Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jiangfan Feng, Xinxin Xiao
Summary: Researchers have developed a multiobject-tracking approach based on camera traps and video recordings to improve wildlife tracking performance. This approach combines deep learning and few-shot learning technologies to automatically find and identify species, which is significant for ecology and wildlife biology.
Article
Ecology
Laurence A. Clarfeld, Alexej P. K. Siren, Brendan M. Mulhall, Tammy L. Wilson, Elena Bernier, John Farrell, Gus Lunde, Nicole Hardy, Katherina D. Gieder, Robert Abrams, Sue Staats, Scott Mclellan, Therese M. Donovan
Summary: ML bounding boxes significantly improve tagging efficiency in remote camera image labeling, but incorrect ML predictions can slow down the process.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Review
Entomology
Michele Preti, Francois Verheggen, Sergio Angeli
Summary: The review summarizes the progress made in using camera-equipped traps for monitoring insect pests, highlighting the application of software and image recognition algorithms. By utilizing image sensors for monitoring, the accuracy and efficiency of insect pest monitoring can be improved, leading to reduced labor costs.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
De-Yao Meng, Tao Li, Hao-Xuan Li, Mei Zhang, Kun Tan, Zhi-Pang Huang, Na Li, Rong-Hai Wu, Xiao-Wei Li, Ben-Hui Chen, Guo-Peng Ren, Wen Xiao, Deng-Qi Yang
Summary: Camera traps have revolutionized wildlife resource surveys by providing comprehensive ecosystem information. However, the manual identification and labeling of wildlife images from large datasets are labor-intensive and costly. By utilizing deep learning technology to automatically differentiate between wildlife and human activity images, ecologists can reduce personnel costs and improve work efficiency.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Zackary J. Delisle, Elizabeth A. Flaherty, Mackenzie R. Nobbe, Cole M. Wzientek, Robert K. Swihart
Summary: Camera trapping as an effective non-invasive method for collecting data on wildlife species has shown significant growth and application, but further development may be limited. Studies indicate a clear increase in both the quantity and diversity of CT articles, but certain aspects have already reached their limits. Future developments will require transformation of models and data sharing, as well as further improvements in technology and engineering.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Oliver R. Wearn, Thomas E. M. Bell, Adam Bolitho, James Durrant, Jessica K. Haysom, Sahil Nijhawan, Jack Thorley, J. Marcus Rowcliffe
Summary: Animal density is an important parameter in ecology and conservation, but it is difficult to measure. This study extended the existing Random Encounter Model to the multi-species case and applied it to a dataset from Borneo. The study found that animal density was lower in logged forest, but biomass per unit area was higher.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Asit K. Behera, P. Ramesh Kumar, M. Malathi Priya, T. Ramesh, Riddhika Kalle
Summary: The COVID-19 lockdown measures have caused changes in the activity patterns and habitat use of wildlife, resulting in a range of positive and negative impacts. This study reveals the effects of the lockdown on wildlife by examining changes in temporal and spatial use before and during the lockdown.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Qaim Naqvi, Patrick J. Wolff, Brenda Molano-Flores, Jinelle H. Sperry
Summary: Insect and pollinator populations are declining worldwide, which is detrimental to ecosystems, food production, and economic stability. To monitor insect-plant interactions and behavior, new, cheap, and simple monitoring methods are necessary. In this study, the efficacy of a scheduled camera trap was evaluated, showing that it detected more insects overall than human observation and outperformed motion-activated camera traps. The scheduled camera trap is an effective and relatively inexpensive tool, with the potential for widespread use due to its accessibility and ease of setup, as well as the benefits of recording and sharing video observations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Max Schleier, Benedikt Adelmann, Cemal Esen, Ralf Hellmann
Summary: We propose an in situ process monitoring approach for remote fiber laser cutting, which utilizes a high-speed camera and a specifically designed image processing algorithm to distinguish between complete and incomplete cuts. The camera-based monitoring system is suitable for high-power fiber lasers and can accurately evaluate the size of the melt pool and the emitted sparks during the cutting process.
