Strategy to Predict High and Low Frequency Behaviors Using Triaxial Accelerometers in Grazing of Beef Cattle

Knowledge of animal behavior can be indicative of the well-being, health, productivity, and reproduction of animals. The use of accelerometers to classify and predict animal behavior can be a tool for continuous animal monitoring. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide strategies for predicting more and less frequent beef cattle grazing behaviors. The behavior activities observed were grazing, ruminating, idle, water consumption frequency (WCF), feeding (supplementation) and walking. Three Machine Learning algorithms: Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Naïve Bayes Classifier (NBC) and two resample methods: under and over-sampling, were tested. Overall accuracy was higher for RF models trained with the over-sampled dataset. The greatest sensitivity (0.808) for the less frequent behavior (WCF) was observed in the RF algorithm trained with the under-sampled data. The SVM models only performed efficiently when classifying the most frequent behavior (idle). The greatest predictor in the NBC algorithm was for ruminating behavior, with the over-sampled training dataset. The results showed that the behaviors of the studied animals were classified with high accuracy and specificity when the RF algorithm trained with the resampling methods was used. Resampling training datasets is a strategy to be considered, especially when less frequent behaviors are of interest.

Detecting Animal Contacts—A Deep Learning-Based Pig Detection and Tracking Approach for the Quantification of Social Contacts

The identification of social interactions is of fundamental importance for animal behavioral studies, addressing numerous problems like investigating the influence of social hierarchical structures or the drivers of agonistic behavioral disorders. However, the majority of previous studies often rely on manual determination of the number and types of social encounters by direct observation which requires a large amount of personnel and economical efforts. To overcome this limitation and increase research efficiency and, thus, contribute to animal welfare in the long term, we propose in this study a framework for the automated identification of social contacts. In this framework, we apply a convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect the location and orientation of pigs within a video and track their movement trajectories over a period of time using a Kalman filter (KF) algorithm. Based on the tracking information, we automatically identify social contacts in the form of head–head and head–tail contacts. Moreover, by using the individual animal IDs, we construct a network of social contacts as the final output. We evaluated the performance of our framework based on two distinct test sets for pig detection and tracking. Consequently, we achieved a Sensitivity, Precision, and F1-score of 94.2%, 95.4%, and 95.1%, respectively, and a MOTA score of 94.4%. The findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of our keypoint-based tracking-by-detection strategy and can be applied to enhance animal monitoring systems.

A Frequency-Programmable Miniaturized Radio Frequency Transmitter for Animal Tracking

In animal tracking applications, smaller transmitters can reduce the impact of the transmitter on the tagged animal and thus provide more accurate data about animal behavior. By combining a novel circuit design and a newly developed micro-battery, we developed frequency-programmable and more powerful radio frequency transmitters that are about 40% smaller and lighter in weight than the smallest commercial counterpart for animal monitoring at the time of development. The new radio frequency transmitter has a miniaturized form factor for studying small animals. Designs of two coding schemes were developed: one transmits unmodulated signals (weight: 152 mg; dimensions: Ø 2.95 mm × 11.22 mm), and the other transmits modulated signals (weight: 160 mg; dimensions: Ø 2.95 mm × 11.85 mm). To accommodate different transmitter life requirements, each design can be configured to transmit in high or low signal strength. Prototypes of these transmitters were evaluated in the laboratory and exhibited comparable or longer service life and higher signal strength compared to their smallest commercial counterparts.

TINGKAT RISIKO KONFLIK MANUSIA DAN HARIMAU SUMATERA DI SEKITARAN HUTAN TANAMAN INDUSTRI PT. ARARA ABADI DISTRIK TAPUNG RISK LEVEL OF HUMAN AND SUMATERAN TIGERS (PANTHERA TIGRIS SUMATRAE)IN PT. ARARA ABADI DISTRIK TAPUNG INDUSTRIAL FOREST

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) categorizes the Sumatran tiger as an endangered species in crisis, which is the highest category of extinction threat. One of the causes of the extinction of the Sumatran tiger is conflict with humans. The meeting of human activities and the roaming area of tigers in the same space creates an adverse conflict on both sides.This research was conducted in the Hutan Tanaman Industri of PT. Arara Abadi, Tapung District, located in Siak Regency and Kampar Regency, Riau Province, to be precise in Rantau Bertuah Village and Garo City Village. The research method is a qualitative approach. Primary data obtained from observations and interviews, and document studies. Secondary data obtained from literature studies are landscape maps, animal monitoring data, and biodiversity reports of PT. Arara Abadi, Tapung district. In addition, the literature study is also sourced from the Riau BKSDA wildlife monitoring data document. Result: Conflict between humans and Sumatran tigers occurred in the concession area of PT. Riau Abadi Lestari to be precise in a conservation area, in a community plantation area. The social losses that occur are in the form of psychological losses, while other losses such as human injuries or death do not occur. The economic loss was Rp. 42,000,000. In addition, some residents lost their working days to cultivate their gardens. The frequency of conflicts that occurred in Rantau Bertuah Village did not recur and conflicts that occurred in Kota Garo Village occurred repeatedly throughout 2020.Conflicts that occur in Rantau Bertuah Village are low risk. Meanwhile, the conflict that occurred in the village of Kota Garo was included in moderate risk.

