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D'Agostino VC, Nocera AC, Abernathy K, Wilson AM, Coscarella MA, Degrati M. Foraging dives of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in relation to larger zooplankton size prey availability in Golfo Nuevo, Península Valdés, Argentina. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14211. [PMID: 38902303 PMCID: PMC11190224 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63879-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Southern right whales (SRWs, Eubalaena australis) have been observed feeding both at and below the surface (< 10 m) in Golfo Nuevo (42°42' S, 64°30' W), Península Valdés, Argentina, an area traditionally recognized as calving ground. In addition, we documented diving feeding behavior in SRWs during their stay in this gulf, which has not been previously described. We assessed this behavior using suction-cup-attached video-imaging tags (CRITTERCAMs) on individual whales. A total of eight CRITTERCAM deployments were successful, and feeding events were documented in all SRWs successfully equipped with CRITTERCAMs. The highest speeds occurred during the ascent phase, and the average diving time was 6 min 45 s ± 3 min 41 s for SRWs. Concurrently, zooplankton samples were collected from the subsurface and bottom of the water in areas where tagged whales dived to assess differences in composition, abundance, and biomass. Copepods dominated the upper layer, while euphausiids were more abundant in the deeper sample. Furthermore, zooplankton total biomass was five times higher at depth (2515.93 mg/m3) compared to the subsurface (500.35 mg/m3). Differences in zooplankton characteristics between depths, combined with CRITTERCAM videos, indicated that SRWs exploit high concentrations of organisms near the seafloor during daytime feeding dives. This study provides baseline insights into how SRWs utilize Península Valdés during their stay in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria C D'Agostino
- Laboratorio de Mamíferos Marinos, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CENPAT, CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Ariadna C Nocera
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CENPAT, CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Kyler Abernathy
- National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab, Washington, DC, 20036, USA
| | - Alex Muñoz Wilson
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, USA
| | - Mariano A Coscarella
- Laboratorio de Mamíferos Marinos, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CENPAT, CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San Juan Bosco, Blvd. Brown 3150, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Mariana Degrati
- Laboratorio de Mamíferos Marinos, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CCT CENPAT, CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2915, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San Juan Bosco, Blvd. Brown 3150, U9120ACV, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
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2
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Parsons IL, Karisch BB, Stone AE, Webb SL, Norman DA, Street GM. Machine Learning Methods and Visual Observations to Categorize Behavior of Grazing Cattle Using Accelerometer Signals. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:3171. [PMID: 38794023 PMCID: PMC11124846 DOI: 10.3390/s24103171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Accelerometers worn by animals produce distinct behavioral signatures, which can be classified accurately using machine learning methods such as random forest decision trees. The objective of this study was to identify accelerometer signal separation among parsimonious behaviors. We achieved this objective by (1) describing functional differences in accelerometer signals among discrete behaviors, (2) identifying the optimal window size for signal pre-processing, and (3) demonstrating the number of observations required to achieve the desired level of model accuracy,. Crossbred steers (Bos taurus indicus; n = 10) were fitted with GPS collars containing a video camera and tri-axial accelerometers (read-rate = 40 Hz). Distinct behaviors from accelerometer signals, particularly for grazing, were apparent because of the head-down posture. Increasing the smoothing window size to 10 s improved classification accuracy (p < 0.05), but reducing the number of observations below 50% resulted in a decrease in accuracy for all behaviors (p < 0.05). In-pasture observation increased accuracy and precision (0.05 and 0.08 percent, respectively) compared with animal-borne collar video observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira Lloyd Parsons
- Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (D.A.N.); (G.M.S.)
- West River Research and Extension Center, Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD 57703, USA
| | - Brandi B. Karisch
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (B.B.K.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Amanda E. Stone
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (B.B.K.); (A.E.S.)
| | - Stephen L. Webb
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Durham A. Norman
- Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (D.A.N.); (G.M.S.)
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (D.A.N.); (G.M.S.)
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3
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Mullaney CM, Seminoff JA, Lemons GE, Chesney B, Maurer AS. The urban lives of green sea turtles: Insights into behavior in an industrialized habitat using an animal-borne camera. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11282. [PMID: 38665891 PMCID: PMC11044005 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The cryptic and aquatic life histories of sea turtles have made them a challenging group to directly observe, leaving significant knowledge gaps regarding social behavior and fine-scale elements of habitat use. Using a custom-designed animal-borne camera, we observed previously undocumented behaviors by green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at a foraging area in San Diego Bay, a highly urbanized ecosystem in California, USA. We deployed a suction-cup-attached pop-off camera (manufactured by Customized Animal Tracking Solutions) on 11 turtles (mean straight carapace length = 84.0 ± 11.2 cm) for between 1 and 30.8 h. Video recordings, limited to sunlit hours, provided 73 h of total observation time between May 2022 and June 2023. We observed 32 conspecific interactions; we classified 18 as active, entailing clear social behaviors, as compared with 14 passive interactions representing brief, chance encounters. There was no evidence for agonistic interactions. The camera additionally revealed that green turtles consistently use metal structures within urban San Diego Bay. In seven instances, turtles exhibited rubbing behavior against metal structures, and we observed two examples of turtles congregating at these structures. High rates of intraspecific interaction exhibited relatively consistently among individuals provide a compelling case for sociality for green turtles in San Diego Bay, adding to a growing research base updating their historical label of "non-social." The frequent use of metal structures by the population, in particular the rubbing of exposed skin, has implications for behavioral adaptations to urban environments. Our study exemplifies the promise of technological advances (e.g., underwater and animal-borne cameras) for updating natural history paradigms, even for well-studied populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron M. Mullaney
- University of CaliforniaSan Diego, La JollaCaliforniaUSA
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science CenterLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | | | - Andrew S. Maurer
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science CenterLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- National Research CouncilWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
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4
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Tanigaki K, Otsuka R, Li A, Hatano Y, Wei Y, Koyama S, Yoda K, Maekawa T. Automatic recording of rare behaviors of wild animals using video bio-loggers with on-board light-weight outlier detector. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgad447. [PMID: 38229952 PMCID: PMC10791039 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Rare behaviors displayed by wild animals can generate new hypotheses; however, observing such behaviors may be challenging. While recent technological advancements, such as bio-loggers, may assist in documenting rare behaviors, the limited running time of battery-powered bio-loggers is insufficient to record rare behaviors when employing high-cost sensors (e.g. video cameras). In this study, we propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled bio-logger that automatically detects outlier readings from always-on low-cost sensors, e.g. accelerometers, indicative of rare behaviors in target animals, without supervision by researchers, subsequently activating high-cost sensors to record only these behaviors. We implemented an on-board outlier detector via knowledge distillation by building a lightweight outlier classifier supervised by a high-cost outlier behavior detector trained in an unsupervised manner. The efficacy of AI bio-loggers has been demonstrated on seabirds, where videos and sensor data captured by the bio-loggers have enabled the identification of some rare behaviors, facilitating analyses of their frequency, and potential factors underlying these behaviors. This approach offers a means of documenting previously overlooked rare behaviors, augmenting our understanding of animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Tanigaki
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryoma Otsuka
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan
| | - Aiyi Li
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan
| | - Yota Hatano
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 560-8531 Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuanzhou Wei
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan
| | - Shiho Koyama
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601 Aichi, Japan
| | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601 Aichi, Japan
| | - Takuya Maekawa
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan
