A5018082527- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Plant and animal studies
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Migration, Refugees, and Integration
- Archaeological Research and Protection
- Global Education and Multiculturalism
- Public Relations and Crisis Communication
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
2018-2024
National Wildlife Research Center
2018-2024
United States Department of Agriculture
2020-2023
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City
2022-2023
Nelson Mandela University
2018-2020
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2014-2020
Life Services (United States)
2020
Visible and thermal images acquired from drones (unoccupied aircraft systems) have substantially improved animal monitoring. Combining complementary information both image types provides a powerful approach for automating detection classification of multiple species to augment drone surveys. We compared eight fusion methods using visible combined with two supervised deep learning models, evaluate the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), domestic cow (Bos taurus), horse (Equus...
Small unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) are replacing or supplementing occupied and ground-based surveys in animal monitoring due to improved sensors, efficiency, costs, logistical benefits. Numerous UAS sensors available have been used various methods. However, justification for selection methods not typically offered published literature. Furthermore, existing reviews do adequately cover past current applications monitoring, nor their associated UAS/sensor characteristics environmental...
In recent years, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have been used widely to monitor animals because of their customizability, ease operating, ability access difficult navigate places, and potential minimize disturbance animals. Automatic identification classification through images acquired using a sUAS may solve critical problems such as monitoring large areas with high vehicle traffic for prevent collisions, animal-aircraft collisions on airports. this research we demonstrate...
Abstract Surveying animal populations using drones (unoccupied aircraft systems [UAS]) provides numerous advantages; however, few best practices exist to survey communities with drones. Among myriad factors that can affect human identification and counts of animals from drone images, we focused on three typically controlled in the study design or by pilot: flight altitude, camera angle, time day. Identifying interactions patterns among these variables represents an important first step...
Collisions between birds and military aircraft are common can have catastrophic effects. Knowledge of relative wildlife hazards to (the likelihood damage when a species is struck) needed before estimating strike risk (combined frequency severity component) at airfields. Despite annual reviews trends with civil aviation since the 1990s, little known about for aircraft. We hypothesized that hazard scores would correlate positively type avian body mass. Only records identified occurred within...
Summary Declines in Old World vulture populations have been linked to anthropogenic pressures. To assess these threats, the social dimensions of conservation must be explored. Prior research Africa focused on commercial farmers’ perceptions vultures and identified that small stock farmers used poison more than large deter livestock predators. However, vulnerable Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres breeds throughout communal farmland Eastern Province, South Africa. Consequently, community...
The Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus is endemic to South Africa and numbers have reportedly declined since the early 1900s. It a forest specialist food nomadic, moving between patches depending on fruit availability. This makes it difficult estimate accurately determine its distribution. annual Big Birding Day was initiated in 1998 as national census population estimate. Volunteers assist monitoring counting Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo provinces indigenous forests well sites where...
Despite the extent of subsistence farmland in Africa, little is known about endangered species that persist within them. The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) regionally southern Africa and at least 20% population breeds area previously as Transkei Eastern province South Africa. To understand their movement ecology, adult Vultures (n = 9) were captured fitted with global positioning system/global system for mobile transmitters. Minimum convex polygons (MCPs),and 99% 50% kernel density...
Abstract A challenge that conservation practitioners face is manipulating behavior of nuisance species. The turkey vulture ( Cathartes aura ) can cause substantial damage to aircraft if struck. goal this study was assess responses unmanned systems (UAS) for use as a possible dispersal tool. Our treatments included three platforms (fixed-wing, multirotor, and predator-like ornithopter [powered by flapping flight]) two approach types (30 m overhead or targeted towards vulture) in an...
Abstract Ring‐billed ( Larus delawarensis ) and herring L. argentatus gulls are numerous widespread in North America. These rank among the top 9 species for risk of bird‐aircraft collisions (hereafter strikes). The ubiquitous presence urban coastal environments, including rooftop nesting behavior, factors impacting strike risk. Our purpose was to assess gull response a small uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) hazing flights at night during nest‐building phase. We hypothesized that nocturnal UAS...
Animal-vehicle collisions represent substantial sources of mortality for a variety taxa and can pose hazards to property human health. But there is comparatively little information available on escape responses by free-ranging animals vehicle approach versus predators/humans.We examined (alert distance flight-initiation distance) focal Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) (15.6 m·s-1) in semi-natural setting given full opportunity escape. We manipulated the direction (direct tangential)...
Abstract Rapid advancements in technology often yield research inquiry into novel applications and drone (i.e., unoccupied aircraft systems or UAS) wildlife management are no exception. We questioned the time lag between drone‐related end‐user assessments. implemented an online, cross‐sectional survey of professionals to better understand current use benefits concerns, complemented by a review contemporary peer‐reviewed gray literature. found little disparity scientific experiences similar...
The breeding success of endangered colonial nesting species is important for their conservation. Many Gyps vultures form large colonies that are the foci conservation efforts. Cape Vulture a globally threatened endemic to southern Africa and has seen major reduction in its population size (≥ 50% over 48 years). There evidence prone desertion as result human disturbance. Factors influence occupancy individual nest‐sites not fully understood any African vulture species. We investigated cliff...
Indirect predator cues near nests have been shown to enhance perceived predation risk and associated antipredator behaviours in breeding animals across taxa particularly with birds. We hypothesized that scent from the raccoon (Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)) inside nest boxes would, despite being an evolutionarily unique predator, European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris 1758)), thus reducing use of treated sites reproduction. During early spring, starlings selected equal volumes scent, a novel...
Indirect predator cues have been shown to enhance perceived nest predation risk in both open-cup and cavity-nesting birds. We hypothesized that scent from the raccoon (Procyon lotor) inside boxes, supplemented with hair as a visual cue on outside of box, would European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), resulting reduced use treated boxes negative effects reproduction. The starling is recognized, its native range, competitor indigenous cavity nesters pest species, efforts deter nesting generally...
Roost site preferences influence the spatial distribution of species. Large soaring birds often roost on cliffs and large structures, thus are restricted to areas where safe take-offs landings can occur. The cliff roosting Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres were explored for five juveniles nine adult birds. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) used identify which features considered favourable sites. density around colonies (breeding adults natal juveniles) was calculated in predetermined...
Abstract Background Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are replacing or supplementing manned and ground-based surveys in many animal monitoring situations due to better coverage at finer spatial temporal resolutions, access, cost, bias, impacts, safety, efficiency, logistical benefits. Various sUAS models sensors available with varying features usefulness depending on survey goals. However, justification for selection of not typically offered published literature existing reviews do...