Performance of visual vs. software-assisted photo-identification in mark-recapture studies: A case study examining different life stages of the pacific horned frog (Ceratophrys stolzmanni)
APHIS; Capture-mark-recapture; Colour patterns; Error rate; Froglet; Visual recognition; Wild-ID; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Animal Science and Zoology
Abstract :
[en] The use of individual phenotypic features as non-invasive marks through photo-identification (photo-ID) has many advantages for individual-based field studies. However, since error rates vary between species, matching techniques, and image qualities, it is important to assess error rates to evaluate the reliability of photo-ID. We tested the performance of this method in the Pacific Horned Frog, Ceratophrys stolzmanni, a threatened anuran with a variable dorsal coloration. We compared the effectiveness of visual (i.e. human recognition) versus software-assisted recognition techniques (Wild-ID and APHIS), and assessed the potential applicability of these techniques to identify post-metamorphic individuals (froglets). The three techniques differed in their performance. The visual technique was the only one to produce type I errors between pairs of images (i.e. matching images which are not true matching pairs), however it also produced fewer type II errors (i.e. not identifying true matching pairs of images) than the software-assisted techniques. For froglets, we found that similarity scores calculated by photo-ID software did not differ significantly between groups of froglets and older individuals, supporting the idea that colour patterns in this species remain stable after metamorphosis. The lack of type I errors and the substantial reduction in required time achieved through the use of software, make software-assisted techniques (particularly Wild-ID) a valid and convenient matching technique for C. stolzmanni. We propose that photo-ID can also be applied to froglets of this species, since the pattern at this stage appears to be as variable as in adults and maintained through life.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Bardier, Cecilia; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Es-Table, Montevideo, Uruguay
Székely, Diana ; Université de Liège - ULiège ; EcoSs Lab, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 07, Ecuador ; Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University Constanţa, Constanţa, Romania
Augusto-Alves, Guilherme; Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros (LaHNAB), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil
Matínez-Latorraca, Nicolás; Licenciatura en Ingeniería Biológica, CENUR-LN, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Info Fauna Karch, UniMail, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Cruickshank, Sam S.; Swiss Federal Research Institute, WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Language :
English
Title :
Performance of visual vs. software-assisted photo-identification in mark-recapture studies: A case study examining different life stages of the pacific horned frog (Ceratophrys stolzmanni)
Field work in the reserve was possible only with the help of the Arenillas Ecological Reserve (REA) administration. We are especially grateful to the REA guardaparques for their friendship and help during the fieldwork. We thank P. Szekely who provided valuable assistance throughout the study. We are also grateful to the observers that helped recognizing image matches: E. Buhaciuc, V. de León, G. Figueiro, M. Germil, R. Iosif, S. Ochiana, F. Stanescu, A. Telea, G. Ubal, and M. Vitola. We thank G. Figueiro for statistical advice. Research permit was issued by Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador (MAE-DNB-CM-2015-0016, granted to Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja). The study was approved by the UTPL Ethics Committee (UTPL-CBEA-2016-001). D. Székely benefited from a research grant from UTPL (Convocatoria Estancias Cortas de Investigación 2019). G. Augusto-Alves thanks the São Paulo Research Foundation (#2019/03170-0). C. Bardier was granted with a Post-doctoral Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (#2019.0558) and a categorization in the national research agency of Uruguay (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, ANII) that made this study possible.Field work in the reserve was possible only with the help of the Arenillas Ecological Reserve (REA) administration. We are especially grateful to the REA guardaparques for their friendship and help during the fieldwork. We thank P. Szekely who provided valuable assistance throughout the study. We are also grateful to the observers that helped recognizing image matches: E. Buhaciuc, V. de Le?n, G. Figueiro, M. Germil, R. Iosif, S. Ochiana, F. Stanescu, A. Telea, G. Ubal, and M. Vitola. We thank G. Figueiro for statistical advice. Research permit was issued by Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador (MAE-DNB-CM-2015-0016, granted to Universidad T?cnica Particular de Loja). The study was approved by the UTPL Ethics Committee (UTPL-CBEA-2016-001). D. Sz?kely benefited from a research grant from UTPL (Convocatoria Estancias Cortas de Investigaci?n 2019). G. Augusto-Alves thanks the S?o Paulo Research Foundation (#2019/03170-0). C. Bardier was granted with a Post-doctoral Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (#2019.0558) and a categorization in the national research agency of Uruguay (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, ANII) that made this study possible.
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