Article
Ecology
Veronika Mitterwallner, Anne Peters, Hendrik Edelhoff, Gregor Mathes, Hien Nguyen, Wibke Peters, Marco Heurich, Manuel J. Steinbauer
Summary: Understanding human-wildlife interactions is crucial as human activities in natural areas increase. This study evaluates the performance of an open-source object detection model in cross-regional monitoring using camera traps. The model shows high accuracy in detecting and counting humans, animals, and vehicles, and can be used for long-term monitoring without manual intervention.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hanna Bohner, Eivind Flittie Kleiven, Rolf Anker Ims, Eeva M. Soininen
Summary: This study proposes a semi-automatic workflow for processing images from small mammal cameras, which includes managing raw images, automatic image classification, quality check of automatic image labels, and manual review and correction of image labels. The workflow improves model performance and significantly reduces the time required for manual review and correction of image labels.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mengyu Tan, Wentao Chao, Jo-Ku Cheng, Mo Zhou, Yiwen Ma, Xinyi Jiang, Jianping Ge, Lian Yu, Limin Feng
Summary: The imagery captured by camera traps is important for wildlife research and conservation. This study constructed a wildlife dataset and compared the performance of three object detection models in real-life scenarios. The results showed that the models achieved satisfactory detection accuracy, especially the one-stage YOLOv5m model.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yaoru Pan, Naeem Ayoub, Peter Schneider-Kamp, Mogens Flindt, Marianne Holmer
Summary: This study conducted a monitoring survey on a semi-sheltered beach in Odense Fjord, Denmark using camera trap data. By utilizing deep learning with a VGG network and combining it with color-based segmentation, the study successfully determined the coverage of beach wrack and analyzed the impact of environmental variables on its movement.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Andrew Shepley, Greg Falzon, Christopher Lawson, Paul Meek, Paul Kwan
Summary: U-Infuse democratizes access to deep learning technologies by providing ecologists with a user-friendly software application for custom object detector training, enabling easy custom training and object detection with editing functions, improving ecological image analysis and processing efficiency.
Article
Ecology
Qiaoyi Zhang, Xiaoli Yi, Jiali Guo, Yadong Tang, Tao Feng, Rui Liu
Summary: This study proposes a data augmentation method using a cycle-consistent adversarial network for classifying rare wildlife images. The method accurately distinguishes between similar-appearing species, achieving a classification accuracy of 92.2% and an F1 score of 93.3% for small-sample datasets. It provides a reference for promoting rare wildlife conservation through digitalization and intelligence.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
B. Folt, C. P. McGowan, D. A. Steen, S. Piccolomini, M. Hoffman, J. C. Godwin, C. Guyer
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jared T. Beaver, Robert W. Baldwin, Max Messinger, Chad H. Newbolt, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Miles R. Silman
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Natascha M. D. Ivy-Israel, Carolyn E. Moore, Tonia S. Schwartz, Stephen S. Ditchkoff
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. M. Tucker, C. P. McGowan, E. S. Mulero Oliveras, N. F. Angeli, J. P. Zegarra
Summary: This study demonstrates a quantitative population projection for the data-deficient species of Puerto Rican boa, showing an increased probability of population decline with higher urbanization rates. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of outcomes and provide insight into potential future trajectories. Quantitative methods can produce rigorous and reproducible estimates of future status even with sparse data, with quantifiable uncertainty.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara A. Bolds, B. Graeme Lockaby, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Mark D. Smith, Kurt C. VerCauteren
Summary: The study found that wild pigs in Alabama can significantly impact water quality parameters, leading to increased levels of fecal bacteria and pollutants. The results suggest that controlling wild pig populations upstream of major drinking water sources and recreational areas is crucial for protecting water quality.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David R. Smith, Joshua J. Newhard, Conor P. McGowan, C. Alyssa Butler
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Brian Folt, Jeffrey M. Goessling, Anna Tucker, Craig Guyer, Sharon Hermann, Ericha Shelton-Nix, Conor McGowan
Summary: Population viability analyses can predict abundance and extinction risk for imperiled species. A 30-year study of gopher tortoises in southern Alabama revealed differences in demographic vital rates between stable and declining populations, with female survival playing a crucial role in population stability.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Natascha M. D. Ivy-Israel, Carolyn E. Moore, Tonia S. Schwartz, Todd D. Steury, Sarah Zohdy, Chad H. Newbolt, Stephen S. Ditchkoff
Summary: This study found that MHC-DOB is associated with male body size and antler size in white-tailed deer, showing a complex relationship where body size peaks at moderate MHC-DOB nucleotide allelic distance, while antler size increases linearly with MHC-DOB nucleotide allelic distances. MHC-DRB did not influence female body size, indicating a unique role for MHC-DOB in influencing male morphological characteristics in this species.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Monet A. Gomes, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Sarah Zohdy, William D. Gulsby, Chad H. Newbolt
Summary: Testosterone levels peak during the breeding season in white-tailed deer population in Alabama, with older bucks having higher testosterone levels than younger bucks during this period. Individual testosterone levels as a yearling are not directly correlated with lifetime maximum testosterone levels, but mean testosterone levels are positively associated with lifetime testosterone variation. This study contributes to understanding hormonal patterns in cervids and potential intraspecific variation in lifetime reproductive strategies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Abigail J. Lawson, Brian Folt, Anna M. Tucker, Francesca Erickson, Conor P. McGowan
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Anna M. Tucker, Conor P. McGowan, James E. Lyons, Audrey DeRose-Wilson, Nigel A. Clark
Summary: Understanding the effects of migratory stopover site conditions on demographic rates and migratory behaviors is crucial for interpreting population changes and predicting responses to future changes. Different species showed differences in survival probability and likelihood of returning to the stopover site based on food availability and weather conditions. This highlights the importance of flyway-wide monitoring in studying migratory birds.
POPULATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara A. Bolds, B. Graeme Lockaby, Latif Kalin, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Mark D. Smith, Kurt C. VerCauteren
Summary: Invasive wild pig populations have significantly increased in the southern U.S., causing negative impacts on water quality through fecal contamination. However, removal efforts have shown a reduction of e. coli and fecal coliform concentrations, although questions remain about the long-term effectiveness.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Review
Zoology
Matthew T. McDonough, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Mark D. Smith, Kurt C. Vercauteren
Summary: The wild pig is a successful invasive species that has established populations outside of its native range. They have significant negative impacts on ecosystems and terrestrial vertebrates. While there have been many studies on wild pig invasions and their impacts, the extent to which they affect vertebrate communities remains poorly described.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brian Folt, Michael Marshall, Jo Anna Emanuel, Michelina Dziadzio, Jane Cooke, Lourdes Mena, Matthew Hinderliter, Scott Hoffmann, Nicole Rankin, John Tupy, Conor McGowan
Summary: This study developed a spatially-explicit predictive population model for the gopher tortoise and estimated the future changes in population under different scenarios of anthropogenic threats. The results indicated that the number of individuals, populations, and metapopulations of the tortoise would decline in the next 80 years, with adult survival and immigration rates being more influential than threat magnitude. The findings have implications for conservation decisions and provide a framework for considering geographically-varying demographic rates in population viability analyses for imperiled species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kevyn H. Wiskirchen, Todd C. Jacobsen, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Steve Demarais, Robert A. Gitzen
Summary: White-tailed deer perceive temporal variation in predation risk and modify their behavior accordingly. There are behavioral differences among different sexes and age classes, which may be influenced by previous experience with hunters and/or trade-offs related to survival and fitness at the individual level.