motions, the study of each animal sequence shows (i) the behavior of each individual, and (ii) the reciprocal effect of the action and postures of all the individuals [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In short, the data used to process collective motions are quantitative observations of the responses of a variable number of individuals [ 24 , 25 ].…”

“…By using this last strategy, the bird probably has a better perception of the spatial position of most of the preying birds. Various individuals from the same species preying simultaneously on one food resource may show different “decision-making” variability, probably constrained by physical laws as suggested by the mechanoethology approach (e.g., sensation, limit, and energy [ 22 ]).…”

“…Recently, the novel concept of mechanoethology has opened the door to the integration of ethological studies and physics by integrating physics with behavioral studies. Three major concepts play a key role in the mechanoethology: (i) energy, (ii) limits, and (iii) sensation [ 22 ]. This mechanoethology also incorporates physical approaches of organism’s responses to environmental factors summarized in the ecomechanical paradigm proposed by Higham et al (2021) [ 51 ].…”

On the feeding biomechanics of nectarivorous birds

“…Therefore, understanding the process of how nectar-feeding birds drink, and the links between mechanisms and ecology (e.g. Higham et al, 2021) and behavior (Green et al, 2021) for nectar drinking has implications for our understanding of nectarivore biology and coevolution with flowers (e.g. Wei et al, 2020).…”

Weapon performance and contest assessment strategies of the cavitating snaps in snapping shrimp

“…Nonetheless, functional studies of contest behaviours are essential because contests are grounded in functional principles, such as the link between physiological state and signal structure or intensity (Dougherty, 2021; Searcy & Nowicki, 2005). Thus, studying the performance of contest behaviours alongside the behavioural contexts in which they are used can elucidate the mechanisms of assessment (Green et al, 2021; Lailvaux & Irschick, 2006; McCullough et al, 2016).…”