Bennison, A., Bearhop, S., Bodey, T. W., Votier, S. C., Grecian, J., Wakefield, E. D. , Hamer, K. C. and Jessopp, M. (2018) Search and foraging behaviors from movement data: a comparison of methods. Ecology and Evolution, 8(1), pp. 13-24. (doi: 10.1002/ece3.3593) (PMID:29321847) (PMCID:PMC5756868)
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Abstract
Search behavior is often used as a proxy for foraging effort within studies of animal movement, despite it being only one part of the foraging process, which also includes prey capture. While methods for validating prey capture exist, many studies rely solely on behavioral annotation of animal movement data to identify search and infer prey capture attempts. However, the degree to which search correlates with prey capture is largely untested. This study applied seven behavioral annotation methods to identify search behavior from GPS tracks of northern gannets (Morus bassanus), and compared outputs to the occurrence of dives recorded by simultaneously deployed time–depth recorders. We tested how behavioral annotation methods vary in their ability to identify search behavior leading to dive events. There was considerable variation in the number of dives occurring within search areas across methods. Hidden Markov models proved to be the most successful, with 81% of all dives occurring within areas identified as search. k-Means clustering and first passage time had the highest rates of dives occurring outside identified search behavior. First passage time and hidden Markov models had the lowest rates of false positives, identifying fewer search areas with no dives. All behavioral annotation methods had advantages and drawbacks in terms of the complexity of analysis and ability to reflect prey capture events while minimizing the number of false positives and false negatives. We used these results, with consideration of analytical difficulty, to provide advice on the most appropriate methods for use where prey capture behavior is not available. This study highlights a need to critically assess and carefully choose a behavioral annotation method suitable for the research question being addressed, or resulting species management frameworks established.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Wakefield, Dr Ewan and Grecian, Dr James |
| Authors: | Bennison, A., Bearhop, S., Bodey, T. W., Votier, S. C., Grecian, J., Wakefield, E. D., Hamer, K. C., and Jessopp, M. |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 2045-7758 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2045-7758 |
| Published Online: | 23 November 2017 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2017 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Ecology and Evolution 8(1):13-24 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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