Alexander A. Grabham, Krista van der Linde, Ximena J. Nelson
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The photographic identification (photo-ID) of individual animals can be time-consuming and erroneous. Recent efforts to collect photographs of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) from across their range have necessitated the technological streamlining of photo-ID. We constructed a dataset containing 595 photographs of the head and body of individuals recorded in New Zealand between 2008 and 2022 to test the performance of semiautomated 3 photo-ID programs: HotSpotter, Interactive Individual Identification System's Pattern+ (I3S), and Wild-ID. We classified attributes of photographs (e.g., quality) and individuals (i.e., pelage patterns) to assess their effect on performance. We compared performance using Top20 and Top1 Accuracy, defined as the proportion of test photographs where the highest ranked correct identity was in the top 20 and top 1, respectively, matched reference photographs. HotSpotter outperformed I3S and Wild-ID in both Top20 and Top1 Accuracy of most assessed attributes. Maximizing HotSpotter's performance may be achieved through several methods, including increasing the number and variety of photographs of individuals in the dataset. HotSpotter will likely perform better with photographs without obstructions (e.g., debris from beaches), such as on the pack ice of their primary Antarctic range. We highlight the viability of HotSpotter in assisting the photo-ID of leopard seals, and more broadly, other species with similar markings.
期刊介绍:
The Wildlife Society Bulletin is a journal for wildlife practitioners that effectively integrates cutting edge science with management and conservation, and also covers important policy issues, particularly those that focus on the integration of science and policy. Wildlife Society Bulletin includes articles on contemporary wildlife management and conservation, education, administration, law enforcement, and review articles on the philosophy and history of wildlife management and conservation. This includes:
Reports on practices designed to achieve wildlife management or conservation goals.
Presentation of new techniques or evaluation of techniques for studying or managing wildlife.
Retrospective analyses of wildlife management and conservation programs, including the reasons for success or failure.
Analyses or reports of wildlife policies, regulations, education, administration, law enforcement.
Review articles on the philosophy and history of wildlife management and conservation. as well as other pertinent topics that are deemed more appropriate for the Wildlife Society Bulletin than for The Journal of Wildlife Management.
Book reviews that focus on applied research, policy or wildlife management and conservation.