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Tezuka S, Tanaka M, Naganuma T, Tochigi K, Inagaki A, Myojo H, Yamazaki K, Allen ML, Koike S. Comparing information derived on food habits of a terrestrial carnivore between animal-borne video systems and fecal analyses methods. J Mammal 2023; 104:184-193. [PMID: 36876239 PMCID: PMC9976756 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac101] [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: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, animal-borne video cameras have been used to identify the food habits of many species. However, the usefulness and difficulties of identifying food habits from animal-borne video cameras have not been sufficiently discussed in terrestrial mammals, especially large omnivores. The aim of this study is to compare the video analysis of foraging behavior by Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) acquired by camera collars with estimates from fecal analysis. We attached GPS collars equipped with video cameras to four adult Asian black bears in the Okutama mountains in central Japan from May to July 2018 and analyzed video clips for foraging behavior. Simultaneously, we collected bear feces in the same area to determine food habits. We found that using video analyses was advantageous to recognize foods, such as leaves or mammals, that were physically crushed or destroyed while bears chewed and digested foods, which are difficult to identify to species using fecal analyses. On the other hand, we found that camera collars are less likely to record food items that are infrequently or quickly ingested. Additionally, food items with a low frequency of occurrence and short foraging time per feeding were less likely to be detected when we increased the time between recorded clips. As one of the first applications of the video analysis method for bears, our study shows that video analysis can be an important method for revealing individual differences in diet. Although video analysis may have limitations for understanding the general foraging behavior of Asian black bears at the present stage, the accuracy of food habit data from camera collars can be improved by using it in combination with established techniques such as microscale behavior analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Tezuka
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Mii Tanaka
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tomoko Naganuma
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kahoko Tochigi
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Akino Inagaki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Myojo
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Maximilian L Allen
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 61820, USA
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6
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Siegfried TR, Reimer J, Roberto E, Noren C, Vidal A, Dixon K, DuBois M, Piacenza SE. Size-Mediated Sea Turtle Behavioral Responses at Artificial Habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010114. [PMID: 36611724 PMCID: PMC9817786 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of size-specific sea turtle behavior has lagged due to methodological limitations. However, stereo-video cameras (SVC) are an in-water approach that can link body-size and allow for relatively undisturbed behavioral observations. In this study, we conducted SVC dive surveys at local artificial reefs, piers, and jetties in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) from May 2019 to August 2021. Using SVCs, we measured sea turtle straight carapace length, documented behaviors, and quantified wariness by assessing minimum approach distance (MAD). In green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), the observed MAD ranged from 0.72 to 5.99 m (mean 2.10 m ± 1.10 standard deviation (SD), n = 73). For loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), the MAD ranged between 0.93 and 3.80 m (mean 2.12 m ± 0.99 SD, n = 16). Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) were similar to loggerheads, and MAD ranged from 0.78 to 3.63 m (mean 2.35 m ± 0.99 SD, n = 8). We then evaluated what biological factors could impact the MAD observed by species, but we excluded Kemp's ridleys as the sample size was small. Using a linear mixed model and model selection based on AICc, the top ranked model for both green and loggerhead sea turtles included SCL as the most important factor influencing MAD. MAD did not vary with habitat type for either species. Our results showed that larger individuals, regardless of species, have a greater wariness response, becoming startled at greater distances than smaller individuals. The findings of our study support the use of SVC as an accessible, non-invasive tool to conduct ecologically relevant in-water surveys of sea turtles to link behavioral observations to body size.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jackson Reimer
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Emma Roberto
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Christopher Noren
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME 04573, USA
| | - Alex Vidal
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA
| | - Kristi Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Morgan DuBois
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Susan E. Piacenza
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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7
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Costa-Pereira R, Moll RJ, Jesmer BR, Jetz W. Animal tracking moves community ecology: Opportunities and challenges. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1334-1344. [PMID: 35388473 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
1. Individual decisions regarding how, why, and when organisms interact with one another and with their environment scale up to shape patterns and processes in communities. Recent evidence has firmly established the prevalence of intraspecific variation in nature and its relevance in community ecology, yet challenges associated with collecting data on large numbers of individual conspecifics and heterospecifics has hampered integration of individual variation into community ecology. 2. Nevertheless, recent technological and statistical advances in GPS-tracking, remote sensing, and behavioral ecology offer a toolbox for integrating intraspecific variation into community processes. More than simply describing where organisms go, movement data provide unique information about interactions and environmental associations from which a true individual-to-community framework can be built. 3. By linking the movement paths of both conspecifics and heterospecifics with environmental data, ecologists can now simultaneously quantify intra- and interspecific variation regarding the Eltonian (biotic interactions) and Grinnellian (environmental conditions) factors underpinning community assemblage and dynamics, yet substantial logistical and analytical challenges must be addressed for these approaches to realize their full potential. 4. Across communities, empirical integration of Eltonian and Grinnellian factors can support conservation applications and reveal metacommunity dynamics via tracking-based dispersal data. As the logistical and analytical challenges associated with multi-species tracking are surmounted, we envision a future where individual movements and their ecological and environmental signatures will bring resolution to many enduring issues in community ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Costa-Pereira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil
| | - Remington J Moll
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, 56 College Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Brett R Jesmer
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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8
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Evaluating Several Vegetation Indices Derived from Sentinel-2 Imagery for Quantifying Localized Overgrazing in a Semi-Arid Region of South Africa. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14071720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Rangeland monitoring aims to determine whether grazing management strategies meet the goals of sustainable resource utilization. The development of sustainable grazing management strategies requires an understanding of the manner in which grazing animals utilize available vegetation. In this study, we made use of livestock tracking, in situ observations and Sentinel-2 imagery to make rangeland scale observations of vegetation conditions in a semi-arid environment, to better understand the spatial relationships between vegetation conditions and sheep movement patterns. We hypothesized that sheep graze more selectively under low stocking rates—resulting in localized overgrazing. We also assessed the importance of image spatial resolution, as it was assumed localized effects of grazing will be best explained by higher resolution imagery. The results showed that livestock tend to congregate along drainage lines where soils are deeper. The findings demonstrate how the spatial analysis of remotely sensed data can provide a landscape-scale overview of livestock movement patterns. This study illustrates that high-resolution normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data can be used as a grazing management tool to determine the spatial variability of productive areas across the semi-arid Upper Karoo rangelands and identify preferred grazing areas.
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9
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Lahoz-Monfort JJ, Magrath MJL. A Comprehensive Overview of Technologies for Species and Habitat Monitoring and Conservation. Bioscience 2021; 71:1038-1062. [PMID: 34616236 PMCID: PMC8490933 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The range of technologies currently used in biodiversity conservation is staggering, with innovative uses often adopted from other disciplines and being trialed in the field. We provide the first comprehensive overview of the current (2020) landscape of conservation technology, encompassing technologies for monitoring wildlife and habitats, as well as for on-the-ground conservation management (e.g., fighting illegal activities). We cover both established technologies (routinely deployed in conservation, backed by substantial field experience and scientific literature) and novel technologies or technology applications (typically at trial stage, only recently used in conservation), providing examples of conservation applications for both types. We describe technologies that deploy sensors that are fixed or portable, attached to vehicles (terrestrial, aquatic, or airborne) or to animals (biologging), complemented with a section on wildlife tracking. The last two sections cover actuators and computing (including web platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence).
