Because
of
their
close
relationship
with
humans,
non-human
apes
(chimpanzees,
bonobos,
gorillas,
orangutans,
and
gibbons,
including
siamangs)
are
great
scientific
interest.
The
goal
understanding
complex
behavior
would
be
greatly
advanced
by
the
ability
to
perform
video-based
pose
tracking.
Tracking,
however,
requires
high-quality
annotated
datasets
ape
photographs.
Here
we
present
OpenApePose,
a
new
public
dataset
71,868
photographs,
16
body
landmarks
six
species
in
naturalistic
contexts.
We
show
that
standard
deep
net
(HRNet-W48)
trained
on
photos
can
reliably
track
out-of-sample
better
than
networks
monkeys
(specifically,
OpenMonkeyPose
dataset)
humans
(COCO)
can.
This
network
almost
as
well
other
respective
taxa,
models
without
one
held-out
monkey
human
Ultimately,
results
our
analyses
highlight
importance
large,
specialized
databases
for
animal
tracking
systems
confirm
utility
database.
PeerJ,
Год журнала:
2022,
Номер
10, С. e13152 - e13152
Опубликована: Март 21, 2022
Animal
vocalisations
and
natural
soundscapes
are
fascinating
objects
of
study,
contain
valuable
evidence
about
animal
behaviours,
populations
ecosystems.
They
studied
in
bioacoustics
ecoacoustics,
with
signal
processing
analysis
an
important
component.
Computational
has
accelerated
recent
decades
due
to
the
growth
affordable
digital
sound
recording
devices,
huge
progress
informatics
such
as
big
data,
machine
learning.
Methods
inherited
from
wider
field
deep
learning,
including
speech
image
processing.
However,
tasks,
demands
data
characteristics
often
different
those
addressed
or
music
analysis.
There
remain
unsolved
problems,
tasks
for
which
is
surely
present
many
acoustic
signals,
but
not
yet
realised.
In
this
paper
I
perform
a
review
state
art
learning
computational
bioacoustics,
aiming
clarify
key
concepts
identify
analyse
knowledge
gaps.
Based
on
this,
offer
subjective
principled
roadmap
learning:
topics
that
community
should
aim
address,
order
make
most
future
developments
AI
informatics,
use
audio
answering
zoological
ecological
questions.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
380(1925)
Опубликована: Май 1, 2025
There
is
a
growing
consensus
that
animals'
socially
transmitted
knowledge
should
be
recognized
when
planning
conservation
management,
but
demonstrating
social
learning
or
culture
can
present
considerable
challenges,
especially
in
the
wild.
Fortunately,
decades
of
research
have
spawned
rich
methodological
toolkit
for
exactly
this
purpose.
Here,
we
review
principal
approaches,
including:
experiments;
analyses
natural
experimentally
seeded
diffusions
novel
behaviours,
sometimes
using
specialist
statistical
techniques;
mapping
behavioural
variation
across
neighbouring,
sympatric
captive
groups,
at
larger
scales;
and
assessment
aspects
cross-generational
transmission,
including
teaching,
during
ontogenetic
development
cumulative
change.
Some
methods
reviewed
were
developed
studies,
subsequently
been
adapted
application
wild,
are
useful
exploring
species'
general
propensity
to
learn
transmit
information
socially.
We
highlight
several
emerging
'rapid
assessment'
approaches-including
camera
trapping,
passive
acoustic
monitoring,
animal-borne
tags,
AI-assisted
data
mining
computer
simulations-that
prove
addressing
particularly
urgent
needs.
conclude
by
considering
how
best
use
practice,
guide
further
on
animal
cultures,
maximize
policy
impact.This
article
part
theme
issue
'Animal
culture:
changing
world'.
Journal of Animal Ecology,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
92(8), С. 1560 - 1574
Опубликована: Май 10, 2023
Abstract
Studying
animal
behaviour
allows
us
to
understand
how
different
species
and
individuals
navigate
their
physical
social
worlds.
Video
coding
of
is
considered
a
gold
standard:
allowing
researchers
extract
rich
nuanced
behavioural
datasets,
validate
reliability,
for
research
be
replicated.
However,
in
practice,
videos
are
only
useful
if
data
can
efficiently
extracted.
Manually
locating
relevant
footage
10,000
s
hours
extremely
time‐consuming,
as
the
manual
behaviour,
which
requires
extensive
training
achieve
reliability.
Machine
learning
approaches
used
automate
recognition
patterns
within
data,
considerably
reducing
time
taken
improving
tracking
visual
information
recognise
challenging
problem
and,
date,
pose‐estimation
tools
detect
typically
applied
where
environment
highly
controlled.
Animal
interested
applying
these
study
wild
animals,
but
it
not
clear
what
extent
doing
so
currently
possible,
or
most
suited
particular
problems.
To
address
this
gap
knowledge,
we
describe
new
available
rapidly
evolving
landscape,
suggest
guidance
tool
selection,
provide
worked
demonstration
use
machine
track
movement
video
apes,
make
our
base
models
use.
We
tool,
DeepLabCut,
demonstrate
successful
two
pilot
an
pose
estimate
problem:
multi‐animal
forest‐living
chimpanzees
bonobos
across
contexts
from
hand‐held
footage.
With
DeepWild
show
that,
without
requiring
specific
expertise
learning,
estimation
free‐living
primates
visually
complex
environments
attainable
goal
researchers.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
265, С. 106000 - 106000
Опубликована: Июль 17, 2023
Automated
behavior
analysis
(ABA)
strategies
are
being
researched
at
a
rapid
rate
to
detect
an
array
of
behaviors
across
range
species.
There
is
growing
optimism
that
soon
ethologists
will
not
have
manually
decode
hours
(and
hours)
animal
videos,
but
instead
computers
process
them
for
us.
However,
before
we
assume
ABA
ready
practical
use,
it
important
take
realistic
look
exactly
what
developed,
the
expertise
used
develop
it,
and
context
in
which
these
studies
occur.
Once
understand
common
pitfalls
occurring
during
development
identify
limitations,
can
construct
robust
tools
achieve
automated
(ultimately
even
continuous
real
time)
behavioral
data,
allowing
more
detailed
or
longer-term
on
larger
numbers
animals
than
ever
before.
only
as
good
trained
be.
A
key
starting
point
having
annotated
data
model
training
assessment.
most
developers
ethology.
Often
no
formal
ethogram
developed
descriptions
target
publications
limited
inaccurate.
In
addition,
also
frequently
using
small
datasets,
lack
sufficient
variability
morphometrics,
activities,
camera
viewpoints,
environmental
features
be
generalizable.
Thus,
often
needs
further
validated
satisfactorily
different
populations
under
other
conditions,
research
purposes.
Multidisciplinary
teams
researchers
including
ethicists
well
computer
scientists,
engineers
needed
help
address
problems
when
applying
vision
measure
behavior.
Reference
datasets
detection
should
generated
shared
include
image
annotations,
baseline
analyses
benchmarking.
Also
critical
standards
creating
such
reference
best
practices
methods
validating
results
from
ensure
they
At
present,
handful
publicly
available
exist
tools.
As
work
realize
promise
subsequent
precision
livestock
farming
technologies)
behavior,
clear
understanding
practices,
access
accurately
networking
among
increase
our
chances
successes.
We
present
a
novel
dataset
for
animal
behavior
recognition
collected
in-situ
using
video
from
drones
flown
over
the
Mpala
Research
Centre
in
Kenya.
Videos
DJI
Mavic
2S
January
2023
were
acquired
at
5.4K
resolution
accordance
with
IACUC
protocols,
and
processed
to
detect
track
each
frames.
An
image
subregion
centered
on
was
extracted
combined
sequence
form
"mini-scene".
Be-haviors
then
manually
labeled
frame
of
mini-scene
by
team
annotators
overseen
an
expert
behavioral
ecologist.
The
resulting
mini-scenes
our
dataset,
consisting
more
than
10
hours
annotated
videos
reticulated
gi-raffes,
plains
zebras,
Grevy's
encompassing
seven
types
additional
category
occlusions.
Benchmark
results
state-of-the-art
architectures
show
labeling
accu-racy
61.9%
macro-average
(per
class),
86.7%
micro-average
instance).
Our
complements
recent
larger,
diverse
sets
smaller,
specialized
ones
being
drones,
both
important
considerations
future
an-imal
research.
can
be
accessed
https://dirtmaxim.github.io/kabr.
Cell Reports,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
42(9), С. 113091 - 113091
Опубликована: Авг. 31, 2023
Our
natural
behavioral
repertoires
include
coordinated
actions
of
characteristic
types.
To
better
understand
how
neural
activity
relates
to
the
expression
and
action
switches,
we
studied
macaques
performing
a
freely
moving
foraging
task
in
an
open
environment.
We
developed
novel
analysis
pipeline
that
can
identify
meaningful
units
behavior,
corresponding
recognizable
such
as
sitting,
walking,
jumping,
climbing.
On
basis
transition
probabilities
between
these
actions,
found
behavior
is
organized
modular
hierarchical
fashion.
that,
after
regressing
out
many
potential
confounders,
are
associated
with
specific
patterns
firing
each
six
prefrontal
brain
regions
overall,
encoding
category
progressively
stronger
more
dorsal
caudal
regions.
Together,
results
establish
link
selection
primate
on
one
hand
neuronal
other.
Journal of The Royal Society Interface,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
20(208)
Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2023
Artificial
intelligence
(AI)
and
machine
learning
(ML)
present
revolutionary
opportunities
to
enhance
our
understanding
of
animal
behaviour
conservation
strategies.
Using
elephants,
a
crucial
species
in
Africa
Asia’s
protected
areas,
as
focal
point,
we
delve
into
the
role
AI
ML
their
conservation.
Given
increasing
amounts
data
gathered
from
variety
sensors
like
cameras,
microphones,
geophones,
drones
satellites,
challenge
lies
managing
interpreting
this
vast
data.
