Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age

Stephen Pringle; Martin Dallimer; Mark A Goddard; Leni K Le Goff; Emma Hart; Simon J Langdale; Jessica C Fisher; Sara-Adela Abad; Marc Ancrenaz; Fabio Angeoletto; Fernando Auat Cheein; Gail E Austen; Joseph J Bailey; Katherine C. R. Baldock; Lindsay F Banin; Cristina Banks-Leite; Aliyu S Barau; Reshu Bashyal; Adam J. Bates; Jake E. Bicknell; Jon Bielby; Petra Bosilj; Emma R Bush; Simon J Butler; Dan Carpenter; Christopher F Clements; Antoine Cully; Kendi F Davies; Nicolas J Deere; Michael Dodd; Rosie Drinkwater; Don A Driscoll; Guillaume Dutilleux; Mads Dyrmann; David P Edwards; Mohammad S Farhadinia; Aisyah Faruk; Richard Field; Robert J Fletcher; Chris W Foster; Richard Fox; Richard M Francksen; Aldina M A Franco; Alison M Gainsbury; Charlie J Gardner; Ioanna Giorgi; Richard A Griffiths; Salua Hamaza; Marc Hanheide; Matt W Hayward; Marcus Hedblom; Thorunn Helgason; Sui P Heon; Kevin A Hughes; Edmund R Hunt; Daniel J. Ingram; George Jackson-Mills; Kelly Jowett; Timothy H Keitt; Laura N Kloepper; Stephanie Kramer-Schadt; Jim Labisko; Frédéric Labrosse; Jenna Lawson; Nicolas Lecomte; Ricardo F. de Lima; Nick A. Littlewood; Harry H Marshall; Giovanni L Masala; Lindsay C Maskell; Eleni Matechou; Barbara Mazzolai; Alistair McConnell; Brett A Melbourne; Aslan Miriyev; Eric Djomo Nana; Alessandro Ossola; Sarah Papworth; Catherine L Parr; Ana Payo-Payo; Gad Perry; Nathalie Pettorelli; Rajeev Pillay; Simon G. Potts; Miranda T Prendergast-Miller; Lan Qie; Persie Rolley-Parnell; Stephen J. Rossiter; Marcus Rowcliffe; Heather Rumble; Jon P Sadler; Christopher J. Sandom; Asiem Sanyal; Franziska Schrodt; Sarab S Sethi; Adi Shabrani; Robert Siddall; Simón C Smith; Robbert P H Snep; C.D. Soulsbury; Margaret C Stanley; Philip A Stephens; P J Stephenson; Matthew J. Struebig; Matthew Studley; Martin  Svátek; Gilbert Tang; Nicholas K Taylor; Kate D L Umbers; Robert J Ward; Patrick J.C. White; M.J. Whittingham; Serge Wich; Christopher D. Williams; Ibrahim B Yakubu; Natalie Yoh; Syed A R Zaidi; Anna Zmarz; Joeri A  Zwerts; Zoe Georgina Davies

doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age

Stephen Pringle, Martin Dallimer, Mark A Goddard, Leni K Le Goff, Emma Hart, Simon J Langdale, Jessica C Fisher, Sara-Adela Abad, Marc Ancrenaz, Fabio Angeoletto, Fernando Auat Cheein, Gail E Austen, Joseph J Bailey, Katherine C. R. Baldock, Lindsay F Banin, Cristina Banks-Leite, Aliyu S Barau, Reshu Bashyal, Adam J. Bates, Jake E. BicknellJon Bielby, Petra Bosilj, Emma R Bush, Simon J Butler, Dan Carpenter, Christopher F Clements, Antoine Cully, Kendi F Davies, Nicolas J Deere, Michael Dodd, Rosie Drinkwater, Don A Driscoll, Guillaume Dutilleux, Mads Dyrmann, David P Edwards, Mohammad S Farhadinia, Aisyah Faruk, Richard Field, Robert J Fletcher, Chris W Foster, Richard Fox, Richard M Francksen, Aldina M A Franco, Alison M Gainsbury, Charlie J Gardner, Ioanna Giorgi, Richard A Griffiths, Salua Hamaza, Marc Hanheide, Matt W Hayward, Marcus Hedblom, Thorunn Helgason, Sui P Heon, Kevin A Hughes, Edmund R Hunt, Daniel J. Ingram, George Jackson-Mills, Kelly Jowett, Timothy H Keitt, Laura N Kloepper, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, Jim Labisko, Frédéric Labrosse, Jenna Lawson, Nicolas Lecomte, Ricardo F. de Lima, Nick A. Littlewood, Harry H Marshall, Giovanni L Masala, Lindsay C Maskell, Eleni Matechou, Barbara Mazzolai, Alistair McConnell, Brett A Melbourne, Aslan Miriyev, Eric Djomo Nana, Alessandro Ossola, Sarah Papworth, Catherine L Parr, Ana Payo-Payo, Gad Perry, Nathalie Pettorelli, Rajeev Pillay, Simon G. Potts, Miranda T Prendergast-Miller, Lan Qie, Persie Rolley-Parnell, Stephen J. Rossiter, Marcus Rowcliffe, Heather Rumble, Jon P Sadler, Christopher J. Sandom, Asiem Sanyal, Franziska Schrodt, Sarab S Sethi, Adi Shabrani, Robert Siddall, Simón C Smith, Robbert P H Snep, C.D. Soulsbury, Margaret C Stanley, Philip A Stephens, P J Stephenson, Matthew J. Struebig, Matthew Studley, Martin Svátek, Gilbert Tang, Nicholas K Taylor, Kate D L Umbers, Robert J Ward, Patrick J.C. White, M.J. Whittingham, Serge Wich, Christopher D. Williams, Ibrahim B Yakubu, Natalie Yoh, Syed A R Zaidi, Anna Zmarz, Joeri A Zwerts, Zoe Georgina Davies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

With biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step-change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic andAUtonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may significantly advance terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, but this potential is yet to be considered systematically. We used a modified Delphi technique to synthesise knowledge from 98 biodiversity and 31 RAS experts who identified the major methodological barriers that currently hinder monitoring, and explored the opportunities and challenges that RAS offer to overcome these barriers. Biodiversity experts identified four barrier categories: site access, species/individual identification, data handling/storage and power/network availability. Robotics experts highlighted technologies that could overcome these barriers and identified the developments needed to facilitate RAS-basedAUtonomous biodiversity monitoring. Some existing RAS could be optimised relatively easily to survey species, but would require development to monitor more ‘difficult’ taxa and be robust enough to work in uncontrolled conditions within ecosystems. Other nascent technologies (e.g., novel sensors, biodegradable robots) need accelerated research. Overall, it was felt that RAS could lead to major progress in monitoring terrestrial biodiversity by supplementing, rather than supplanting, existing methods. Transdisciplinarity needs to be fostered between biodiversity and RAS experts, so future ideas and technologies can be co-developed effectively.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature Ecology & Evolution
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9
Publication status	Published - 22 May 2025

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10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9Licence: CC BY

Monkey see, monkey do… what? Contrasting theories of animal responses to humans
Papworth, S. (PI)
Leverhulme Trust
18/09/23 → 17/01/27
Project: Research

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Pringle, S., Dallimer, M., Goddard, M. A., Le Goff, L. K., Hart, E., Langdale, S. J., Fisher, J. C., Abad, S.-A., Ancrenaz, M., Angeoletto, F., Cheein, F. A., Austen, G. E., Bailey, J. J., Baldock, K. C. R., Banin, L. F., Banks-Leite, C., Barau, A. S., Bashyal, R., Bates, A. J., ... Davies, Z. G. (2025). Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

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title = "Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age",

abstract = "With biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step-change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic andAUtonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may significantly advance terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, but this potential is yet to be considered systematically. We used a modified Delphi technique to synthesise knowledge from 98 biodiversity and 31 RAS experts who identified the major methodological barriers that currently hinder monitoring, and explored the opportunities and challenges that RAS offer to overcome these barriers. Biodiversity experts identified four barrier categories: site access, species/individual identification, data handling/storage and power/network availability. Robotics experts highlighted technologies that could overcome these barriers and identified the developments needed to facilitate RAS-basedAUtonomous biodiversity monitoring. Some existing RAS could be optimised relatively easily to survey species, but would require development to monitor more {\textquoteleft}difficult{\textquoteright} taxa and be robust enough to work in uncontrolled conditions within ecosystems. Other nascent technologies (e.g., novel sensors, biodegradable robots) need accelerated research. Overall, it was felt that RAS could lead to major progress in monitoring terrestrial biodiversity by supplementing, rather than supplanting, existing methods. Transdisciplinarity needs to be fostered between biodiversity and RAS experts, so future ideas and technologies can be co-developed effectively.",

