« Previous Abstract"Pheromones in white pine cone beetle,Conophthorus coniperda (schwarz) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)"    Next AbstractSampling the Body Odor of Primates: Cotton Swabs Sample Semivolatiles Rather Than Volatiles »

Behav Res Methods

Title:		SwarmSight: Measuring the temporal progression of animal group activity levels from natural-scene and laboratory videos
Author(s):		Birgiolas J; Jernigan CM; Smith BH; Crook SM;
Address:		"School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874601, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4601, USA. justas@asu.edu. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874601, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4601, USA. School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA"
Journal Title:		Behav Res Methods
Year:		2017
Volume:		49
Issue:		2
Page Number:		576 - 587
DOI:		10.3758/s13428-016-0732-2
ISSN/ISBN:		1554-3528 (Electronic) 1554-351X (Print) 1554-351X (Linking)
Abstract:		"We describe SwarmSight (available at https://github.com/justasb/SwarmSight ), a novel, open-source, Microsoft Windows software tool for quantitative assessment of the temporal progression of animal group activity levels from recorded videos. The tool utilizes a background subtraction machine vision algorithm and provides an activity metric that can be used to quantitatively assess and compare animal group behavior. Here we demonstrate the tool's utility by analyzing defensive bee behavior as modulated by alarm pheromones, wild-bird feeding onset and interruption, and cockroach nest-finding activity. Although more sophisticated, commercial software packages are available, SwarmSight provides a low-cost, open-source, and easy-to-use alternative that is suitable for a wide range of users, including minimally trained research technicians and behavioral science undergraduate students in classroom laboratory settings"
Keywords:		"Algorithms Animals *Behavior, Animal *Software Time Factors Video Recording/*methods Activity change Activity detection Activity levels Automated behavior assessment Bees Birds Cockroaches Group activity Insects Motion detection Natural scenes Software Sw;"
Notes:		"MedlineBirgiolas, Justas Jernigan, Christopher M Smith, Brian H Crook, Sharon M eng R01 DC007997/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 GM113967/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ R01 MH106674/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ 2016/05/01 Behav Res Methods. 2017 Apr; 49(2):576-587. doi: 10.3758/s13428-016-0732-2"