New
techniques
offer
solutions
streamline
process,
helping
us
extract
vital
information
that
might
otherwise
be
overlooked.
This
paper
focuses
on
different
AI-driven
monitoring
methods
potential
for
improving
elephant
Collaborative
efforts
between
experts
ecological
researchers
are
essential
leveraging
these
innovative
technologies
enhanced
wildlife
conservation,
setting
precedent
numerous
other
species.
Behavior Research Methods,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
56(2), С. 986 - 1001
Опубликована: Март 15, 2023
Abstract
Current
methodologies
present
significant
hurdles
to
understanding
patterns
in
the
gestural
communication
of
individuals,
populations,
and
species.
To
address
this
issue,
we
a
bottom-up
data
collection
framework
for
study
gesture:
GesturalOrigins.
By
“bottom-up”,
mean
that
minimise
priori
structural
choices,
allowing
researchers
define
larger
concepts
(such
as
‘gesture
types’,
‘response
latencies’,
or
sequences’)
flexibly
once
coding
is
complete.
Data
can
easily
be
re-organised
provide
replication
of,
comparison
with,
wide
range
datasets
published
planned
analyses.
We
packages,
templates,
instructions
complete
process.
illustrate
flexibility
our
methodological
tool
offers
with
worked
examples
(great
ape)
communication,
demonstrating
differences
duration
action
phases
across
distinct
gesture
types
showing
how
species
variation
latency
respond
requests
may
revealed
masked
by
choices.
While
GesturalOrigins
built
from
an
ape-centred
perspective,
basic
adapted
potentially
other
systems.
making
methods
transparent
open
access,
hope
enable
more
direct
findings
research
groups,
improve
collaborations,
advance
field
tackle
some
long-standing
questions
comparative
research.
Methods in Ecology and Evolution,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
14(8), С. 1937 - 1951
Опубликована: Июль 24, 2023
Abstract
Longitudinal
video
archives
of
behaviour
are
crucial
for
examining
how
sociality
shifts
over
the
lifespan
in
wild
animals.
New
approaches
adopting
computer
vision
technology
hold
serious
potential
to
capture
interactions
and
associations
between
individuals
at
large
scale;
however,
such
need
a
priori
validation,
as
methods
sampling
defining
edges
social
networks
can
substantially
impact
results.
Here,
we
apply
deep
learning
face
recognition
model
generate
association
chimpanzees
using
17
years
archive
from
Bossou,
Guinea.
Using
7
million
detections
100
h
footage,
examined
varying
size
fixed
temporal
windows
(i.e.
aggregation
rates)
individual‐level
gregariousness
scores.
The
highest
lowest
rates
produced
divergent
values,
indicating
that
different
patterns.
To
avoid
any
bias
false
positives
negatives
automated
detection,
an
intermediate
rate
should
be
used
reduce
error
across
multiple
variables.
Individual‐level
network‐derived
traits
were
highly
repeatable,
strong
inter‐individual
variation
patterns
highlighting
reliability
method
consistent
time.
We
found
no
reliable
effects
age
sex
on
despite
significant
drop
population
study
period,
individual
estimates
remained
stable
believe
our
framework
will
broad
utility
ethology
conservation,
enabling
investigation
animal
footage
scale,
low
cost
high
reproducibility.
explore
implications
findings
understanding
ape
populations.
Furthermore,
examine
trade‐offs
involved
measures.
Finally,
outline
steps
broader
deployment
this
analysis
large‐scale
datasets
ecology
evolution.
International Journal of Computer Vision,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
131(5), С. 1163 - 1181
Опубликована: Янв. 16, 2023
Abstract
We
propose
a
novel
end-to-end
curriculum
learning
approach
for
sparsely
labelled
animal
datasets
leveraging
large
volumes
of
unlabelled
data
to
improve
supervised
species
detectors.
exemplify
the
method
in
detail
on
task
finding
great
apes
camera
trap
footage
taken
challenging
real-world
jungle
environments.
In
contrast
previous
semi-supervised
methods,
our
adjusts
parameters
dynamically
over
time
and
gradually
improves
detection
quality
by
steering
training
towards
virtuous
self-reinforcement.
To
achieve
this,
we
integrating
pseudo-labelling
with
policies
show
how
collapse
can
be
avoided.
discuss
theoretical
arguments,
ablations,
significant
performance
improvements
against
various
state-of-the-art
systems
when
evaluating
Extended
PanAfrican
Dataset
holding
approx.
1.8M
frames.
also
demonstrate
outperform
baselines
margins
sparse
label
versions
other
such
as
Bees
Snapshot
Serengeti.
note
that
advantages
are
strongest
smaller
ratios
common
ecological
applications.
Finally,
achieves
competitive
benchmarks
generic
object
MS-COCO
PASCAL-VOC
indicating
wider
applicability
dynamic
concepts
introduced.
publish
all
relevant
source
code,
network
weights,
access
details
full
reproducibility.