author = "Stephen Pringle and Martin Dallimer and Goddard, {Mark A} and {Le Goff}, {Leni K} and Emma Hart and Langdale, {Simon J} and Fisher, {Jessica C} and Sara-Adela Abad and Marc Ancrenaz and Fabio Angeoletto and Cheein, {Fernando Auat} and Austen, {Gail E} and Bailey, {Joseph J} and Baldock, {Katherine C. R.} and Banin, {Lindsay F} and Cristina Banks-Leite and Barau, {Aliyu S} and Reshu Bashyal and Bates, {Adam J.} and Bicknell, {Jake E.} and Jon Bielby and Petra Bosilj and Bush, {Emma R} and Butler, {Simon J} and Dan Carpenter and Clements, {Christopher F} and Antoine Cully and Davies, {Kendi F} and Deere, {Nicolas J} and Michael Dodd and Rosie Drinkwater and Driscoll, {Don A} and Guillaume Dutilleux and Mads Dyrmann and Edwards, {David P} and Farhadinia, {Mohammad S} and Aisyah Faruk and Richard Field and Fletcher, {Robert J} and Foster, {Chris W} and Richard Fox and Francksen, {Richard M} and Franco, {Aldina M A} and Gainsbury, {Alison M} and Gardner, {Charlie J} and Ioanna Giorgi and Griffiths, {Richard A} and Salua Hamaza and Marc Hanheide and Hayward, {Matt W} and Marcus Hedblom and Thorunn Helgason and Heon, {Sui P} and Hughes, {Kevin A} and Hunt, {Edmund R} and Ingram, {Daniel J.} and George Jackson-Mills and Kelly Jowett and Keitt, {Timothy H} and Kloepper, {Laura N} and Stephanie Kramer-Schadt and Jim Labisko and Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Labrosse and Jenna Lawson and Nicolas Lecomte and {de Lima}, {Ricardo F.} and Littlewood, {Nick A.} and Marshall, {Harry H} and Masala, {Giovanni L} and Maskell, {Lindsay C} and Eleni Matechou and Barbara Mazzolai and Alistair McConnell and Melbourne, {Brett A} and Aslan Miriyev and Nana, {Eric Djomo} and Alessandro Ossola and Sarah Papworth and Parr, {Catherine L} and Ana Payo-Payo and Gad Perry and Nathalie Pettorelli and Rajeev Pillay and Potts, {Simon G.} and Prendergast-Miller, {Miranda T} and Lan Qie and Persie Rolley-Parnell and Rossiter, {Stephen J.} and Marcus Rowcliffe and Heather Rumble and Sadler, {Jon P} and Sandom, {Christopher J.} and Asiem Sanyal and Franziska Schrodt and Sethi, {Sarab S} and Adi Shabrani and Robert Siddall and Smith, {Sim{\'o}n C} and Snep, {Robbert P H} and C.D. Soulsbury and Stanley, {Margaret C} and Stephens, {Philip A} and Stephenson, {P J} and Struebig, {Matthew J.} and Matthew Studley and Martin Sv{\'a}tek and Gilbert Tang and Taylor, {Nicholas K} and Umbers, {Kate D L} and Ward, {Robert J} and White, {Patrick J.C.} and M.J. Whittingham and Serge Wich and Williams, {Christopher D.} and Yakubu, {Ibrahim B} and Natalie Yoh and Zaidi, {Syed A R} and Anna Zmarz and Zwerts, {Joeri A} and Davies, {Zoe Georgina}",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9",

