DOI: 10.5061/dryad.803f52k
title: Data from: An inexpensive and open-source method to study large terrestrial animal diet and behavior using time-lapse video and GPS

description: 1. The behavior of free-ranging animals is difficult to study, especially
 on the large spatial and temporal scales relevant to long-lived large
 species. Animal-borne video and environmental data collection systems
 (AVEDs) record behavior and other data in real time as animals conduct
 daily activities. However, few studies have combined systematically
 collected, long term AVED foraging data with environmental and movement
 data to test hypotheses on animal foraging. Additionally, AVEDs are often
 either prohibitively expensive, or require extensive fabrication and
 programming knowledge. 2. The video and coordinate animal-mounted system
 (VACAMS) is an animal-mounted data collection system based on a modified
 GoPro® action camera platform that records short, first “person”
 perspective videos of animal behavior on an automated time-lapse schedule.
 As most videos are georeferenced, researchers can return to the locations
 of specific behaviors and collect accurate, fine-grained data on non-woody
 vegetation and other habitat characteristics that may influence animal
 behavior. Moreover, VACAMS are inexpensive and easy to use. 3. This study
 describes VACAMS preliminary data on cattle foraging and a hypothesis
 exploring free-ranging cattle browsing habits throughout the rainy season
 in the tropical dry forest of Sonora, Mexico. I generated a database of
 vegetation types consumed by cows each month (Annual, Woody, and Leaf
 litter) and compared actual vegetation type frequencies to a priori
 assumptions based on seasonal patterns of forage availability. During the
 monsoons, when palatable vegetation was abundant, frequencies of annual
 and woody perennial vegetation in cattle diets did not differ from month
 to month. When the rains ceased and palatable vegetation became scarce,
 cows switched to leaf litter, dead annual vegetation, twigs, and dried
 leguminous fruits. 4. Open source software and commercially available
 hardware make VACAMS financially attainable for many researchers, land
 managers, students, and other user groups. VACAMS could be used on a range
 of domestic and semi-domestic free-ranging animals, particularly in dense
 forests where conventional observations are impossible. With improvements
 to GPS battery life and durability, the weakest points of the system,
 VACAMS could also potentially apply to studies of other large terrestrial
 animals.
description: Relaxing with a special
 visitor / relajando con visitante especialRelaxing during the heat
 of the day, a friend comes to visit- a groove billed Ani (Crotophaga
 sulcirostris)! Descansando en mediodía, viene un compañero a visitar- ¡un
 garrapatero asurcado (Crotophaga sulcirostris)! CowPro - GOPR1240 July 12,
 2016 at 2:51 PMgroovebilledani.mp4Eating understory plants / comiendo plantas del sotobosqueTypical feeding behavior for annual and perennial ground-covering herbs: fairly indiscriminate, multiple plants and species in each tongue-hook movement to the mouth. Comportamiento tipico en eventos de alimentación en hierbas annuales y perennes: indiscriminado, multiples individuos o especies en cada bocado. CowPro - GOPR2831 October 6, 2015 at 10:08 AMGOPR2831.MP4Croton fantzianus in 1080pCroton fantzianus. Here, several interesting behaviors are visible. Notably, cows use their heads and necks to break the tree's branches, particularly of C. fantzianus and Mimosa palmeri, bringing softer, more nutritious material into range. This behavior is especially common in late fall, when deciduous tropical dry forest (TDF) species begin to shed their leaves. An early 10 second video, testing 1080p at 60 frames per second (fps). Due to cow head movements while feeding, I ended up going with 720p at 120fps, sacrificing a bit of image quality for soothing slow motion action. Consumo de C. fantzianus. Aqui se ven varios comportamientos interesantes. Por ejemplo, las vacas de este área usan sus cabezas y cuellos para quebrar ramas, en particular de C. fantzianus y Mimosa palmeri, en tal manera alcanzando materiales blandos y nutritivos. Este comportamiento se nota principalmente en otoño, cuando las especies del bosque tropical seco empiezan a perder sus hojas. El video es uno de los mas preliminarios, grabado en 1080p a 60 cuadros por segundo. Debido a movimientos de las cabezas de las vacas mientras consumen plantas, decidí a grabar videos de 720p a 120 cuadros por segundo, sacrificando un poco de calidád de imagen para videos a cámara lenta. CowPro - GOPR0530 9/30/15, 4:28 PMGOPR0530.MP4Freedom / LiberaciónFree to go, with a fresh new CowPro unit. Libre, con un aparato de CowPro con pilas frescas. CowPro - GOPR1938 July 27, 2016 at 6:35 AMGOPR1938.MP4Caregiving behaviorA new calf gets a bath. Bañada de una becerra recién nacida.lick.mp4munch2015_VACAMS_videosVACAMS videos from 2015.2016_VACAMS_videos_1First half of 2016 VACAMS videos.2016_VACAMS_videos_2Second half of 2016 VACAMS videos.