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Affiliation(s)
- José J Lahoz-Monfort
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J L Magrath
- Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria and with the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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10
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Vuillaume B, Richard JH, Côté SD. Using Camera Collars to Study Survival of Migratory Caribou Calves. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Vuillaume
- Caribou Ungava, Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon, 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Julien H. Richard
- Caribou Ungava, Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon, 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Caribou Ungava, Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon, 1045 avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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11
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Moll RJ, McRoberts JT, Millspaugh JJ, Wiskirchen KH, Sumners JA, Isabelle JL, Keller BJ, Montgomery RA. A rare 300 kilometer dispersal by an adult male white-tailed deer. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3685-3695. [PMID: 33976768 PMCID: PMC8093661 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the key roles that dispersal plays in individual animal fitness and meta-population gene flow, it remains one of the least understood behaviors in many species. In large mammalian herbivores, dispersals might span long distances and thereby influence landscape-level ecological processes, such as infectious disease spread. Here, we describe and analyze an exceptional long-distance dispersal by an adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the central United States. We also conducted a literature survey to compare the dispersal to previous studies. This dispersal was remarkable for its length, duration, and the life history stage of the dispersing individual. Dispersal is typical of juvenile deer seeking to establish postnatal home ranges, but this dispersal was undertaken by an adult male (age = 3.5). This individual dispersed ~300 km over a 22-day period by moving, on average, 13.6 km/day and achieving a straight-line distance of ~215 km, which was ~174 km longer than any other distance recorded for an adult male deer in our literature survey. During the dispersal, which occurred during the hunting season, the individual crossed a major river seven times, an interstate highway, a railroad, and eight state highways. Movements during the dispersal were faster (mean = 568.1 m/h) and more directional than those during stationary home range periods before and after the dispersal (mean = 56.9 m/h). Likewise, movements during the dispersal were faster (mean = 847.8 m/h) and more directional at night than during the day (mean = 166.4 m/h), when the individual frequently sheltered in forest cover. This natural history event highlights the unpredictable nature of dispersal and has important implications for landscape-level processes such as chronic wasting disease transmission in cervids. More broadly, our study underscores how integrating natural history observations with modern technology holds promise for understanding potentially high impact but rarely recorded ecological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remington J. Moll
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - Jon T. McRoberts
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMTUSA
| | - Joshua J. Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMTUSA
| | | | | | | | - Barbara J. Keller
- Missouri Department of ConservationScience BranchColumbiaMOUSA
- Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesSt. PaulMNUSA
| | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Research on the Ecology of Carnivores and their Prey (RECaP) LaboratoryDepartment of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
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12
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Yoshida MA, Totsu K, Sato K, Mabuchi K. Underwater video and still‐image dataset of fishes and other aquatic animals in Lake Biwa, Japan, observed via carp‐mounted video loggers. Ecol Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto A. Yoshida
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
| | - Kumiko Totsu
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
| | - Katsufumi Sato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Kohji Mabuchi
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies National Institute for Environmental Studies Tsukuba Japan
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13
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Smith JE, Pinter-Wollman N. Observing the unwatchable: Integrating automated sensing, naturalistic observations and animal social network analysis in the age of big data. J Anim Ecol 2020; 90:62-75. [PMID: 33020914 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the 4.5 decades since Altmann (1974) published her seminal paper on the methods for the observational study of behaviour, automated detection and analysis of social interaction networks have fundamentally transformed the ways that ecologists study social behaviour. Methodological developments for collecting data remotely on social behaviour involve indirect inference of associations, direct recordings of interactions and machine vision. These recent technological advances are improving the scale and resolution with which we can dissect interactions among animals. They are also revealing new intricacies of animal social interactions at spatial and temporal resolutions as well as in ecological contexts that have been hidden from humans, making the unwatchable seeable. We first outline how these technological applications are permitting researchers to collect exquisitely detailed information with little observer bias. We further recognize new emerging challenges from these new reality-mining approaches. While technological advances in automating data collection and its analysis are moving at an unprecedented rate, we urge ecologists to thoughtfully combine these new tools with classic behavioural and ecological monitoring methods to place our understanding of animal social networks within fundamental biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noa Pinter-Wollman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Wirsing AJ, Heithaus MR, Brown JS, Kotler BP, Schmitz OJ. The context dependence of non-consumptive predator effects. Ecol Lett 2020; 24:113-129. [PMID: 32990363 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Non-consumptive predator effects (NCEs) are now widely recognised for their capacity to shape ecosystem structure and function. Yet, forecasting the propagation of these predator-induced trait changes through particular communities remains a challenge. Accordingly, focusing on plasticity in prey anti-predator behaviours, we conceptualise the multi-stage process by which predators trigger direct and indirect NCEs, review and distil potential drivers of contingencies into three key categories (properties of the prey, predator and setting), and then provide a general framework for predicting both the nature and strength of direct NCEs. Our review underscores the myriad factors that can generate NCE contingencies while guiding how research might better anticipate and account for them. Moreover, our synthesis highlights the value of mapping both habitat domains and prey-specific patterns of evasion success ('evasion landscapes') as the basis for predicting how direct NCEs are likely to manifest in any particular community. Looking ahead, we highlight two key knowledge gaps that continue to impede a comprehensive understanding of non-consumptive predator-prey interactions and their ecosystem consequences; namely, insufficient empirical exploration of (1) context-dependent indirect NCEs and (2) the ways in which direct and indirect NCEs are shaped interactively by multiple drivers of context dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Michael R Heithaus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA
| | - Joel S Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.,Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Dr, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA
| | - Burt P Kotler
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet, Ben-Gurion, 84990, Israel
| | - Oswald J Schmitz
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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15
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16
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Katzner TE, Arlettaz R. Evaluating Contributions of Recent Tracking-Based Animal Movement Ecology to Conservation Management. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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17
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Pearson HC, Jones PW, Brandon TP, Stockin KA, Machovsky-Capuska GE. A biologging perspective to the drivers that shape gregariousness in dusky dolphins. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2763-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Williams HJ, Taylor LA, Benhamou S, Bijleveld AI, Clay TA, de Grissac S, Demšar U, English HM, Franconi N, Gómez-Laich A, Griffiths RC, Kay WP, Morales JM, Potts JR, Rogerson KF, Rutz C, Spelt A, Trevail AM, Wilson RP, Börger L. Optimizing the use of biologgers for movement ecology research. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:186-206. [PMID: 31424571 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The paradigm-changing opportunities of biologging sensors for ecological research, especially movement ecology, are vast, but the crucial questions of how best to match the most appropriate sensors and sensor combinations to specific biological questions and how to analyse complex biologging data, are mostly ignored. Here, we fill this gap by reviewing how to optimize the use of biologging techniques to answer questions in movement ecology and synthesize this into an Integrated Biologging Framework (IBF). We highlight that multisensor approaches are a new frontier in biologging, while identifying current limitations and avenues for future development in sensor technology. We focus on the importance of efficient data exploration, and more advanced multidimensional visualization methods, combined with appropriate archiving and sharing approaches, to tackle the big data issues presented by biologging. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in matching the peculiarities of specific sensor data to the statistical models used, highlighting at the same time the large advances which will be required in the latter to properly analyse biologging data. Taking advantage of the biologging revolution will require a large improvement in the theoretical and mathematical foundations of movement ecology, to include the rich set of high-frequency multivariate data, which greatly expand the fundamentally limited and coarse data that could be collected using location-only technology such as GPS. Equally important will be the establishment of multidisciplinary collaborations to catalyse the opportunities offered by current and future biologging technology. If this is achieved, clear potential exists for developing a vastly improved mechanistic understanding of animal movements and their roles in ecological processes and for building realistic predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J Williams
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Lucy A Taylor
- Save the Elephants, Nairobi, Kenya.,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon Benhamou
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Allert I Bijleveld
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems, Utrecht University, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas A Clay
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sophie de Grissac
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Urška Demšar
- School of Geography & Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Holly M English
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Novella Franconi
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Agustina Gómez-Laich
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Rachael C Griffiths
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - William P Kay
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Juan Manuel Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, CONICET, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Jonathan R Potts
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Christian Rutz
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Anouk Spelt
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, UK
| | - Alice M Trevail
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rory P Wilson
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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19
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Park S, Aschenbach KH, Ahmed M, Scott WL, Leonard NE, Abernathy K, Marshall G, Shepard M, Martins NC. Animal‐borne wireless network: Remote imaging of community ecology. J FIELD ROBOT 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/rob.21891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shinkyu Park
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Systems ResearchUniversity of Maryland College Park Maryland
| | - Konrad H. Aschenbach
- Exploration Technology LabNational Geographic Society Washington District of Columbia
| | - Manjur Ahmed
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Systems ResearchUniversity of Maryland College Park Maryland
| | - William L. Scott
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringPrinceton University Princeton New Jersey
| | - Naomi E. Leonard
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringPrinceton University Princeton New Jersey
| | - Kyler Abernathy
- Exploration Technology LabNational Geographic Society Washington District of Columbia
| | | | - Mike Shepard
- Exploration Technology LabNational Geographic Society Washington District of Columbia
| | - Nuno C. Martins
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Systems ResearchUniversity of Maryland College Park Maryland
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20
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Kaczensky P, Khaliun S, Payne J, Boldgiv B, Buuveibaatar B, Walzer C. Through the eye of a Gobi khulan - Application of camera collars for ecological research of far-ranging species in remote and highly variable ecosystems. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217772. [PMID: 31163047 PMCID: PMC6548383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mongolian Gobi-Eastern Steppe Ecosystem is one of the largest remaining natural drylands and home to a unique assemblage of migratory ungulates. Connectivity and integrity of this ecosystem are at risk if increasing human activities are not carefully planned and regulated. The Gobi part supports the largest remaining population of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus; locally called "khulan"). Individual khulan roam over areas of thousands of square kilometers and the scale of their movements is among the largest described for terrestrial mammals, making them particularly difficult to monitor. Although GPS satellite telemetry makes it possible to track animals in near-real time and remote sensing provides environmental data at the landscape scale, remotely collected data also harbors the risk of missing important abiotic or biotic environmental variables or life history events. We tested the potential of animal born camera systems ("camera collars") to improve our understanding of the drivers and limitations of khulan movements. Deployment of a camera collar on an adult khulan mare resulted in 7,881 images over a one-year period. Over half of the images showed other khulan and 1,630 images showed enough of the collared khulan to classify the behaviour of the animals seen into several main categories. These khulan images provided us with: i) new insights into important life history events and grouping dynamics, ii) allowed us to calculate time budgets for many more animals than the collared khulan alone, and iii) provided us with a training dataset for calibrating data from accelerometer and tilt sensors in the collar. The images also allowed to document khulan behaviour near infrastructure and to obtain a day-time encounter rate between a specific khulan with semi-nomadic herders and their livestock. Lastly, the images allowed us to ground truth the availability of water by: i) confirming waterpoints predicted from other analyses, ii) detecting new waterpoints, and iii) compare precipitation records for rain and snow from landscape scale climate products with those documented by the camera collar. We discuss the added value of deploying camera collars on a subset of animals in remote, highly variable ecosystems for research and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Kaczensky
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sanchir Khaliun
- Ecology Group, Department of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - John Payne
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Bazartseren Boldgiv
- Ecology Group, Department of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | | | - Chris Walzer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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21
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Kelt DA, Heske EJ, Lambin X, Oli MK, Orrock JL, Ozgul A, Pauli JN, Prugh LR, Sollmann R, Sommer S. Advances in population ecology and species interactions in mammals. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe study of mammals has promoted the development and testing of many ideas in contemporary ecology. Here we address recent developments in foraging and habitat selection, source–sink dynamics, competition (both within and between species), population cycles, predation (including apparent competition), mutualism, and biological invasions. Because mammals are appealing to the public, ecological insight gleaned from the study of mammals has disproportionate potential in educating the public about ecological principles and their application to wise management. Mammals have been central to many computational and statistical developments in recent years, including refinements to traditional approaches and metrics (e.g., capture-recapture) as well as advancements of novel and developing fields (e.g., spatial capture-recapture, occupancy modeling, integrated population models). The study of mammals also poses challenges in terms of fully characterizing dynamics in natural conditions. Ongoing climate change threatens to affect global ecosystems, and mammals provide visible and charismatic subjects for research on local and regional effects of such change as well as predictive modeling of the long-term effects on ecosystem function and stability. Although much remains to be done, the population ecology of mammals continues to be a vibrant and rapidly developing field. We anticipate that the next quarter century will prove as exciting and productive for the study of mammals as has the recent one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Kelt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Edward J Heske
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Madan K Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John L Orrock
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan N Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Laura R Prugh
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Sommer
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Rosa CA. An inexpensive and open‐source method to study large terrestrial animal diet and behaviour using time‐lapse video and GPS. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Rosa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California
- San Diego Zoo Global Institute for Conservation Research Escondido California
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23
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Jewell OJD, Gleiss AC, Jorgensen SJ, Andrzejaczek S, Moxley JH, Beatty SJ, Wikelski M, Block BA, Chapple TK. Cryptic habitat use of white sharks in kelp forest revealed by animal-borne video. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20190085. [PMID: 30940023 PMCID: PMC6501368 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional forms of marine wildlife research are often restricted to coarse telemetry or surface-based observations, limiting information on fine-scale behaviours such as predator-prey events and interactions with habitat features. We use contemporary animal-attached cameras with motion sensing dataloggers, to reveal novel behaviours by white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, within areas of kelp forest in South Africa. All white sharks tagged in this study spent time adjacent to kelp forests, with several moving throughout densely kelp-covered areas, navigating through channels and pushing directly through stipes and fronds. We found that activity and turning rates significantly increased within kelp forest. Over 28 h of video data revealed that white shark encounters with Cape fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, occurred exclusively within kelp forests, with seals displaying predator evasion behaviour during those encounters. Uniquely, we reveal the use of kelp forest habitat by white sharks, previously assumed inaccessible to these large predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J. D. Jewell
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
- Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
- Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Kleinbaai, WC 7220, South Africa
| | - Adrian C. Gleiss
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | | | - Samantha Andrzejaczek
- Oceans Graduate School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | | | - Stephen J. Beatty
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Radolfzell, Radolfzell 78315, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
| | - Barbara A. Block
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Taylor K. Chapple
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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24
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Greif S, Yovel Y. Using on-board sound recordings to infer behaviour of free-moving wild animals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/Suppl_1/jeb184689. [PMID: 30728226 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.184689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Technological advances in the last 20 years have enabled researchers to develop increasingly sophisticated miniature devices (tags) that record an animal's behaviour not from an observational, external viewpoint, but directly on the animals themselves. So far, behavioural research with these tags has mostly been conducted using movement or acceleration data. But on-board audio recordings have become more and more common following pioneering work in marine mammal research. The first questions that come to mind when recording sound on-board animals concern their vocal behaviour. When are they calling? How do they adjust their behaviour? What acoustic parameters do they change and how? However, other topics like foraging behaviour, social interactions or environmental acoustics can now be addressed as well and offer detailed insight into the animals' daily life. In this Review, we discuss the possibilities, advantages and limitations of on-board acoustic recordings. We focus primarily on bats as their active-sensing, echolocating lifestyle allows many approaches to a multi-faceted acoustic assessment of their behaviour. The general ideas and concepts, however, are applicable to many animals and hopefully will demonstrate the versatility of on-board acoustic recordings and stimulate new research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Greif
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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25
