10.5061/DRYAD.803F52K
de la Rosa, Carlos A.
University of California Los Angeles
Data from: An inexpensive and open-source method to study large
terrestrial animal diet and behavior using time-lapse video and GPS
Dryad
dataset
2019
environmental data collection system
foraging ecology
Bos taurus
Croton sp.
Holocene
Animal borne video
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
DGE-1144087
2019-01-11T14:39:48Z
2019-01-11T14:39:48Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.13146
18804220241 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
1. The behavior of free-ranging animals is difficult to study, especially
on the large spatial and temporal scales relevant to long-lived large
species. Animal-borne video and environmental data collection systems
(AVEDs) record behavior and other data in real time as animals conduct
daily activities. However, few studies have combined systematically
collected, long term AVED foraging data with environmental and movement
data to test hypotheses on animal foraging. Additionally, AVEDs are often
either prohibitively expensive, or require extensive fabrication and
programming knowledge. 2. The video and coordinate animal-mounted system
(VACAMS) is an animal-mounted data collection system based on a modified
GoPro® action camera platform that records short, first “person”
perspective videos of animal behavior on an automated time-lapse schedule.
As most videos are georeferenced, researchers can return to the locations
of specific behaviors and collect accurate, fine-grained data on non-woody
vegetation and other habitat characteristics that may influence animal
behavior. Moreover, VACAMS are inexpensive and easy to use. 3. This study
describes VACAMS preliminary data on cattle foraging and a hypothesis
exploring free-ranging cattle browsing habits throughout the rainy season
in the tropical dry forest of Sonora, Mexico. I generated a database of
vegetation types consumed by cows each month (Annual, Woody, and Leaf
litter) and compared actual vegetation type frequencies to a priori
assumptions based on seasonal patterns of forage availability. During the
monsoons, when palatable vegetation was abundant, frequencies of annual
and woody perennial vegetation in cattle diets did not differ from month
to month. When the rains ceased and palatable vegetation became scarce,
cows switched to leaf litter, dead annual vegetation, twigs, and dried
leguminous fruits. 4. Open source software and commercially available
hardware make VACAMS financially attainable for many researchers, land
managers, students, and other user groups. VACAMS could be used on a range
of domestic and semi-domestic free-ranging animals, particularly in dense
forests where conventional observations are impossible. With improvements
to GPS battery life and durability, the weakest points of the system,
VACAMS could also potentially apply to studies of other large terrestrial
animals.
Relaxing with a special visitor / relajando con visitante especialRelaxing
during the heat of the day, a friend comes to visit- a groove billed Ani
(Crotophaga sulcirostris)! Descansando en mediodía, viene un compañero a
visitar- ¡un garrapatero asurcado (Crotophaga sulcirostris)! CowPro -
GOPR1240 July 12, 2016 at 2:51 PMgroovebilledani.mp4Eating understory
plants / comiendo plantas del sotobosqueTypical feeding behavior for
annual and perennial ground-covering herbs: fairly indiscriminate,
multiple plants and species in each tongue-hook movement to the mouth.
Comportamiento tipico en eventos de alimentación en hierbas annuales y
perennes: indiscriminado, multiples individuos o especies en cada bocado.
CowPro - GOPR2831 October 6, 2015 at 10:08 AMGOPR2831.MP4Croton fantzianus
in 1080pCroton fantzianus. Here, several interesting behaviors are
visible. Notably, cows use their heads and necks to break the tree's
branches, particularly of C. fantzianus and Mimosa palmeri, bringing
softer, more nutritious material into range. This behavior is especially
common in late fall, when deciduous tropical dry forest (TDF) species
begin to shed their leaves. An early 10 second video, testing 1080p at 60
frames per second (fps). Due to cow head movements while feeding, I ended
up going with 720p at 120fps, sacrificing a bit of image quality for
soothing slow motion action. Consumo de C. fantzianus. Aqui se ven varios
comportamientos interesantes. Por ejemplo, las vacas de este área usan sus
cabezas y cuellos para quebrar ramas, en particular de C. fantzianus y
Mimosa palmeri, en tal manera alcanzando materiales blandos y nutritivos.
Este comportamiento se nota principalmente en otoño, cuando las especies
del bosque tropical seco empiezan a perder sus hojas. El video es uno de
los mas preliminarios, grabado en 1080p a 60 cuadros por segundo. Debido a
movimientos de las cabezas de las vacas mientras consumen plantas, decidí
a grabar videos de 720p a 120 cuadros por segundo, sacrificando un poco de
calidád de imagen para videos a cámara lenta. CowPro - GOPR0530 9/30/15,
4:28 PMGOPR0530.MP4Freedom / LiberaciónFree to go, with a fresh new CowPro
unit. Libre, con un aparato de CowPro con pilas frescas. CowPro - GOPR1938
July 27, 2016 at 6:35 AMGOPR1938.MP4Caregiving behaviorA new calf gets a
bath. Bañada de una becerra recién
nacida.lick.mp4munch2015_VACAMS_videosVACAMS videos from
2015.2016_VACAMS_videos_1First half of 2016 VACAMS
videos.2016_VACAMS_videos_2Second half of 2016 VACAMS videos.
Mexico
Sonora