language = "English",

journal = "Nature Ecology & Evolution",

issn = "2397-334X",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

Pringle, S, Dallimer, M, Goddard, MA, Le Goff, LK, Hart, E, Langdale, SJ, Fisher, JC, Abad, S-A, Ancrenaz, M, Angeoletto, F, Cheein, FA, Austen, GE, Bailey, JJ, Baldock, KCR, Banin, LF, Banks-Leite, C, Barau, AS, Bashyal, R, Bates, AJ, Bicknell, JE, Bielby, J, Bosilj, P, Bush, ER, Butler, SJ, Carpenter, D, Clements, CF, Cully, A, Davies, KF, Deere, NJ, Dodd, M, Drinkwater, R, Driscoll, DA, Dutilleux, G, Dyrmann, M, Edwards, DP, Farhadinia, MS, Faruk, A, Field, R, Fletcher, RJ, Foster, CW, Fox, R, Francksen, RM, Franco, AMA, Gainsbury, AM, Gardner, CJ, Giorgi, I, Griffiths, RA, Hamaza, S, Hanheide, M, Hayward, MW, Hedblom, M, Helgason, T, Heon, SP, Hughes, KA, Hunt, ER, Ingram, DJ, Jackson-Mills, G, Jowett, K, Keitt, TH, Kloepper, LN, Kramer-Schadt, S, Labisko, J, Labrosse, F, Lawson, J, Lecomte, N, de Lima, RF, Littlewood, NA, Marshall, HH, Masala, GL, Maskell, LC, Matechou, E, Mazzolai, B, McConnell, A, Melbourne, BA, Miriyev, A, Nana, ED, Ossola, A, Papworth, S, Parr, CL, Payo-Payo, A, Perry, G, Pettorelli, N, Pillay, R, Potts, SG, Prendergast-Miller, MT, Qie, L, Rolley-Parnell, P, Rossiter, SJ, Rowcliffe, M, Rumble, H, Sadler, JP, Sandom, CJ, Sanyal, A, Schrodt, F, Sethi, SS, Shabrani, A, Siddall, R, Smith, SC, Snep, RPH, Soulsbury, CD, Stanley, MC, Stephens, PA, Stephenson, PJ, Struebig, MJ, Studley, M, Svátek, M, Tang, G, Taylor, NK, Umbers, KDL, Ward, RJ, White, PJC, Whittingham, MJ, Wich, S, Williams, CD, Yakubu, IB, Yoh, N, Zaidi, SAR, Zmarz, A, Zwerts, JA & Davies, ZG 2025, 'Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age', Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age

AU - Pringle, Stephen

AU - Dallimer, Martin

AU - Goddard, Mark A

AU - Le Goff, Leni K

AU - Hart, Emma

AU - Langdale, Simon J

AU - Fisher, Jessica C

AU - Abad, Sara-Adela

AU - Ancrenaz, Marc

AU - Angeoletto, Fabio

AU - Cheein, Fernando Auat

AU - Austen, Gail E

AU - Bailey, Joseph J

AU - Baldock, Katherine C. R.

AU - Banin, Lindsay F

AU - Banks-Leite, Cristina

AU - Barau, Aliyu S

AU - Bashyal, Reshu

AU - Bates, Adam J.

AU - Bicknell, Jake E.

AU - Bielby, Jon

AU - Bosilj, Petra

AU - Bush, Emma R

AU - Butler, Simon J

AU - Carpenter, Dan

AU - Clements, Christopher F

AU - Cully, Antoine

AU - Davies, Kendi F

AU - Deere, Nicolas J

AU - Dodd, Michael

AU - Drinkwater, Rosie

AU - Driscoll, Don A

AU - Dutilleux, Guillaume

AU - Dyrmann, Mads

AU - Edwards, David P

AU - Farhadinia, Mohammad S

AU - Faruk, Aisyah

AU - Field, Richard

AU - Fletcher, Robert J

AU - Foster, Chris W

AU - Fox, Richard

AU - Francksen, Richard M

AU - Franco, Aldina M A

AU - Gainsbury, Alison M

AU - Gardner, Charlie J

AU - Giorgi, Ioanna

AU - Griffiths, Richard A

AU - Hamaza, Salua

AU - Hanheide, Marc

AU - Hayward, Matt W

AU - Hedblom, Marcus

AU - Helgason, Thorunn

AU - Heon, Sui P

AU - Hughes, Kevin A

AU - Hunt, Edmund R

AU - Ingram, Daniel J.

AU - Jackson-Mills, George

AU - Jowett, Kelly

AU - Keitt, Timothy H

AU - Kloepper, Laura N

AU - Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie

AU - Labisko, Jim

AU - Labrosse, Frédéric

AU - Lawson, Jenna

AU - Lecomte, Nicolas

AU - de Lima, Ricardo F.

AU - Littlewood, Nick A.

