title: Image analysis of weaverbird nests reveals signature weave textures.
abstract: In nature, many animals build structures that can be readily measured at the scale of their gross morphology (e.g. length, volume and weight). Capturing individuality as can be done with the structures designed and built by human architects or artists, however, is more challenging. Here, we tested whether computer-aided image texture classification approaches can be used to describe textural variation in the nests of weaverbirds (Ploceus species) in order to attribute nests to the individual weaverbird that built them. We found that a computer-aided texture analysis approach does allow the assignment of a signature to weaverbirds' nests. We suggest that this approach will be a useful tool with which to examine individual variation across a range of animal constructions, not just for nests.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University of St Andrews , Harold Mitchell Building , St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH UK.
authors.forename: Ida E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Computação , Universidade Federal de Uberlândia , Avenida João Naves de Ávila, 2.121-Campus Santa Mônica, UBERLÂNDIA, Minas Gerais CEP 38400-902, Brasil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Backes
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences , University of Edinburgh , Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University of St Andrews , Harold Mitchell Building , St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH UK.
authors.forename: Kate V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies , University of Edinburgh , Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Simone L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Meddle
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University of St Andrews , Harold Mitchell Building , St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH UK.
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Healy
keywords: biological structures; classification; individual differences; nest building; texture analysis