The Use of Acceleration to Code for Animal Behaviours; A Case Study in Free-Ranging Eurasian Beavers Castor fiber

PloS One
Patricia M GrafFrank Rosell

Abstract

Recent technological innovations have led to the development of miniature, accelerometer-containing electronic loggers which can be attached to free-living animals. Accelerometers provide information on both body posture and dynamism which can be used as descriptors to define behaviour. We deployed tri-axial accelerometer loggers on 12 free-ranging Eurasian beavers Castor fiber in the county of Telemark, Norway, and on four captive beavers (two Eurasian beavers and two North American beavers C. canadensis) to corroborate acceleration signals with observed behaviours. By using random forests for classifying behavioural patterns of beavers from accelerometry data, we were able to distinguish seven behaviours; standing, walking, swimming, feeding, grooming, diving and sleeping. We show how to apply the use of acceleration to determine behaviour, and emphasise the ease with which this non-invasive method can be implemented. Furthermore, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this, and the implementation of accelerometry on animals, illustrating limitations, suggestions and solutions. Ultimately, this approach may also serve as a template facilitating studies on other animals with similar locomotor modes and deliver new insights...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 1, 2017·Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology·David CostantiniDanica J Stark
Oct 17, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Jack TatlerThomas A A Prowse
Dec 7, 2018·PloS One·Lia Schlippe JusticiaMartin Mayer
Jan 30, 2018·Ecology and Evolution·Patricia Maria GrafFrank Rosell
May 26, 2018·Animal Cognition·Christoph D DahlIris Bachmann
Apr 2, 2020·American Journal of Veterinary Research·Kate P SharonRudolph S Parrish
Sep 12, 2017·American Journal of Primatology·John C M ShaGoro Hanya
Jun 8, 2019·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Rory P WilsonEmily L C Shepard
Aug 31, 2019·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Laura BenoitNicolas Morellet

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Software Mentioned

OriginPro
R package randomForest
Snoop
ODBA
R
VeDBA

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