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Open AccessArticle
Evaluating Thermal Infrared Drone Flight Parameters on Spider Monkey Detection in Tropical Forests
by
Eduardo José Pinel-Ramos
Eduardo José Pinel-Ramos 1,2,*
,
Filippo Aureli
Filippo Aureli 1,2,3,
Serge Wich
Serge Wich 3
,
Steven Longmore
Steven Longmore
Steven Longmore is a Professor of Astrophysics within the Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI), and [...]
Steven Longmore is a Professor of Astrophysics within the Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI), Liverpool John Moores University, and Head of the ARI’s Astro-Ecology group. He received his M.Phys. at the University of Durham and his Ph.D. at the University of New South Wales. He is also a Research Associate at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. His astrophysics research aims to understand how the Universe evolves over cosmic time to produce the spectacular variety of stars, planets, and life we see today. In particular, he is interested in understanding how clouds of gas in space collapse to form star systems, and how changes in these gas clouds might alter how stars, planets, and ultimately life may evolve. He also has a keen interest in applying astronomical techniques to tackle problems a little closer to home, such as the conservation of endangered species, helping search and rescue teams identify the optimal way to find people, or trying to stop peat fires that are a major contributor to climate change.
4
and
Denise Spaan
Denise Spaan
Denise Spaan is a Mexico-based National Geographic Explorer, primatologist, and conservation She is [...]
Denise Spaan is a Mexico-based National Geographic Explorer, primatologist, and conservation researcher. She is a researcher at the Universidad Veracruzana and a member of the conservation NGO ConMonoMaya, which works to conserve primates and their habitats in the Yucatan Peninsula. Her research focuses on understanding how primates cope with natural and human-induced changes in their habitats. She is particularly interested in how spider monkeys in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are affected by the expanding tourism industry along the Caribbean coastline. She received her Ph.D. from the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico and an M.Sc. in Primate Conservation from Oxford Brookes University in the UK.
1,2,*
1
Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Dr. Luis Castelazo Ayala, Xalapa 91190, Veracruz, Mexico
2
ConMonoMaya, A.C., Km 5.4 Carretera Chemax-Coba, Chemax 97770, Yucatán, Mexico
3
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
4
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sensors 2024, 24(17), 5659; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175659 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 1 August 2024
/
Revised: 23 August 2024
/
Accepted: 28 August 2024
/
Published: 30 August 2024
Abstract
Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, an endangered, fast-moving arboreal primate species with a large home range and a high degree of fission–fusion dynamics, are challenging to survey in their natural habitats. Our objective was to evaluate how different flight parameters affect the detectability of spider monkeys in videos recorded by a drone equipped with a thermal infrared camera and examine the level of agreement between coders. We used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the impact of flight speed (2, 4, 6 m/s), flight height (40, 50 m above ground level), and camera angle (−45°, −90°) on spider monkey counts in a closed-canopy forest in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Our results indicate that none of the three flight parameters affected the number of detected spider monkeys. Agreement between coders was “substantial” (Fleiss’ kappa coefficient = 0.61–0.80) in most cases for high thermal-contrast zones. Our study contributes to the development of standardized flight protocols, which are essential to obtain accurate data on the presence and abundance of wild populations. Based on our results, we recommend performing drone surveys for spider monkeys and other medium-sized arboreal mammals with a small commercial drone at a 4 m/s speed, 15 m above canopy height, and with a −90° camera angle. However, these recommendations may vary depending on the size and noise level produced by the drone model.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Pinel-Ramos, E.J.; Aureli, F.; Wich, S.; Longmore, S.; Spaan, D.
Evaluating Thermal Infrared Drone Flight Parameters on Spider Monkey Detection in Tropical Forests. Sensors 2024, 24, 5659.
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175659
AMA Style
Pinel-Ramos EJ, Aureli F, Wich S, Longmore S, Spaan D.
Evaluating Thermal Infrared Drone Flight Parameters on Spider Monkey Detection in Tropical Forests. Sensors. 2024; 24(17):5659.
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175659
Chicago/Turabian Style
Pinel-Ramos, Eduardo José, Filippo Aureli, Serge Wich, Steven Longmore, and Denise Spaan.
2024. "Evaluating Thermal Infrared Drone Flight Parameters on Spider Monkey Detection in Tropical Forests" Sensors 24, no. 17: 5659.
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175659
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