Monitoring Animal Activity with Automated Photography

Abstract

Photomonitoring with pulsed infrared beams provides an effective method of recording animal activity in the field. It has several advantages over conventional monitoring techniques, such as radiotracking, because animal activity can be recorded automatically for long periods and with little disturbance. The system is easily adapted to many situations, and its use in monitoring ground-dwelling and pollinating species is illustrated. Information recorded includes the species photographed, the direction of movement, and the date and time of each record. When monitoring inflorescences visited by pollinators, researchers can calculate the duration of each visit and the number of visits occurring over a given time. Multiple photographs of a single visit enable comparisons of foraging behavior of individuals