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Yoda K. Advances in bio-logging techniques and their application to study navigation in wild seabirds. Adv Robot 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/01691864.2018.1553686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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26
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Majdi N, Hette-Tronquart N, Auclair E, Bec A, Chouvelon T, Cognie B, Danger M, Decottignies P, Dessier A, Desvilettes C, Dubois S, Dupuy C, Fritsch C, Gaucherel C, Hedde M, Jabot F, Lefebvre S, Marzloff MP, Pey B, Peyrard N, Powolny T, Sabbadin R, Thébault E, Perga ME. There's no harm in having too much: A comprehensive toolbox of methods in trophic ecology. FOOD WEBS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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27
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Hays GC, Doyle TK, Houghton JD. A Paradigm Shift in the Trophic Importance of Jellyfish? Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:874-884. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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28
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Mattern T, McPherson MD, Ellenberg U, van Heezik Y, Seddon PJ. High definition video loggers provide new insights into behaviour, physiology, and the oceanic habitat of a marine predator, the yellow-eyed penguin. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5459. [PMID: 30258706 PMCID: PMC6151119 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Camera loggers are increasingly used to examine behavioural aspects of free-ranging animals. However, often video loggers are deployed with a focus on specific behavioural traits utilizing small cameras with a limited field of view, poor light performance and video quality. Yet rapid developments in consumer electronics provide new devices with much improved visual data allowing a wider scope for studies employing this novel methodology. We developed a camera logger that records full HD video through a wide-angle lens, providing high resolution footage with a greater field of view than other camera loggers. The main goal was to assess the suitability of this type of camera for the analysis of various aspects of the foraging ecology of a marine predator, the yellow-eyed penguin in New Zealand. Frame-by-frame analysis allowed accurate timing of prey pursuits and time spent over certain seafloor types. The recorded video footage showed that prey species were associated with certain seafloor types, revealed different predator evasion strategies by benthic fishes, and highlighted varying energetic consequences for penguins pursuing certain types of prey. Other aspects that could be analysed were the timing of breathing intervals between dives and observe exhalation events during prey pursuits, a previously undescribed behaviour. Screen overlays facilitated analysis of flipper angles and beat frequencies throughout various stages of the dive cycle. Flipper movement analysis confirmed decreasing effort during descent phases as the bird gained depth, and that ascent was principally passive. Breathing episodes between dives were short (<1 s) while the majority of the time was devoted to subsurface scanning with a submerged head. Video data recorded on free-ranging animals not only provide a wealth of information recorded from a single deployment but also necessitate new approaches with regards to analysis of visual data. Here, we demonstrate the diversity of information that can be gleaned from video logger data, if devices with high video resolution and wide field of view are utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mattern
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.,Global Penguin Society, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | | | - Ursula Ellenberg
- Global Penguin Society, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.,Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Philipp J Seddon
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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29
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Mattern T, McPherson MD, Ellenberg U, van Heezik Y, Seddon PJ. High definition video loggers provide new insights into behaviour, physiology, and the oceanic habitat of a marine predator, the yellow-eyed penguin. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5459. [PMID: 30258706 DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.2765v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Camera loggers are increasingly used to examine behavioural aspects of free-ranging animals. However, often video loggers are deployed with a focus on specific behavioural traits utilizing small cameras with a limited field of view, poor light performance and video quality. Yet rapid developments in consumer electronics provide new devices with much improved visual data allowing a wider scope for studies employing this novel methodology. We developed a camera logger that records full HD video through a wide-angle lens, providing high resolution footage with a greater field of view than other camera loggers. The main goal was to assess the suitability of this type of camera for the analysis of various aspects of the foraging ecology of a marine predator, the yellow-eyed penguin in New Zealand. Frame-by-frame analysis allowed accurate timing of prey pursuits and time spent over certain seafloor types. The recorded video footage showed that prey species were associated with certain seafloor types, revealed different predator evasion strategies by benthic fishes, and highlighted varying energetic consequences for penguins pursuing certain types of prey. Other aspects that could be analysed were the timing of breathing intervals between dives and observe exhalation events during prey pursuits, a previously undescribed behaviour. Screen overlays facilitated analysis of flipper angles and beat frequencies throughout various stages of the dive cycle. Flipper movement analysis confirmed decreasing effort during descent phases as the bird gained depth, and that ascent was principally passive. Breathing episodes between dives were short (<1 s) while the majority of the time was devoted to subsurface scanning with a submerged head. Video data recorded on free-ranging animals not only provide a wealth of information recorded from a single deployment but also necessitate new approaches with regards to analysis of visual data. Here, we demonstrate the diversity of information that can be gleaned from video logger data, if devices with high video resolution and wide field of view are utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mattern
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
- Global Penguin Society, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | | | - Ursula Ellenberg
- Global Penguin Society, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Philipp J Seddon
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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30
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Hodgson JC, Mott R, Baylis SM, Pham TT, Wotherspoon S, Kilpatrick AD, Raja Segaran R, Reid I, Terauds A, Koh LP. Drones count wildlife more accurately and precisely than humans. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod C. Hodgson
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Rowan Mott
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Shane M. Baylis
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Trung T. Pham
- School of Computer ScienceUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Simon Wotherspoon
- Institute of Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia
- Australian Antarctic DivisionDepartment of the Environment and EnergyAntarctic Conservation and Management Kingston Tas. Australia
| | - Adam D. Kilpatrick
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | | | - Ian Reid
- School of Computer ScienceUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Australian Antarctic DivisionDepartment of the Environment and EnergyAntarctic Conservation and Management Kingston Tas. Australia
| | - Lian Pin Koh
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
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Bennison A, Bearhop S, Bodey TW, Votier SC, Grecian WJ, Wakefield ED, Hamer KC, Jessopp M. Search and foraging behaviors from movement data: A comparison of methods. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:13-24. [PMID: 29321847 PMCID: PMC5756868 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Search behavior is often used as a proxy for foraging effort within studies of animal movement, despite it being only one part of the foraging process, which also includes prey capture. While methods for validating prey capture exist, many studies rely solely on behavioral annotation of animal movement data to identify search and infer prey capture attempts. However, the degree to which search correlates with prey capture is largely untested. This study applied seven behavioral annotation methods to identify search behavior from GPS tracks of northern gannets (Morus bassanus), and compared outputs to the occurrence of dives recorded by simultaneously deployed time-depth recorders. We tested how behavioral annotation methods vary in their ability to identify search behavior leading to dive events. There was considerable variation in the number of dives occurring within search areas across methods. Hidden Markov models proved to be the most successful, with 81% of all dives occurring within areas identified as search. k-Means clustering and first passage time had the highest rates of dives occurring outside identified search behavior. First passage time and hidden Markov models had the lowest rates of false positives, identifying fewer search areas with no dives. All behavioral annotation methods had advantages and drawbacks in terms of the complexity of analysis and ability to reflect prey capture events while minimizing the number of false positives and false negatives. We used these results, with consideration of analytical difficulty, to provide advice on the most appropriate methods for use where prey capture behavior is not available. This study highlights a need to critically assess and carefully choose a behavioral annotation method suitable for the research question being addressed, or resulting species management frameworks established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Bennison
- MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable EnergyEnvironmental Research InstituteUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- School of BiologicalEarth, and Environmental Sciences (BEES)University College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology & ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Thomas W. Bodey
- Centre for Ecology & ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | | | - W. James Grecian
- Sea Mammal Research UnitScottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt Andrews, FifeScotland
| | - Ewan D. Wakefield
- Sea Mammal Research UnitScottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt Andrews, FifeScotland
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineCollege of Medical, Veterinary, and Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowScotland
| | - Keith C. Hamer
- Faculty of Biological SciencesSchool of BiologyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - Mark Jessopp
- MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable EnergyEnvironmental Research InstituteUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
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Krull CR, McMillan LF, Fewster RM, van der Ree R, Pech R, Dennis T, Stanley MC. Testing the feasibility of wireless sensor networks and the use of radio signal strength indicator to track the movements of wild animals. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/wr18013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are revolutionising areas of animal behaviour research and are advantageous based on their ability to be deployed remotely and unobtrusively, for long time periods in inaccessible areas.
