Infrared thermal imaging in studies of wild animals

Abstract

Thermography is an imaging method which registers infrared waves in the electromagnetic spectrum that are emitted by all objects on the Earth. The state and properties of the studied objects and organisms can be evaluated by analyzing images of temperature distribution on their surface. Thermography has numerous practical applications, including in construction, industry, and the military and civil services. In natural sciences, thermal imaging techniques support safe and non-invasive measurements and the acquisition of results that cannot be obtained by any other method. Infrared thermography also creates a wide range of applications for human and veterinary medicine, ecology, zoology, and other natural sciences. Thermal imaging equipment is used to detect injuries, inflammations, and infectious diseases to control reproduction (detection of estrus and pregnancy, determination of male fertility) and lactation processes. The discussed method is applied to investigate thermoregulation in animals, to analyze the effect of environmental factors on animal behavior, to localize individuals and their habitats, and to determine the size of wildlife populations. Despite a wide range of practical applications, thermal imaging has a number of limitations which should be taken into account in studies that rely on infrared thermography techniques.

An assessment of thermal-image acquisition with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for direct counts of coastal marine mammals ashore

“…Recent technological advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology provides an opportunity to safely access difficult to sample habitats with a smaller team, thereby reducing project costs and disturbance to the wildlife. In combination with thermal imaging or, thermography, which has been assessed as a method to replace manual visual counts since 1972 (Cilulko et al 2013), these two technologies may provide a novel and cost-effective method for surveying animal populations from a broad range of species and habitats.…”

Surprisingly low risk of overheating during digging in two subterranean rodents

“…Our current knowledge of surface temperatures in mammals after intensive physical activity is based mainly on sport and veterinary medical research [e.g., [35][36][37]]. Generally, the surface temperature of homoeothermic mammals is very tightly related to subcutaneous blood flow and pelage properties.…”

Modeling of a procedure for unmasking the foxes during activities on the elimination of biosafety threats related to rabies

“…Examples include application in zoology and zoogeography of infrared imagers [4] that register infrared radiation. Such solution requires a relatively higher cost of equipment.…”