An accurate and adaptable photogrammetric approach for estimating the mass and body condition of pinnipeds using an unmanned aerial system

Krause, Douglas J.; Hinke, Jefferson T.; Perryman, Wayne L.; Goebel, Michael E.; LeRoi, Donald J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187465

i

An accurate and adaptable photogrammetric approach for estimating the mass and body condition of pinnipeds using an unmanned aerial system

Supporting Files

2017
By Krause, Douglas J. ; Hinke, Jefferson T. ; Perryman, Wayne L. ; ...

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Journal Title:

PLOS ONE
Personal Author:

Krause, Douglas J. ; Hinke, Jefferson T. ; Perryman, Wayne L. ; Goebel, Michael E. ; LeRoi, Donald J.
NOAA Program & Office:

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; SWFSC (Southwest Fisheries Science Center) ; OPR (Office of Protected Resources)
Description:

Measurements of body size and mass are fundamental to pinniped population management and research. Manual measurements tend to be accurate but are invasive and logistically challenging to obtain. Ground-based photogrammetric techniques are less invasive, but inherent limitations make them impractical for many field applications. The recent proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in wildlife monitoring has provided a promising new platform for the photogrammetry of free-ranging pinnipeds. Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are an apex predator in coastal Antarctica whose body condition could be a valuable indicator of ecosystem health. We aerially surveyed leopard seals of known body size and mass to test the precision and accuracy of photogrammetry from a small UAS. Flights were conducted in January and February of 2013 and 2014 and 50 photogrammetric samples were obtained from 15 unrestrained seals. UAS-derived measurements of standard length were accurate to within 2.01 +/- 1.06%, and paired comparisons with ground measurements were statistically indistinguishable. An allometric linear mixed effects model predicted leopard seal mass within 19.40 kg (4.4% error for a 440 kg seal). Photogrammetric measurements from a single, vertical image obtained using UAS provide a noninvasive approach for estimating the mass and body condition of pinnipeds that may be widely applicable.
Keywords:

Aircraft Carriers Animals—Food Antarctic Fur Seal Chemicals Energy Conservation Leopard Seal Prior Restraint Science Southern Elephant Seal Steller's Sea Lion System Analysis Technology Aircraft Carriers Antarctic Fur Seal Energy Conservation Leopard Seal Prior Restraint Southern Elephant Seal Steller's Sea Lion System Analysis
Source:

PLOS ONE
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187465
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC5706667
Document Type:

Journal Article
Place as Subject:

United States ; Prydz Bay (Antarctica)
Rights Information:

CC BY
Compliance:

PMC
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:d687187356a63dec9d0909f89d3b62bef1637ff6cced0b0523e31bfa58851e7406614edf70990097c6ef37acde1387de59a8f7d6be1a63ae39e04f64efe58141
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/24566/noaa_24566_DS1.pdf
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[PDF - 16.54 MB ]

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