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Lucks V, Theine J, Arteaga Avendaño MP, Engelmann J. A framework for a low-cost system of automated gate control in assays of spatial cognition in fishes. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39415602 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Automation of experimental setups is a promising direction in behavioral research because it can facilitate the acquisition of data while increasing its repeatability and reliability. For example, research in spatial cognition can benefit from automated control by systematic manipulation of sensory cues and more efficient execution of training procedures. However, commercial solutions are often costly, restricted to specific platforms, and mainly focused on the automation of data acquisition, stimulus presentation, and reward delivery. Animal welfare considerations as well as experimental demands may require automating the access of an animal or animals to the experimental arena. Here, we provide and test a low-cost, versatile Raspberry Pi-based solution for such use cases. We provide four application scenarios of varying complexities, based on our research of spatial orientation and navigation in weakly electric fish, with step-by-step protocols for the control of gates in the experimental setups. This easy-to-implement, platform-independent approach can be adapted to various experimental needs, including closed-loop as well as field experiments. As such, it can contribute to the optimization and standardization of experiments in a variety of species, thereby enhancing the comparability of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Lucks
- Active Sensing, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jens Theine
- Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Faculty of Biology & Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Jacob Engelmann
- Active Sensing, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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2
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Groffen J, Hoskin CJ. A portable Raspberry Pi-based camera set-up to record behaviours of frogs and other small animals under artificial or natural shelters in remote locations. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10877. [PMID: 38500857 PMCID: PMC10945077 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable, robust and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark places and can continuously record up to 21 days (504 h). We also describe how to make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the great strengths of this shelter/camera set-up is that the animals choose to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras could be used to film a range of behaviours in not only many small cryptic amphibian species but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordy Groffen
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Conrad J. Hoskin
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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Ratajc U, Lourenço R, Espín S, Virosta PS, Birrer S, Studler D, Wernham C, Vrezec A. The importance of population contextual data for large-scale biomonitoring using an apex predator: The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160530. [PMID: 36574555 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Top predators are often used as sentinel species in contaminant monitoring due to their exposure and vulnerability to persistent, bioaccumulative and, in some cases, biomagnificable contaminants. Some of their ecological traits can vary in space and time, and are known to influence the contamination levels and therefore information on ecological traits should be used as contextual data for correct interpretation of large-scale contaminant spatial patterns. These traits can explain spatiotemporal variation in contaminant exposure (traits such as diet and dispersal distances) or contaminant impacts (traits such as population trend and clutch size). The aim of our research was to review the spatial variation in selected contextual parameters in the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), a species identified by the COST Action European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility as one of the most suitable candidates for pan-European biomonitoring. A considerable variation in availability of published and unpublished contextual data across Europe was found, with diet being the most extensively studied trait. We demonstrate that the Tawny Owl is a suitable biomonitor at local scale but also that taking spatial variation of other contextual data (e.g. diet) into account is necessary. We found spatial gaps in knowledge about the species ecology and biology in Southern Europe, along with gaps in certain population parameters (e.g. population trends) in several countries. Based on our findings, we proposed a minimal recommended scheme for monitoring of population contextual data as one of the first steps towards a pan-European monitoring scheme using the Tawny Owl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urška Ratajc
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Rui Lourenço
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE Global Change and Sustainability Institute LabOr Laboratory of Ornithology, IIFA, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Silvia Espín
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Sánchez Virosta
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Birrer
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | | | - Chris Wernham
- British Trust for Ornithology (Scotland), Unit 15 Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF, Scotland, UK
| | - Al Vrezec
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Slovenian Museum of Natural History, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Dupray S, Blatrix R, Roy LJ, Soulié A, Dadu L, Degueldre D, Sleeckx N, Bicout DJ, Roy L. Population dynamics of a poultry hematophagous mite: characterization of the population growth and identification of factors of its slowdown using closed mesocosms. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:4151-4165. [PMID: 35674477 PMCID: PMC9546284 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A thorough knowledge of the population dynamics of pests and of the main factors affecting population growth is an important prerequisite for the development of effective control strategies. Failures of various treatments aimed at regulating populations of Dermanyssus gallinae are regularly reported in poultry farms and pullulations occur very quickly after first detection. To finely characterize population dynamics of D. gallinae, and to identify the factors modulating population growth, we conducted two successive multi-generation experiments using closed mesocosms equipped with or without automatic counters and housing a host full- or part-time (three nights per week). RESULTS Population growth was very rapid and the adult to juvenile ratio very different from the prediction by a mathematical model. A male-biased sex ratio was observed in some mesocosms from 21 days and in most mesocosms from 35 days of population growth originating from an inoculum of adult females. A dramatic slowdown in growth was measured in mesocosms equipped with trackers, where the mites' path to the host was constrained. The slowdown in population growth induced by the intermittent presence of the host compared to its full-time presence was much less marked. CONCLUSION These findings suggest avenues of research for new management methods. They question the relevance of a critical threshold based on traditional trap monitoring to manage D. gallinae. Our results highlight a unique characteristic of D. gallinae that makes it a recalcitrant case to threshold-based practices recommended for integrated pest management (IPM) against other arthropod pests. The dramatic effect of a physical constraint for the mite to access the host (unnatural constrained path) confirms an observation made in 1917 and is a reason to design perches that are less conducive to parasite traffic. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Dupray