Evidence on the effectiveness of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) as a survey tool for North American terrestrial, vertebrate animals: a systematic map protocol

Background Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are replacing or supplementing manned aircraft and ground-based surveys in many animal monitoring situations due to better coverage at finer spatial and temporal resolutions, access, cost, bias, impacts, safety, efficiency, and logistical benefits. Various sUAS models and sensors are available with varying features and usefulness depending on survey goals. However, justification for selection of sUAS and sensors are not typically offered in published literature and existing reviews do not adequately cover past and current sUAS applications for animal monitoring nor their associated sUAS model and sensor technologies, taxonomic and geographic scope, flight conditions and considerations, spatial distributions of sUAS applications, and reported technical difficulties. We outline a systematic map protocol to collect and consolidate evidence pertaining to sUAS monitoring of animals. Our systematic map will provide a useful synthesis of current applications of sUAS-animal related studies and identify major knowledge clusters (well-represented subtopics that are amenable to full synthesis by a systematic review) and gaps (unreported or underrepresented topics that warrant additional primary research) that may influence future research directions and sUAS applications. Methods Our systematic map will investigate the current state of knowledge using an accurate, comprehensive, and repeatable search. We will find relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature as well as dissertations and theses using online publication databases, Google Scholar, and by request through a professional network of collaborators and publicly available websites. We will use a tiered approach to article exclusion with eligible studies being those that monitor (i.e., identify, count, estimate, etc.) terrestrial vertebrate animals. Extracted data concerning sUAS, sensors, animals, methodology, and results will be recorded in Microsoft Access. We will query and catalogue evidence in the final database to produce tables, figures, and geographic maps to accompany a full narrative review that answers our primary and secondary questions.

Efficiency of photo identification of inguinal color patterns of Pithecopus gonzagai (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) from northeastern Brazil

Animal monitoring research involving mark-recapture techniques increasingly requires non-invasive methods of individual identification. The photographic identification method (PIM) is an excellent tool for this purpose and has been applied successfully to many taxa. However, the utility of PIM is a function of species-specific features that are judged suitable for a given target-species. Herein, the suitability of inguinal color patterns for photo identification of individuals of Pithecopus gonzagai are evaluated by comparing two widely used computer-assisted photographic matching programs (I³S and Wild.ID). Both programs accurately identified more than 70% of individuals in the top 20 potential matching photographs. Wild.ID was slightly better than I³S in matching efficiency and has a faster processing time. Thus, PIM is useful to identify individual P. gonzagai; however, before implementing the technique in animal-monitoring studies of other taxa, one must evaluate the suitability PIM for the target species and calibrate the relative efficiency of the software programs in identifying individuals.

Gene therapy vectors should enable CRISPR systems to accumulate at disease sites and successfully penetrate nuclei

CRISPR systems should accumulate at disease sites and successfully penetrate nuclei. New characteristics are being studied to mediate cell selectivity, such as biophysical and topographic signals. Nanocarriers' long-term safety must be examined, as nanomaterial accumulation in the liver is detected with delayed removal. More basic scientific inquiry on nanotechnology-related toxicity and long-term animal monitoring is needed. Because urine excretion may eliminate degraded particles smaller than 5 nm, creating biodegradable nanocarriers can reduce long-term toxicity. Research on biomarker-regulated nanocarriers is limited, publishing only protease or ATP-responsive research. Using a stiff chain as a connection between target groups and nano-c carriers and polymers of suitable length, including targetable groups and negative charges to limit protein absorption, may assist. There are still gaps between research and clinical translation, we argue. We conclude that the utilization of direct usage of materials created by live beings is also an interesting way to imitate intrinsic cell identification and translocation capabilities. We believe that the development of CRISPR delivery nano carriers will be a novel tool for treating human illnesses with enormous translational potential.The Activatable probe design, which shifts to active conditions in the presence of biomarkers, can be utilized as a model. The circulatory half-life of most reported CRISPR nanocarriers is unknown, and a critical pharmacokinetic parameter remains unknown.Figuring out how to create large-scale nanocarriers while adhering to suitable manufacturing methods is vital and tough. The effects of scale-up on nanoparticles should be further investigated.

The potential of aquatic haematophagous, liquidosomatophagous and macrophagous leeches as a tool for iDNA characterisation

Leeches play important roles in food webs due to their abundance, diversity and feeding habits. Studies using invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) extracted from leech gut contents to target vertebrate DNA have focused on the Indo-Pacific region and mainly leveraged the leech family Haemadipsidae, composed of haematophagous terrestrial leeches, while the aquatic haematophagous, liquidosomatophagous and macrophagous counterparts have largely been disregarded. While there is general knowledge regarding the taxonomic groups that leeches prefer to feed on, detailed taxonomic resolution is still missing and therefore, their potential use for monitoring animals is not known. In this study, 116 non-haemadipsid leeches belonging to 12 species and spanning the three feeding habits were collected in Mexico and Canada. We used DNA metabarcoding to investigate their diet and assess their potential use for vertebrate monitoring. We detected vertebrate taxa from five orders including fish, turtles and birds in the diet of the aquatic haematophagous leeches; eight invertebrate orders of annelids, arthropods and molluscs in the liquidosomatophagous leeches; and ten orders of invertebrates belonging to Arthropoda and Annelida, as well as one vertebrate and one parasitic nematode, in the macrophagous leeches. These results show the potential use of iDNA from the gut content of aquatic haematophagous leeches for retrieving vertebrate taxa, and from macrophagous and liquidosomatophagous counterparts for invertebrates. Our study provides information about the dietary range of the freshwater leeches and the non-haemadipsid terrestrial leech and proof-of-concept for the use of non-haemadipsid leeches for animal monitoring, expanding our knowledge of the use of iDNA from leech gut contents to North America.