title: The Use of Acceleration to Code for Animal Behaviours; A Case Study in Free-Ranging Eurasian Beavers Castor fiber.
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 into hitherto unknown aspects of behavioural ecology.
authors: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Telemark University College, Bø i Telemark, Norway; Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Patricia M
authors: PM
authors: Graf
authors: Swansea Moving Animal Research Team, Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors: Rory P
authors: RP
authors: Wilson
authors: Swansea Moving Animal Research Team, Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors: Lama
authors: L
authors: Qasem
authors: Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Hackländer
authors: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Telemark University College, Bø i Telemark, Norway.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Rosell
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004242:Diving; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006120:Grooming; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011187:Posture; D012377:Rodentia / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming; D016138:Walking