A novel technique for aging male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) using craniofacial photogrammetry and geometric morphometrics

O’Connell‐Rodwell, Caitlin E.; Freeman, Patrick T.; Kinzley, Colleen; Sandri, Monica N.; Berezin, Jodie L.; Wiśniewska, Maggie; Jessup, Kelsey; Rodwell, Timothy C.

doi:10.1007/s42991-022-00238-2

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…We chose individuals who were observed at least three times across two years (mean occurrence per individual = 15.4 ± 10.0, range = 4, 40), with a mean of 21 individuals observed per year and a range of 14 to 28 individuals (S1 Table). Five males changed age classes during their years of observation [35]. Since age classes for males span approximately 10 years, we did not anticipate abrupt shifts in the expression of behaviors observed in these five individuals.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many elephants that visit Mushara have been individually identified and tracked across years using morphological traits such as ear-tear patterns, tail-hair configuration, tusk size and shape, and body size [23,34]. Male elephants are assigned a relative age class based on shoulder height, hind foot length, and facial characteristics [35]. Age classes include: one-quarter (1Q), 10-14 years old; two-quarter (2Q), 15-24 years old; three-quarter (3Q), 25-34 years old; full, 35-49 years old; and elder, 50 years and older.…”

Section: Elephant Identification and Age Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of male African elephant character durability across time and social contexts

O'Connell-Rodwell,

Berezin,

Kinzley

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Post-dispersal male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) live within complex social networks. To quantify the durability of male elephant character (or personality) within these networks, we employed behavioral repeatability analysis tools across social and environmental contexts. We collected behavioral data from thirty-four individually-identified male elephants at the same waterhole over five field seasons (2007-2011) in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Using repeatability models to assess ten behavioral categories, we found five behaviors (affiliation, aggression, dominance, self-directed anxious, and self-directed comfort) that were consistent at the individual level. Interestingly, some of these behaviors were also significantly repeatable, depending on social context. In particular, the presence of younger males and a keystone male (i.e., the most dominant and socially-integrated individual during our study period) had the biggest impact on adult male behaviors. Surprisingly, the presence of elephants in musth had little impact. Finally, we found that younger individuals were more alike in their overall character profiles than older males, further supporting the hypothesis that male elephants develop unique, yet socially-flexible character types as they age. These results demonstrate that male elephants possess distinct character traits that are also behaviorally adaptable, depending on the social context. Overall, our research further uncovers the complexity of male elephant individuality and social dynamics that can be leveraged to improve in-situ and ex-situ management and conservation decisions for the species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Elephant Identification and Age Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of male African elephant character durability across time and social contexts

O'Connell-Rodwell,

Berezin,

Kinzley

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Mushara is the site of a yearly, long-term elephant monitoring project, where individual identities of males and females have been tracked and updated over the years, during the June-July field season. Thus, Mushara is an ideal field site to collect fine-resolution behavioral and ecological data (for example, [31][32][33][34]) and broader grouping patterns, such as the data presented herein.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

A Snapshot into the Lives of Elephants: Camera Traps and Conservation in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Berezin,

Odom,

Hayssen

et al. 2023

Diversity

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Knowledge of elephant movement and grouping patterns in the wild is critical for their management and conservation. Much of these data come from GPS collar data and aerial surveys, which have provided invaluable information, but data from these methods are often limited to small groups or entire populations. Effective elephant management requires both generalized and localized methodologies. Here, we propose the expanded use of camera traps in research relating to elephant localized movements and grouping patterns as an additional tool for elephant conservation management. In this study, we use a battery-powered camera trap to provide daily high-resolution data of African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) grouping patterns over the course of an entire year. We present findings on the seasonal and diurnal grouping patterns of elephants at a waterhole in the northeast corner of Etosha National Park from July 2016 to June 2017. The frequency of elephant occurrences varied seasonally and diurnally across all group types (solitary male, male, family, and mixed groups), while group sizes did not vary seasonally, except for male groups. Solitary males occurred relatively equally throughout the day, while male and mixed groups occurred the most midday, and family groups occurred the most in the afternoon. Additionally, we measured the reliability of research assistants when collecting group type and group size data from the camera trap images. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was excellent among and across research assistants, highlighting the potential for non-specialist observers to have greater involvement in camera trap data collection. Our results support the use of camera trap data where GPS collars and aerial surveys are not feasible and where higher-resolution data are needed for more localized management. Finally, we discuss our experience with two different types of camera traps to highlight the pros and cons of each approach.

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“…It allows systematic interpretation on measured data to predict the wave propagation path in channel modelling. Still today many of the applications including predicting rice crop bio physical parameters in agriculture [17], research related to mammals [18] use this model. However, the model accurately predicts RSS values upto certain range in any of the polarization with respect to height after that the predicted values may not follow the real scenario measurements.…”

Section: Iot Propagation Pathloss Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance Evaluation of Onboard Wi-Fi Module Antennas in Terms of Orientation and Position for IoT Applications

Sridher¹,

Sarma²,

Kumar³

2022

IJE

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With ever increasing demand of IoT based sensor systems, there is a need to assess the performance of wireless sensor networks especially in indoor environment. In these networks, antenna plays an important role. The performance of onboard antenna of the sensor module with respect to its height and orientation are examined in this paper. Several experiments were carried out mostly in indoor environment by changing orientation and height of the antennas. The performance is assessed on the basis of Received Signal Strength (RSS) and its modelling using linear, logarithmic and rational polynomial regression techniques which will characterize the channel in a particular environment. Out of all the combinations in terms of height of the antennas and their orientation, it is found for a given indoor environment, with transmitting antenna at a medium height facing upwards and receiving antenna with an inclination of 70 0 towards transmitter resulted in better performance with R 2 poly value of 86.81% and RMSE of 4dB. Therefore, this combination is suggested for wireless sensor networks in indoor environment for achieving the of cost-effective energy-efficient green IoT. The analysis would be useful for improving the efficiency and coverage of wireless sensor networks.

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A novel technique for aging male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) using craniofacial photogrammetry and geometric morphometrics

Cited by 11 publications

References 62 publications

Dynamics of male African elephant character durability across time and social contexts

Dynamics of male African elephant character durability across time and social contexts

A Snapshot into the Lives of Elephants: Camera Traps and Conservation in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Performance Evaluation of Onboard Wi-Fi Module Antennas in Terms of Orientation and Position for IoT Applications

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