Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
We propose a new method, based on machine learning techniques, for the analysis of a combination of continuous data from dataloggers and a sampling of contemporaneous behaviour observations. This data combination provides an opportunity for biologists to study behaviour at a previously unknown level...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2012
|
| _version_ | 1826295555904503808 |
|---|---|
| author | Grünewälder, S Broekhuis, F Macdonald, D Wilson, A McNutt, J Shawe-Taylor, J Hailes, S |
| author_facet | Grünewälder, S Broekhuis, F Macdonald, D Wilson, A McNutt, J Shawe-Taylor, J Hailes, S |
| author_sort | Grünewälder, S |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | We propose a new method, based on machine learning techniques, for the analysis of a combination of continuous data from dataloggers and a sampling of contemporaneous behaviour observations. This data combination provides an opportunity for biologists to study behaviour at a previously unknown level of detail and accuracy; however, continuously recorded data are of little use unless the resulting large volumes of raw data can be reliably translated into actual behaviour. We address this problem by applying a Support Vector Machine and a Hidden-Markov Model that allows us to classify an animal's behaviour using a small set of field observations to calibrate continuously recorded activity data. Such classified data can be applied quantitatively to the behaviour of animals over extended periods and at times during which observation is difficult or impossible. We demonstrate the usefulness of the method by applying it to data from six cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Cumulative activity data scores were recorded every five minutes by accelerometers embedded in GPS radio-collars for around one year on average. Direct behaviour sampling of each of the six cheetah were collected in the field for comparatively short periods. Using this approach we are able to classify each five minute activity score into a set of three key behaviour (feeding, mobile and stationary), creating a continuous behavioural sequence for the entire period for which the collars were deployed. Evaluation of our classifier with cross-validation shows the accuracy to be 83%-94%, but that the accuracy for individual classes is reduced with decreasing sample size of direct observations. We demonstrate how these processed data can be used to study behaviour identifying seasonal and gender differences in daily activity and feeding times. Results given here are unlike any that could be obtained using traditional approaches in both accuracy and detail. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:02:51Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:c52e3d5e-82f8-4859-820e-0b301a57915a |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:02:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:c52e3d5e-82f8-4859-820e-0b301a57915a2022-03-27T06:29:00ZMovement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c52e3d5e-82f8-4859-820e-0b301a57915aEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordPublic Library of Science2012Grünewälder, SBroekhuis, FMacdonald, DWilson, AMcNutt, JShawe-Taylor, JHailes, SWe propose a new method, based on machine learning techniques, for the analysis of a combination of continuous data from dataloggers and a sampling of contemporaneous behaviour observations. This data combination provides an opportunity for biologists to study behaviour at a previously unknown level of detail and accuracy; however, continuously recorded data are of little use unless the resulting large volumes of raw data can be reliably translated into actual behaviour. We address this problem by applying a Support Vector Machine and a Hidden-Markov Model that allows us to classify an animal's behaviour using a small set of field observations to calibrate continuously recorded activity data. Such classified data can be applied quantitatively to the behaviour of animals over extended periods and at times during which observation is difficult or impossible. We demonstrate the usefulness of the method by applying it to data from six cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Cumulative activity data scores were recorded every five minutes by accelerometers embedded in GPS radio-collars for around one year on average. Direct behaviour sampling of each of the six cheetah were collected in the field for comparatively short periods. Using this approach we are able to classify each five minute activity score into a set of three key behaviour (feeding, mobile and stationary), creating a continuous behavioural sequence for the entire period for which the collars were deployed. Evaluation of our classifier with cross-validation shows the accuracy to be 83%-94%, but that the accuracy for individual classes is reduced with decreasing sample size of direct observations. We demonstrate how these processed data can be used to study behaviour identifying seasonal and gender differences in daily activity and feeding times. Results given here are unlike any that could be obtained using traditional approaches in both accuracy and detail. |
| spellingShingle | Grünewälder, S Broekhuis, F Macdonald, D Wilson, A McNutt, J Shawe-Taylor, J Hailes, S Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title | Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title_full | Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title_fullStr | Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title_short | Movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
| title_sort | movement activity based classification of animal behaviour with an application to data from cheetah acinonyx jubatus |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT grunewalders movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT broekhuisf movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT macdonaldd movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT wilsona movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT mcnuttj movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT shawetaylorj movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus AT hailess movementactivitybasedclassificationofanimalbehaviourwithanapplicationtodatafromcheetahacinonyxjubatus |