Nature connectedness is an important lever for the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors, and therefore represents a significant topic for biodiversity conservation, given the growing disconnect between humans and nature. One of the promising ways to trigger or foster a connection to the environment is the engagement with nature's beauty. Indeed, the aesthetic perception of nature is a fundamental part of the human-nature relationships that involves affective and emotional dimensions. Although engagement with nature's beauty has been well studied in the context of direct experiences of nature, little research has been conducted on indirect exposures to nature through art. However, art representing biodiversity, and its issues as a relevant way to raise nature connectedness, requires to be further explored.

As a first step, this study aims to assess the effect of viewing naturalist artworks on nature connectedness, using eye-tracking methodology. By combining psychology of aesthetics and environmental psychology, the objective is to provide evidence of the fundamental link between aesthetic experience and nature experience, and therefore of the relevance of art as a genuine nature aesthetic experience. This perspective is of particular for marine ecosystems, given that they are not easily accessible for most people. Therefore, our study assess visual perception by measuring eyes movements during the observation of naturalist paintings, and compare the results obtained according to the strength and nature of the relationship with the marine biodiversity of the subjects. Saccades and fixations of the gaze, measured by eye-tracking, are used to reveal areas of interest that attract the observer's attention. The sample of participants (n=150) is to have subjects with high variability in the nature and degree of connection to marine environments and to art reception in general. We thus recruited participants practicing fishing, scuba diving, or having an artistic practice and regular exposure to the fine arts.

We are convinced that this subject is of particular and innovative interest for conservation biology, because it integrates new ways of modulating the relationship of individuals with nature at the border of art and science, and therefore their motivation to conserve it.