AU - Marshall, Harry H

AU - Masala, Giovanni L

AU - Maskell, Lindsay C

AU - Matechou, Eleni

AU - Mazzolai, Barbara

AU - McConnell, Alistair

AU - Melbourne, Brett A

AU - Miriyev, Aslan

AU - Nana, Eric Djomo

AU - Ossola, Alessandro

AU - Papworth, Sarah

AU - Parr, Catherine L

AU - Payo-Payo, Ana

AU - Perry, Gad

AU - Pettorelli, Nathalie

AU - Pillay, Rajeev

AU - Potts, Simon G.

AU - Prendergast-Miller, Miranda T

AU - Qie, Lan

AU - Rolley-Parnell, Persie

AU - Rossiter, Stephen J.

AU - Rowcliffe, Marcus

AU - Rumble, Heather

AU - Sadler, Jon P

AU - Sandom, Christopher J.

AU - Sanyal, Asiem

AU - Schrodt, Franziska

AU - Sethi, Sarab S

AU - Shabrani, Adi

AU - Siddall, Robert

AU - Smith, Simón C

AU - Snep, Robbert P H

AU - Soulsbury, C.D.

AU - Stanley, Margaret C

AU - Stephens, Philip A

AU - Stephenson, P J

AU - Struebig, Matthew J.

AU - Studley, Matthew

AU - Svátek, Martin

AU - Tang, Gilbert

AU - Taylor, Nicholas K

AU - Umbers, Kate D L

AU - Ward, Robert J

AU - White, Patrick J.C.

AU - Whittingham, M.J.

AU - Wich, Serge

AU - Williams, Christopher D.

AU - Yakubu, Ibrahim B

AU - Yoh, Natalie

AU - Zaidi, Syed A R

AU - Zmarz, Anna

AU - Zwerts, Joeri A

AU - Davies, Zoe Georgina

PY - 2025/5/22

Y1 - 2025/5/22

N2 - With biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step-change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic andAUtonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may significantly advance terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, but this potential is yet to be considered systematically. We used a modified Delphi technique to synthesise knowledge from 98 biodiversity and 31 RAS experts who identified the major methodological barriers that currently hinder monitoring, and explored the opportunities and challenges that RAS offer to overcome these barriers. Biodiversity experts identified four barrier categories: site access, species/individual identification, data handling/storage and power/network availability. Robotics experts highlighted technologies that could overcome these barriers and identified the developments needed to facilitate RAS-basedAUtonomous biodiversity monitoring. Some existing RAS could be optimised relatively easily to survey species, but would require development to monitor more ‘difficult’ taxa and be robust enough to work in uncontrolled conditions within ecosystems. Other nascent technologies (e.g., novel sensors, biodegradable robots) need accelerated research. Overall, it was felt that RAS could lead to major progress in monitoring terrestrial biodiversity by supplementing, rather than supplanting, existing methods. Transdisciplinarity needs to be fostered between biodiversity and RAS experts, so future ideas and technologies can be co-developed effectively.

AB - With biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step-change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic andAUtonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may significantly advance terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, but this potential is yet to be considered systematically. We used a modified Delphi technique to synthesise knowledge from 98 biodiversity and 31 RAS experts who identified the major methodological barriers that currently hinder monitoring, and explored the opportunities and challenges that RAS offer to overcome these barriers. Biodiversity experts identified four barrier categories: site access, species/individual identification, data handling/storage and power/network availability. Robotics experts highlighted technologies that could overcome these barriers and identified the developments needed to facilitate RAS-basedAUtonomous biodiversity monitoring. Some existing RAS could be optimised relatively easily to survey species, but would require development to monitor more ‘difficult’ taxa and be robust enough to work in uncontrolled conditions within ecosystems. Other nascent technologies (e.g., novel sensors, biodegradable robots) need accelerated research. Overall, it was felt that RAS could lead to major progress in monitoring terrestrial biodiversity by supplementing, rather than supplanting, existing methods. Transdisciplinarity needs to be fostered between biodiversity and RAS experts, so future ideas and technologies can be co-developed effectively.

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

DO - 10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

M3 - Article

SN - 2397-334X

JO - Nature Ecology & Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology & Evolution

ER -

Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age

Abstract

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Monkey see, monkey do… what? Contrasting theories of animal responses to humans

Cite this