Aims
We aimed to determine the feasibility of using a WSN to track detailed movement paths of small animals, e.g. rats (Rattus spp.) 100–400g, too small for current GPS technology, by calibrating active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and loggers using Radio Frequency Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) as a proxy for distance. Active RFIDs are also called Wireless Identification (WID) tags.
Methods
Calibration tests were conducted using a grid of loggers (n=16) spaced at 45-m intervals in clear line-of-sight conditions. WID tags (n=16) were placed between the loggers at 45-m intervals. Eight ‘walks’ were also conducted through the grid using a single WID tag. This involved attaching the tag to a small bottle of water (to simulate the body of an animal), towed around the grid using a 1-m long tow line attached to a volunteer walker. The volunteer also held a GPS device that logged their track. Models were constructed to test the effects of distance, tag movement and individual differences in loggers and tags on the reliability of movement data.
Key results
Loggers were most successful at detecting tags at distances <50m. However, there was a significant difference in the detection probabilities of individual loggers and also the transmission performance of individual tags. Static tags were less likely to be detected than the mobile tag; and although RSSI was somewhat related to distance, the reliability of this parameter was highly variable.
Implications
We recommend caution in the future use of current radio frequency ID tags in wireless sensor networks to track the movement of small animals, and in the use of RSSI as an indicator of individual distance values, as extensive in situ calibration is required. ‘Off the shelf’ devices may vary in performance, rendering data unreliable. We emphasise the importance of calibrating all equipment in animal tracking studies to reduce data uncertainty and error.
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Lennox RJ, Aarestrup K, Cooke SJ, Cowley PD, Deng ZD, Fisk AT, Harcourt RG, Heupel M, Hinch SG, Holland KN, Hussey NE, Iverson SJ, Kessel ST, Kocik JF, Lucas MC, Flemming JM, Nguyen VM, Stokesbury MJ, Vagle S, VanderZwaag DL, Whoriskey FG, Young N. Envisioning the Future of Aquatic Animal Tracking: Technology, Science, and Application. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Bombara CB, Dürr S, Machovsky-Capuska GE, Jones PW, Ward MP. A preliminary study to estimate contact rates between free-roaming domestic dogs using novel miniature cameras. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181859. [PMID: 28750073 PMCID: PMC5547700 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Information on contacts between individuals within a population is crucial to inform disease control strategies, via parameterisation of disease spread models. In this study we investigated the use of dog-borne video cameras–in conjunction with global positioning systems (GPS) loggers–to both characterise dog-to-dog contacts and to estimate contact rates. We customized miniaturised video cameras, enclosed within 3D-printed plastic cases, and attached these to nylon dog collars. Using two 3400 mAh NCR lithium Li-ion batteries, cameras could record a maximum of 22 hr of continuous video footage. Together with a GPS logger, collars were attached to six free roaming domestic dogs (FRDDs) in two remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia. We recorded a total of 97 hr of video footage, ranging from 4.5 to 22 hr (mean 19.1) per dog, and observed a wide range of social behaviours. The majority (69%) of all observed interactions between community dogs involved direct physical contact. Direct contact behaviours included sniffing, licking, mouthing and play fighting. No contacts appeared to be aggressive, however multiple teeth baring incidents were observed during play fights. We identified a total of 153 contacts–equating to 8 to 147 contacts per dog per 24 hr–from the videos of the five dogs with camera data that could be analysed. These contacts were attributed to 42 unique dogs (range 1 to 19 per video) which could be identified (based on colour patterns and markings). Most dog activity was observed in urban (houses and roads) environments, but contacts were more common in bushland and beach environments. A variety of foraging behaviours were observed, included scavenging through rubbish and rolling on dead animal carcasses. Identified food consumed included chicken, raw bones, animal carcasses, rubbish, grass and cheese. For characterising contacts between FRDD, several benefits of analysing videos compared to GPS fixes alone were identified in this study, including visualisation of the nature of the contact between two dogs; and inclusion of a greater number of dogs in the study (which do not need to be wearing video or GPS collars). Some limitations identified included visualisation of contacts only during daylight hours; the camera lens being obscured on occasion by the dog’s mandible or the dog resting on the camera; an insufficiently wide viewing angle (36°); battery life and robustness of the deployments; high costs of the deployment; and analysis of large volumes of often unsteady video footage. This study demonstrates that dog-borne video cameras, are a feasible technology for estimating and characterising contacts between FRDDs. Modifying camera specifications and developing new analytical methods will improve applicability of this technology for monitoring FRDD populations, providing insights into dog-to-dog contacts and therefore how disease might spread within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtenay B. Bombara
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel E. Machovsky-Capuska
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
- The Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter W. Jones
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Moll RJ, Redilla KM, Mudumba T, Muneza AB, Gray SM, Abade L, Hayward MW, Millspaugh JJ, Montgomery RA. The many faces of fear: a synthesis of the methodological variation in characterizing predation risk. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:749-765. [PMID: 28390066 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Predators affect prey by killing them directly (lethal effects) and by inducing costly antipredator behaviours in living prey (risk effects). Risk effects can strongly influence prey populations and cascade through trophic systems. A prerequisite for assessing risk effects is characterizing the spatiotemporal variation in predation risk. Risk effects research has experienced rapid growth in the last several decades. However, preliminary assessments of the resultant literature suggest that researchers characterize predation risk using a variety of techniques. The implications of this methodological variation for inference and comparability among studies have not been well recognized or formally synthesized. We couple a literature survey with a hierarchical framework, developed from established theory, to quantify the methodological variation in characterizing risk using carnivore-ungulate systems as a case study. Via this process, we documented 244 metrics of risk from 141 studies falling into at least 13 distinct subcategories within three broader categories. Both empirical and theoretical work suggest risk and its effects on prey constitute a complex, multi-dimensional process with expressions varying by spatiotemporal scale. Our survey suggests this multi-scale complexity is reflected in the literature as a whole but often underappreciated in any given study, which complicates comparability among studies and leads to an overemphasis on documenting the presence of risk effects rather than their mechanisms or scale of influence. We suggest risk metrics be placed in a more concrete conceptual framework to clarify inference surrounding risk effects and their cascading effects throughout ecosystems. We recommend studies (i) take a multi-scale approach to characterizing risk; (ii) explicitly consider 'true' predation risk (probability of predation per unit time); and (iii) use risk metrics that facilitate comparison among studies and the evaluation of multiple competing hypotheses. Addressing the pressing questions in risk effects research, including how, to what extent and on what scale they occur, requires leveraging the advantages of the many methods available to characterize risk while minimizing the confusion caused by variability in their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remington J Moll
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kyle M Redilla
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tutilo Mudumba
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Arthur B Muneza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Giraffe Conservation Foundation, P.O. Box 51061 GPO, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Steven M Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Leandro Abade
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Matt W Hayward
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.,Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.,Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, X001, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Joshua J Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Robert A Montgomery
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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Machovsky‐Capuska GE, Coogan SCP, Simpson SJ, Raubenheimer D. Motive for Killing: What Drives Prey Choice in Wild Predators? Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E. Machovsky‐Capuska
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Science The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - Sean C. P. Coogan
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - Stephen J. Simpson
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- The Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Science The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
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37
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Cote J, Bocedi G, Debeffe L, Chudzińska ME, Weigang HC, Dytham C, Gonzalez G, Matthysen E, Travis J, Baguette M, Hewison AJM. Behavioural synchronization of large-scale animal movements - disperse alone, but migrate together? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1275-1296. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Cote
- ENFA and UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), CNRS; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier; Toulouse cedex 9 F-31062 France
| | - Greta Bocedi
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen AB24 2TZ UK
| | - Lucie Debeffe
- CEFS, INRA; Université de Toulouse; Castanet Tolosan 31320 France
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | | | - Helene C. Weigang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 68 Helsinki 00014 Finland
| | - Calvin Dytham
- Department of Biology; University of York; York YO10 5DD UK
| | - Georges Gonzalez
- CEFS, INRA; Université de Toulouse; Castanet Tolosan 31320 France
| | - Erik Matthysen
- Department of Biology; University of Antwerp; Antwerp B-2610 Belgium
| | - Justin Travis
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen AB24 2TZ UK
| | - Michel Baguette
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Experimentale; CNRS UMR 5321; Moulis 09200 France