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
| | - Rumsais Blatrix
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
| | | | - Anne‐Sophie Soulié
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
| | - Liza Dadu
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
| | - David Degueldre
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
| | | | - Dominique J Bicout
- Translational Innovation in Medicine and Complexity (TIMC, Grenoble Alpes University, VetAgro SupMarcy l'EtoileFrance
| | - Lise Roy
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
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Surmacki A, Podkowa P. The use of trail cameras to monitor species inhabiting artificial nest boxes. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8550. [PMID: 35154649 PMCID: PMC8820111 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial boxes are commonly used in studies of cavity-dwelling animals of various taxa. One advantage of nest boxes is that cameras can be used to monitor animals inside the cavity, however, most cameras used today have to be built de novo or modified or are expensive.Here, we describe a method for monitoring nest boxes using off-the-shelf models of trail cameras that can record photographs and videos in daylight and darkness (TCM; Trail Camera Method). The cameras can record sequentially within a given time lapse or an infra-red motion sensor can be triggered by activity in the nest box.Using TCM in a Great Tit (Parus major) nest box population, we studied the hourly pattern of the first egg laying and the first egg hatching. We found that Great Tits laid eggs within 2 h of the sunrise while the timing of hatching spanned the 24-h day. Moreover, we found that the hour of hatching affects the nestlings' mass on the 2nd day of life, but not on the 12th day of life.Comparing to traditional nest box checks, TMC requires about 75% less time to obtain data on the timing of egg laying and hatching. Moreover, the hour estimation error was several orders of magnitude greater with the traditional method.Our data demonstrate that commercially available trail cameras are an affordable and convenient method of monitoring artificial cavities. Trail cameras are small, standalone, weather-proof devices with integrated powering, memory storage, lighting, and recording systems. They could be easily swapped between boxes or removed. After small modifications of the box, they could be used to monitor a wide variety of behaviors of many animal taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Surmacki
- Department of Avian Biology and EcologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznańPoland
| | - Paweł Podkowa
- Department of Avian Biology and EcologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznańPoland
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Hereward HFR, Facey RJ, Sargent AJ, Roda S, Couldwell ML, Renshaw EL, Shaw KH, Devlin JJ, Long SE, Porter BJ, Henderson JM, Emmett CL, Astbury L, Maggs L, Rands SA, Thomas RJ. Raspberry Pi nest cameras: An affordable tool for remote behavioral and conservation monitoring of bird nests. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14585-14597. [PMID: 34765127 PMCID: PMC8571635 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Bespoke (custom-built) Raspberry Pi cameras are increasingly popular research tools in the fields of behavioral ecology and conservation, because of their comparative flexibility in programmable settings, ability to be paired with other sensors, and because they are typically cheaper than commercially built models.Here, we describe a novel, Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is fully portable and yet weatherproof-especially to humidity and salt spray. The camera was paired with a passive infrared sensor, to create a movement-triggered camera capable of recording videos over a 24-hr period. We describe an example deployment involving "retro-fitting" these cameras into artificial nest boxes on Praia Islet, Azores archipelago, Portugal, to monitor the behaviors and interspecific interactions of two sympatric species of storm-petrel (Monteiro's storm-petrel Hydrobates monteiroi and Madeiran storm-petrel Hydrobates castro) during their respective breeding seasons.Of the 138 deployments, 70% of all deployments were deemed to be "Successful" (Successful was defined as continuous footage being recorded for more than one hour without an interruption), which equated to 87% of the individual 30-s videos. The bespoke cameras proved to be easily portable between 54 different nests and reasonably weatherproof (~14% of deployments classed as "Partial" or "Failure" deployments were specifically due to the weather/humidity), and we make further trouble-shooting suggestions to mitigate additional weather-related failures.Here, we have shown that this system is fully portable and capable of coping with salt spray and humidity, and consequently, the camera-build methods and scripts could be applied easily to many different species that also utilize cavities, burrows, and artificial nests, and can potentially be adapted for other wildlife monitoring situations to provide novel insights into species-specific daily cycles of behaviors and interspecies interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alyssa J. Sargent
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Department of BiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Sara Roda
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- A Rocha, CruzhinaAlvorPortugal
| | - Matthew L. Couldwell
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Gypseywood CottageYorkUK
| | | | - Katie H. Shaw
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- University of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Jack J. Devlin
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- University of KentuckyLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Sarah E. Long
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Ben J. Porter
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Tan y GarnRhiwUK
| | | | - Christa L. Emmett
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Department of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
| | - Laura Astbury
- Cardiff School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Sean A. Rands
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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