Behavioral tapes data analyses programs Dear Ecolog-Listers:
A few weeks ago, I posted a request for suggestions re. tapes with behavior recorded on them. Thanks to some of you, we are well on our way to digitize the tapes. I am writing now with specific suggestions on behavioral analyses programs that can do what I list below. 1. Put time stamp (can it do this in fast forward speed and keep track of correct time)? 2. Keep track of length (hence distances, I had the presence of mind to place a scale at the beginning of each "take") throughout the videos. 3. Digitally mark individuals (maximum number of organisms on screen is 6, typically it is 4) so that the program (not the observer) can aautomatically follow movements and, hence, give a crude estimate of real distances and, with time also captured, speed, etc. can be calculated 4. As the digital video is rolling, the observer annotates the database (as the program is hopefully doing 1-3) including what are the organisms doing (e.g. mating, preening, etc.) and allows more than one activity per individual to be marked at the same time. 5. Anything else I may have forgotten. If you have any specific and constructive suggestions, please kindly send me a message off the list. [email protected] Gratefully, Jorge P.S. Apologies for potential duplicate emails. Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD blaypublishers.com 1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in *LEB* http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/ 2. Free examples of papers published in *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/category/previous-issues/. 3. *Guidelines for Authors* and page charges of *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ *.* 4. Want to subscribe to *LEB*? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/ http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/ http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm
