Designing network‐connected systems for ecological research and education

Abstract

While networked sensors are becoming a ubiquitous part of many human lives, their applications to the study of wild animals have been largely limited to off-the-shelf and stand-alone technologies such as web cameras. However, purpose-designed systems, applying features found in Internet-of-Things devices, enable more efficient gathering, managing, and disseminating of a diverse array of data needed to study the life histories of wild animals. We illustrate these claims based on our development of a system of networked nest boxes that we created to study nesting birds in urban environments. This system uses general-purpose processors within nest boxes to perform edge computing to control data acquisition, processing, and management from multiple sensors. A central data-management system permits easy access to all data, once downloaded, which has facilitated our uses to date of this system for formal university-and school-level education, and informal science education.

In situ and low-cost monitoring of particles falling from freshwater animals: from microplastics to parasites

“…in the case of filter-feeders). Another possibility to extend the usability of the system is the implementation of technological accessories to record and report online the behavioural activity of the objects studied, environmental conditions and system malfunctions, which has not been possible without continuous operator presence until recently ( Kubizňák et al , 2019 ; Sheehan et al , 2020 ).…”

“…However, despite the rapid development of tools designed to enhance field data collection (e.g. remote electronic control systems; Burnett et al ., 2013 ; Wilson et al ., 2014 ; Kubizňák et al ., 2019 ) there still exist many research areas where no field-based, low-cost technical solutions are available for primary data collection. This situation is especially true for aquatic organisms, which may restrict the collection of data for many ecological and physiological processes to laboratories or during short-term invasive sampling campaigns (e.g.…”

Forest structure determines nest box use by Central European boreal owls

“…Nest boxes are a case of a worldwide popular tool to enhance the availability of nest sites 2 , 8 , 9 . They also allow studying the breeding and trophic ecology of species, their life-history strategies, interspecific interactions, and provide conditions for camera nest monitoring that would be hard to do in natural cavities (e.g., 3 , 9 – 11 ). However, the readiness to use nest boxes differs among species (e.g., boreal owl vs. pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum 4 ), and it can even vary within one species under variable environments (e.g., great tit Parus major 12 ).…”