Technical and conceptual considerations for using animated stimuli in studies of animal behavior

Chouinard-Thuly, Laura; Gierszewski, Stefanie; Rosenthal, Gil G.; Reader, Simon M.; Rieucau, Guillaume; Woo, Kevin L.; Gerlai, Robert; Tedore, Cynthia; Ingley, Spencer J.; Stowers, John; Frommen, Joachim G.; Dolins, Francine L.; Witte, Klaudia

doi:10.1093/cz/zow104

Cited by 82 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…Previous recommendations for the validation of synthetic (artificial) stimuli argue that meaningful biological reactions in animals can be assumed if reactions towards an artificial stimulus, at least in part, mirror the reaction that is observable in live animals put into similar contexts [22]. This was the case for Robofish as live guppies showed similar patterns of distance-dependent adjustment in their velocity vectors when tested with Robofish and live partners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy

et al. 2018

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Responding towards the actions of others is one of the most important behavioural traits whenever animals of the same species interact. Mutual influences among interacting individuals may modulate the social responsiveness seen and thus make it often difficult to study the level and individual variation in responsiveness. Here, open-loop biomimetic robots that provide standardized, non-interactive social cues can be a useful tool. These robots are not affected by the live animal's actions but are assumed to still represent valuable and biologically relevant social cues. As this assumption is crucial for the use of biomimetic robots in behavioural studies, we hypothesized (i) that meaningful social interactions can be assumed if live animals maintain individual differences in responsiveness when interacting with both a biomimetic robot and a live partner. Furthermore, to study the level of individual variation in social responsiveness, we hypothesized (ii) that individual differences should be maintained over the course of multiple tests with the robot. We investigated the response of live guppies (Poecilia reticulata) when allowed to interact either with a biomimetic open-loop-controlled fish robot—‘Robofish’—or with a live companion. Furthermore, we investigated the responses of live guppies when tested three times with Robofish. We found that responses of live guppies towards Robofish were weaker compared with those of a live companion, most likely as a result of the non-interactive open-loop behaviour of Robofish. Guppies, however, were consistent in their individual responses between a live companion and Robofish, and similar individual differences in response towards Robofish were maintained over repeated testing even though habituation to the test environment was detectable. Biomimetic robots like Robofish are therefore a useful tool for the study of social responsiveness in guppies and possibly other small fish species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy

et al. 2018

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“…However, there are several problems and limitations associated with the use of videos or animations in animal behaviour research (reviewed in Chounard‐Thuly et al., ). One of the major concerns regards fundamental differences in the visual systems of humans and other animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of 2D‐animated pictures as an investigative tool in the behavioural sciences: A case study with a West African cichlid fish,Pelvicachromis pulcher

Scherer¹,

Godin

Schuett³

2017

Ethology

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Virtual stimuli represent an increasingly popular tool in the study of animal behaviour. Modern techniques have the potential to simplify and improve traditional experiments using live stimuli. However, the increasing availability of diverse techniques is associated with problems and limitations. Although many new methods have been developed, their validation remains largely untested. In the present study, we therefore performed two experiments to test whether 2‐D animations of predators and conspecifics elicit biologically appropriate behavioural responses in male rainbow kribs, Pelvicachromis pulcher. Individual responses towards a sympatric natural fish predator, Parachanna obscura, were tested using live predators and still colour photographs, animated using PowerPoint©. Compared to control trials (empty aquarium and white computer screen, respectively), individuals decreased their activity in response to both live and animated predators. We found no difference in activity between live and animation trials. Further, we tested individual aggression (frequency of aggressive behaviours) exhibited towards live and animated conspecifics. Individual aggressive behaviours shown towards live and animated conspecifics were positively correlated. Moreover, an individual's mean distance towards the opponent was a suitable proxy for individual aggression permitting the facilitation and standardisation of an individual's aggression through the use of a tracking software compared with the more laborious, traditional manual assessment. Our results show that simple, inexpensive animation techniques have the potential to provide an easy‐to‐apply and useful technological advance in animal behaviour research.

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“…The control we are afforded would be impossible to achieve in nature. While it is necessary to ground‐truth simulations using data from real environments (Chouinard‐Thuly et al., ), we can now address recalcitrant topics in animal behaviour and sensory ecology that concerns the relevance of environmental motion. Importantly, animation is not only an innovative tool for biology, it is an exciting opportunity to engage public attention, and as a teaching tool for students.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating evolutionary biology with digital arts to quantify ecological constraints on vision‐based behaviour

et al. 2017

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Motion vision is crucial in the life of animals, in controlling locomotion, in foraging, for predator evasion and in communication. However, information on the conditions for motion vision in natural environments is limited. Advancing knowledge of the ecological limitations that affect functional behaviour requires novel methodologies. To explore motion ecology in more detail we describe an innovative method that integrates evolutionary biology with digital arts. A visualization tool that simulates three spatial dimensions plus movement through time, 3D animation is an innovative approach to understand dynamic environments. Animal signalling systems have provided useful insights into ecological limitations on behaviour, and we demonstrate the utility of our approach by examining motion displays of lizards surrounded by plant motion noise. The effectiveness of signals in noise was considered under different circumstances, and in each case, we had complete control over the simulations. We used these scenarios to both validate our approach and to demonstrate its potential. The relevance to motion signalling of prevailing wind and resultant plant motion is now well established and we begin by replicating this effect and illustrate how we can explore this in quantitative detail. We further demonstrate its utility by providing novel insights into the benefits of signalling in the right place and at the right time, by manipulating immediate signalling backgrounds, variation in signaller–plant distances and light environments. Each of these simulations provide opportunities for investigation that would be impossible in nature. Systematic measurements of motion ecology in detail are now achievable. In addition to insights into the evolution of motion signals, 3D environmental reconstruction will provide a test bed for other topics in the field of motion ecology, and a resource to enhance public engagement with science.

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Technical and conceptual considerations for using animated stimuli in studies of animal behavior

Cited by 82 publications

References 114 publications

Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy

Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy

Validation of 2D‐animated pictures as an investigative tool in the behavioural sciences: A case study with a West African cichlid fish,Pelvicachromis pulcher

Integrating evolutionary biology with digital arts to quantify ecological constraints on vision‐based behaviour

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