Meeting Abstract
Integrating microcomputing into ecobehavioral field research provides a novel mechanism for the collection of detailed multi-modal data sets. Though this requires a substantial investment of time and technical ability, it offers the benefit of long-term, relatively low-cost, minimally invasive data collection with limited person-hour investments. Here we describe the development and initial results of the Programmable Automated System for Songbird Ecological Research (PASSER) Project, and its application to the study of songbird feeding behaviors in Radford, Virginia and primate feeding behaviors in the Madre de Dios Region of the Peruvian Amazon. In their simplest practice, PASSER feeders allow automated data collection of feeding activity, alongside a variety of environmental metrics (i.e. Photos or video, temperature, humidity and time). This allows us to conduct both rapid and long-term surveys of species diversity, as well as studies of behavior-environment interactions for those species. In Virginia, these feeders have shown how the changing seasons affect bird feeding patterns, and how variable environmental conditions further impact these behaviors, both within and across species. Similar feeders were also tested in the Peruvian Amazon, for a 2 week span, targeting local primate species. These feeders saw low primate activity, however the most activity was seen in the unit active for the longest time, showing that extending the active time of these feeders will yield activity. Second-generation PASSER feeders also provide the ability to interface with focal species. With the use of a touchscreen, speakers, and food delivery control, we are able to dynamically display a variety of stimuli, and to mediate direct interaction between subjects and the system. We discuss ongoing implementations and future directions for this type of work.
