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Q&A ViewAttendees 1

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Student Competition 10-Minute Paper

Grad SysEB: Ecology

Portable locomotion activity monitor to automate motion tracking in small insects

Monday, November 1, 2021
9:24 AM – 9:36 AM MT
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Meeting Room 207
In-Person Student Competition

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Yash Sondhi

    Doctoral Student
    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AK

    Akito Y. Kawahara

    Associate Professor
    Florida Museum Of Natural History
    Gainesville, Florida

  • JT

    Jamie Theobald

    Associate Professor
    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida

  • NJ

    Nicolas Jo

    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida

  • BA

    Britany Alpizar

    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida

  • Amanda Markee

    Graduate Student
    University of Florida
    Gainesville, Florida

Advances in computer vision and deep learning have automated behavioural studies that previously required tedious manual input. However, large swathes of diverse, poorly studied insects, many under increasing threat of extinction, behave under constraints that are currently too challenging for automated tracking tools. There is a lack of simple, open source, portable tracking solutions that can work in low light conditions, or track small and fast targets. We present an open-source, portable activity monitor to quantify small insect locomotion and circadian activity. Our setup is easy to assemble in the field using inexpensive components, can run off-grid, and supports low-light tracking with infrared lights and uses open-source motion tracking software. We showcase preliminary data from benchmarking the setup under different conditions with flies, mosquitoes and moths and present field data for five moth species showing its efficacy in field conditions. This tool will enable high throughput and low-cost quantification of animal locomotion and activity patterns across many species, crucial to making informed conservation and management decisions.