Continuous recording of soil mite behaviour using an Internet Protocol video system

Behavioural studies on tiny animals require methods that are relatively inexpensive, can be easily monitored and provide high-quality data. Recently, digital tools such as Internet Protocol (IP) cameras and video surveillance systems have become less expensive, creating new possibilities for behavioural studies. The best system of observation from the researcher’s point of view works continuously without human assistance and records behavioural data for further multiple analyses. Here we describe the system used for studies on mesostigmatid soil mites in Department of Zoology, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz.

针对小型动物的行为学研究，亟需兼具成本低廉、易于监控且可产出高质量数据的研究方法。近年来，互联网协议（Internet Protocol, IP）摄像头、视频监控系统等数字工具的成本持续走低，为行为学研究开辟了全新的应用可能。从研究者的视角而言，最理想的观测系统应能够在无需人工干预的前提下持续运行，并记录行为学数据以供后续多维度分析。本文介绍了我们在波兰比得哥什卡齐米日大帝大学动物学系开展中气门亚目土壤螨类研究时所使用的观测系统。