Detecting small and cryptic animals by combining thermography and a wildlife detection dog - PubMed (original) (raw)
Detecting small and cryptic animals by combining thermography and a wildlife detection dog
Denise Karp. Sci Rep. 2020.
Abstract
Small and cryptic species are challenging to detect and study in their natural habitat. Many of these species are of conservation concern, and conservation efforts may be hampered by the lack of basic information on their ecological needs. Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) leverets - one example of such a small, cryptic and endangered animal - are notoriously difficult to detect, and therefore data on wild leverets are virtually non-existent. Novel technologies and methods such as thermal imaging and the use of wildlife detection dogs represent suitable means for the detection of such species by overcoming the problem of camouflage, using heat or scent emission respectively. Our study on brown hare leverets provides information on how to apply these new techniques successfully for the detection of small and cryptic species, thus enabling the collection of data that was previously inaccessible (e.g. behavioural observation, radio tagging). We found that the choice of method should be made according to vegetative structure. While the handheld thermal imaging camera is best used in areas with no or low vegetative cover, the thermal drone can be used up to medium vegetative cover, whereas the detection dog method is best applied where vegetation is very dense and not suitable to be searched using thermography. Being able to search all sort of different vegetation types, our combined approach enables the collection of a balanced and unbiased dataset regarding habitat type and hence selection of study specimen. We hope that the use of these new techniques will encourage research on many cryptic species that formerly have been neglected because they could not be detected using conventional methodologies.
Conflict of interest statement
The author declares no competing interests.
Figures
Figure 1
(a) Setup for the application of the handheld thermal camera. (b) Suspicious thermal signature in a distance of about 40 meters, corresponding to a leveret in terms of size, shape and brightness. Identification is not possible, thus close inspection is necessary. Small picture: close-up of a thermal signature of a leveret from a distance of 3 meters. Both pictures have been captured with a handheld FLIR Scout TS-32r Pro thermal camera.
Figure 2
(a) Using a thermal drone to search for cryptic wildlife. (b) Thermal picture taken with a FLIR Photon 320 mounted on a microdrones md4–200 quadrocopter nine meters above ground level. The framed spot represents a leveret located within medium - high vegetation density (fallow land).
Figure 3
Wildlife detection dog performing its trained alert upon detection of a leveret: laying down with its head on the ground and the snout pointing into the direction of the target.
Figure 4
Summary of key factors to consider for successful cryptic wildlife detection.
Similar articles
- Causes of admission and outcomes of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) leverets at wildlife rescue centres in the Czech Republic.
Lukesova G, Voslarova E, Vecerek V, Nenadovic K. Lukesova G, et al. BMC Vet Res. 2022 Jan 15;18(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-03136-w. BMC Vet Res. 2022. PMID: 35033062 Free PMC article. - Living on the edge - circadian habitat usage in pre-weaning European hares (Lepus europaeus) in an intensively used agricultural area.
Voigt U, Siebert U. Voigt U, et al. PLoS One. 2019 Sep 9;14(9):e0222205. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222205. eCollection 2019. PLoS One. 2019. PMID: 31498835 Free PMC article. - Automatic detection of animals in mowing operations using thermal cameras.
Steen KA, Villa-Henriksen A, Therkildsen OR, Green O. Steen KA, et al. Sensors (Basel). 2012;12(6):7587-97. doi: 10.3390/s120607587. Epub 2012 Jun 7. Sensors (Basel). 2012. PMID: 22969362 Free PMC article. - Novel wildlife in the Arctic: the influence of changing riparian ecosystems and shrub habitat expansion on snowshoe hares.
Tape KD, Christie K, Carroll G, O'Donnell JA. Tape KD, et al. Glob Chang Biol. 2016 Jan;22(1):208-19. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13058. Epub 2015 Nov 3. Glob Chang Biol. 2016. PMID: 26527375 Review. - European Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) as a source of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of Public Health importance: A review.
Tsokana CN, Sokos C, Giannakopoulos A, Birtsas P, Valiakos G, Spyrou V, Athanasiou LV, Rodi Burriel A, Billinis C. Tsokana CN, et al. Vet Med Sci. 2020 Aug;6(3):550-564. doi: 10.1002/vms3.248. Epub 2020 Feb 23. Vet Med Sci. 2020. PMID: 32088933 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
- Thermal imaging and computer vision technologies for the enhancement of pig husbandry: a review.
Reza MN, Ali MR, Samsuzzaman, Kabir MSN, Karim MR, Ahmed S, Kyoung H, Kim G, Chung SO. Reza MN, et al. J Anim Sci Technol. 2024 Jan;66(1):31-56. doi: 10.5187/jast.2024.e4. Epub 2024 Jan 31. J Anim Sci Technol. 2024. PMID: 38618025 Free PMC article. Review. - Portable thermal scanners to detect and monitor small endotherms: A comparative assessment of available equipment to guide practitioners.
Dawlings FME, Mackay C, Humphrey M, Mitchell WF, Sorrell KJ, Sanchez S, Viola BM, Clarke RH. Dawlings FME, et al. Ecol Evol. 2023 Jul 21;13(7):e10331. doi: 10.1002/ece3.10331. eCollection 2023 Jul. Ecol Evol. 2023. PMID: 37484932 Free PMC article. - An experimental assessment of detection dog ability to locate great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) at distance and through soil.
Glover NJ, Wilson LE, Leedale A, Jehle R. Glover NJ, et al. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 7;18(6):e0285084. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285084. eCollection 2023. PLoS One. 2023. PMID: 37285345 Free PMC article. - The multilevel organismal diversity approach deciphers difficult to distinguish nudibranch species complex.
Korshunova TA, Driessen FMF, Picton BE, Martynov AV. Korshunova TA, et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 15;11(1):18323. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94863-5. Sci Rep. 2021. PMID: 34526521 Free PMC article. - Canine Olfaction: Physiology, Behavior, and Possibilities for Practical Applications.
Kokocińska-Kusiak A, Woszczyło M, Zybala M, Maciocha J, Barłowska K, Dzięcioł M. Kokocińska-Kusiak A, et al. Animals (Basel). 2021 Aug 21;11(8):2463. doi: 10.3390/ani11082463. Animals (Basel). 2021. PMID: 34438920 Free PMC article. Review.
References
- Cuthill IC. Camouflage. J. Zool. 2019;308:75–92. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12682. - DOI
- Merilaita, S. & Stevens, M. Crypsis through Background Matching. [Stevens, M. & Merilaita, S. (ed.)] Animal Camouflage: Mechanisms and Function. 17–33. (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
- Booth CL. Evolutionary significance of ontogenetic colour change in animals. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 1990;40:125–163. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1990.tb01973.x. - DOI
- Vine SJ, et al. Comparison of methods to detect rare and cryptic species: a case study using the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Wildlife Res. 2009;36:436–446. doi: 10.1071/WR08069. - DOI
- Gu W, Swihart RK. Absent or undetected? Effects of non-detection of species occurrence on wildlife–habitat models. Biol. Conserv. 2004;116:195–203. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00190-3. - DOI
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous