The role of behavior in responses to anthropogenic changes

Abstract Environmental changes driven by human activities are exposing organisms to novel and increasingly variable selective pressures. Among many possible responses, behavior stands out as rapid and often reversible mechanisms by which individuals adjust to altered conditions. By shaping how organisms interact with their environments, behaviors can influence exposure to challenges, mediate interactions with other components of the phenotype, such as physiology, morphology, or life history, and ultimately affect ecological and evolutionary outcomes. Despite their potential importance, behavioral responses to anthropogenic change are not as well integrated across systems and disciplines. Here, we synthesize current research drawn from discussions at a symposium focused on the role behavior plays in confronting a rapidly changing world. We integrate insights across taxa and across major forms of human-driven environmental change, including sensory pollution, urbanization, wildfire, habitat modification, and climate change. Across contexts, we examine how behaviors interact with physiology, life history, ecology, and evolution, emphasizing the need to understand behavior as part of a dynamic and interconnected system in which plastic responses can buffer, redirect, or amplify the effects of environmental change. We identify common themes in how behaviors respond to different anthropogenic challenges, as well as key differences related to ecological context or biological constraint. We also highlight persistent gaps in knowledge, particularly regarding when behavioral flexibility is sufficient to mitigate environmental challenges, how behaviors interact with other traits over different timescales, and when behavioral flexibility may constrain or facilitate evolutionary responses. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying priorities for future research, we advance an integrative approach to understanding the role of behavior in anthropogenic change. In doing so, we aim to promote cross-system comparisons and collaboration, while also clarifying the conditions under which behavioral plasticity plays a critical role in shaping organismal resilience in an increasingly human-altered world.