- Institut De Systématique, Evolution et Biodiversité, UMR 7205; Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; Paris cedex 5 FR-75005 France
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38
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Cooke SJ, Brownscombe JW, Raby GD, Broell F, Hinch SG, Clark TD, Semmens JM. Remote bioenergetics measurements in wild fish: Opportunities and challenges. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2016; 202:23-37. [PMID: 27063208 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The generalized energy budget for fish (i.e., Energy Consumed=Metabolism+Waste+Growth) is as relevant today as when it was first proposed decades ago and serves as a foundational concept in fish biology. Yet, generating accurate measurements of components of the bioenergetics equation in wild fish is a major challenge. How often does a fish eat and what does it consume? How much energy is expended on locomotion? How do human-induced stressors influence energy acquisition and expenditure? Generating answers to these questions is important to fisheries management and to our understanding of adaptation and evolutionary processes. The advent of electronic tags (transmitters and data loggers) has provided biologists with improved opportunities to understand bioenergetics in wild fish. Here, we review the growing diversity of electronic tags with a focus on sensor-equipped devices that are commercially available (e.g., heart rate/electrocardiogram, electromyogram, acceleration, image capture). Next, we discuss each component of the bioenergetics model, recognizing that most research to date has focused on quantifying the activity component of metabolism, and identify ways in which the other, less studied components (e.g., consumption, specific dynamic action component of metabolism, somatic growth, reproductive investment, waste) could be estimated remotely. We conclude with a critical but forward-looking appraisal of the opportunities and challenges in using existing and emerging electronic sensor-tags for the study of fish energetics in the wild. Electronic tagging has become a central and widespread tool in fish ecology and fisheries management; the growing and increasingly affordable toolbox of sensor tags will ensure this trend continues, which will lead to major advances in our understanding of fish biology over the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Jacob W Brownscombe
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Graham D Raby
- Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Franziska Broell
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St., Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Scott G Hinch
- Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Timothy D Clark
- University of Tasmania and CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, 3-4 Castray Esplanade, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jayson M Semmens
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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39
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Edelhoff H, Signer J, Balkenhol N. Path segmentation for beginners: an overview of current methods for detecting changes in animal movement patterns. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2016; 4:21. [PMID: 27595001 PMCID: PMC5010771 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0086-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Increased availability of high-resolution movement data has led to the development of numerous methods for studying changes in animal movement behavior. Path segmentation methods provide basics for detecting movement changes and the behavioral mechanisms driving them. However, available path segmentation methods differ vastly with respect to underlying statistical assumptions and output produced. Consequently, it is currently difficult for researchers new to path segmentation to gain an overview of the different methods, and choose one that is appropriate for their data and research questions. Here, we provide an overview of different methods for segmenting movement paths according to potential changes in underlying behavior. To structure our overview, we outline three broad types of research questions that are commonly addressed through path segmentation: 1) the quantitative description of movement patterns, 2) the detection of significant change-points, and 3) the identification of underlying processes or 'hidden states'. We discuss advantages and limitations of different approaches for addressing these research questions using path-level movement data, and present general guidelines for choosing methods based on data characteristics and questions. Our overview illustrates the large diversity of available path segmentation approaches, highlights the need for studies that compare the utility of different methods, and identifies opportunities for future developments in path-level data analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Edelhoff
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Signer
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Niko Balkenhol
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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40
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Mayor SJ, Schneider DC, Schaefer JA, Mahoney SP. Habitat selection at multiple scales. ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/16-2-3238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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41
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Gómez-Laich A, Yoda K, Zavalaga C, Quintana F. Selfies of Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps): What Is Happening Underwater? PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136980. [PMID: 26367384 PMCID: PMC4569182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last few years, the development of animal-borne still cameras and video recorders has enabled researchers to observe what a wild animal sees in the field. In the present study, we deployed miniaturized video recorders to investigate the underwater foraging behavior of Imperial cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps). Video footage was obtained from 12 animals and 49 dives comprising a total of 8.1 h of foraging data. Video information revealed that Imperial cormorants are almost exclusively benthic feeders. While foraging along the seafloor, animals did not necessarily keep their body horizontal but inclined it downwards. The head of the instrumented animal was always visible in the videos and in the majority of the dives it was moved constantly forward and backward by extending and contracting the neck while travelling on the seafloor. Animals detected prey at very short distances, performed quick capture attempts and spent the majority of their time on the seafloor searching for prey. Cormorants foraged at three different sea bottom habitats and the way in which they searched for food differed between habitats. Dives were frequently performed under low luminosity levels suggesting that cormorants would locate prey with other sensory systems in addition to sight. Our video data support the idea that Imperial cormorants’ efficient hunting involves the use of specialized foraging techniques to compensate for their poor underwater vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Gómez-Laich
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR-CENPAT), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn (U9120ACD), Chubut, Argentina
- * E-mail:
| | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464–8601, Japan
| | - Carlos Zavalaga
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464–8601, Japan
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Científica del Sur, Carretera Antigua, Panamericana Sur km 19, Lima 42, Perú
| | - Flavio Quintana
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR-CENPAT), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn (U9120ACD), Chubut, Argentina
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Amenabar 1595, (C1426AKC), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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42
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McGregor H, Legge S, Jones ME, Johnson CN. Feral Cats Are Better Killers in Open Habitats, Revealed by Animal-Borne Video. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133915. [PMID: 26288224 PMCID: PMC4545751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the key gaps in understanding the impacts of predation by small mammalian predators on prey is how habitat structure affects the hunting success of small predators, such as feral cats. These effects are poorly understood due to the difficulty of observing actual hunting behaviours. We attached collar-mounted video cameras to feral cats living in a tropical savanna environment in northern Australia, and measured variation in hunting success among different microhabitats (open areas, dense grass and complex rocks). From 89 hours of footage, we recorded 101 hunting events, of which 32 were successful. Of these kills, 28% were not eaten. Hunting success was highly dependent on microhabitat structure surrounding prey, increasing from 17% in habitats with dense grass or complex rocks to 70% in open areas. This research shows that habitat structure has a profound influence on the impacts of small predators on their prey. This has broad implications for management of vegetation and disturbance processes (like fire and grazing) in areas where feral cats threaten native fauna. Maintaining complex vegetation cover can reduce predation rates of small prey species from feral cat predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh McGregor
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, PMB 925, Derby, Western Australia, 6728 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Sarah Legge
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, PMB 925, Derby, Western Australia, 6728 Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 Australia
| | - Christopher N. Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 Australia
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43
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Kays R, Crofoot MC, Jetz W, Wikelski M. ECOLOGY. Terrestrial animal tracking as an eye on life and planet. Science 2015; 348:aaa2478. [PMID: 26068858 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa2478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 664] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Moving animals connect our world, spreading pollen, seeds, nutrients, and parasites as they go about the their daily lives. Recent integration of high-resolution Global Positioning System and other sensors into miniaturized tracking tags has dramatically improved our ability to describe animal movement. This has created opportunities and challenges that parallel big data transformations in other fields and has rapidly advanced animal ecology and physiology. New analytical approaches, combined with remotely sensed or modeled environmental information, have opened up a host of new questions on the causes of movement and its consequences for individuals, populations, and ecosystems. Simultaneous tracking of multiple animals is leading to new insights on species interactions and, scaled up, may enable distributed monitoring of both animals and our changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama.
| | - Margaret C Crofoot
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama. Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA. Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama. Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany. Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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44
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Thomson JA, Burkholder DA, Heithaus MR, Fourqurean JW, Fraser MW, Statton J, Kendrick GA. Extreme temperatures, foundation species, and abrupt ecosystem change: an example from an iconic seagrass ecosystem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:1463-74. [PMID: 25145694 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Extreme climatic events can trigger abrupt and often lasting change in ecosystems via the reduction or elimination of foundation (i.e., habitat-forming) species. However, while the frequency/intensity of extreme events is predicted to increase under climate change, the impact of these events on many foundation species and the ecosystems they support remains poorly understood. Here, we use the iconic seagrass meadows of Shark Bay, Western Australia--a relatively pristine subtropical embayment whose dominant, canopy-forming seagrass, Amphibolis antarctica, is a temperate species growing near its low-latitude range limit--as a model system to investigate the impacts of extreme temperatures on ecosystems supported by thermally sensitive foundation species in a changing climate. Following an unprecedented marine heat wave in late summer 2010/11, A. antarctica experienced catastrophic (>90%) dieback in several regions of Shark Bay. Animal-borne video footage taken from the perspective of resident, seagrass-associated megafauna (sea turtles) revealed severe habitat degradation after the event compared with a decade earlier. This reduction in habitat quality corresponded with a decline in the health status of largely herbivorous green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the 2 years following the heat wave, providing evidence of long-term, community-level impacts of the event. Based on these findings, and similar examples from diverse ecosystems, we argue that a generalized framework for assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems to abrupt change associated with the loss of foundation species is needed to accurately predict ecosystem trajectories in a changing climate. This includes seagrass meadows, which have received relatively little attention in this context. Novel research and monitoring methods, such as the analysis of habitat and environmental data from animal-borne video and data-logging systems, can make an important contribution to this framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A Thomson
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Environment, Arts and Society, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St., North Miami, FL, 33181, USA
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45
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Wallace BP, Zolkewitz M, James MC. Fine-scale foraging ecology of leatherback turtles. Front Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Kane SA, Zamani M. Falcons pursue prey using visual motion cues: new perspectives from animal-borne cameras. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:225-34. [PMID: 24431144 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.092403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This study reports on experiments on falcons wearing miniature videocameras mounted on their backs or heads while pursuing flying prey. Videos of hunts by a gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), gyrfalcon (F. rusticolus)/Saker falcon (F. cherrug) hybrids and peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus) were analyzed to determine apparent prey positions on their visual fields during pursuits. These video data were then interpreted using computer simulations of pursuit steering laws observed in insects and mammals. A comparison of the empirical and modeling data indicates that falcons use cues due to the apparent motion of prey on the falcon's visual field to track and capture flying prey via a form of motion camouflage. The falcons also were found to maintain their prey's image at visual angles consistent with using their shallow fovea. These results should prove relevant for understanding the co-evolution of pursuit and evasion, as well as the development of computer models of predation and the integration of sensory and locomotion systems in biomimetic robots.
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47
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Lavelle MJ, Fischer JW, Phillips GE, Hildreth AM, Campbell TA, Hewitt DG, Hygnstrom SE, Vercauteren KC. Assessing Risk of Disease Transmission: Direct Implications for an Indirect Science. Bioscience 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biu055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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48
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Kiffner C, Kioko J, Kissui B, Painter C, Serota M, White C, Yager P. Interspecific variation in large mammal responses to human observers along a conservation gradient with variable hunting pressure. Anim Conserv 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; Karatu Tanzania
| | - J. Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; Karatu Tanzania
| | - B. Kissui
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; Karatu Tanzania
| | | | - M. Serota
- Connecticut College; New London CT USA
| | | | - P. Yager
- Framingham State University; Framingham MA USA
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49
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Wirsing AJ, Heithaus MR. Accounting for individual behavioural variation in studies of habitat selection. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:319-21. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences; University of Washington; Seattle Washington 98195 USA
| | - Michael R. Heithaus
- Department of Biological Sciences; Marine Sciences Program; Florida International University; North Miami Florida 33181 USA
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50
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Tremblay Y, Thiebault A, Mullers R, Pistorius P. Bird-borne video-cameras show that seabird movement patterns relate to previously unrevealed proximate environment, not prey. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88424. [PMID: 24523892 PMCID: PMC3921161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of ecological and behavioral processes has been revolutionized in the last two decades with the rapid development of biologging-science. Recently, using image-capturing devices, some pilot studies demonstrated the potential of understanding marine vertebrate movement patterns in relation to their proximate, as opposed to remote sensed environmental contexts. Here, using miniaturized video cameras and GPS tracking recorders simultaneously, we show for the first time that information on the immediate visual surroundings of a foraging seabird, the Cape gannet, is fundamental in understanding the origins of its movement patterns. We found that movement patterns were related to specific stimuli which were mostly other predators such as gannets, dolphins or fishing boats. Contrary to a widely accepted idea, our data suggest that foraging seabirds are not directly looking for prey. Instead, they search for indicators of the presence of prey, the latter being targeted at the very last moment and at a very small scale. We demonstrate that movement patterns of foraging seabirds can be heavily driven by processes unobservable with conventional methodology. Except perhaps for large scale processes, local-enhancement seems to be the only ruling mechanism; this has profounds implications for ecosystem-based management of marine areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Tremblay
- Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerrannéenne et Tropicale, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 212: IRD-IFREMER-UM2 : Expoited Marine Ecosystems, Sète, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Andréa Thiebault
- Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerrannéenne et Tropicale, Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 212: IRD-IFREMER-UM2 : Expoited Marine Ecosystems, Sète, France
| | - Ralf Mullers
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute and DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pierre Pistorius
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Campus, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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