An inexpensive and open-source method to study large terrestrial animal diet and behavior using time-lapse video and GPS

1. The behavior of free-ranging animals is difficult to study, especially on the large spatial and temporal scales relevant to long-lived large species. Animal-borne video and environmental data collection systems (AVEDs) record behavior and other data in real time as animals conduct daily activities. However, few studies have combined systematically collected, long term AVED foraging data with environmental and movement data to test hypotheses on animal foraging. Additionally, AVEDs are often either prohibitively expensive, or require extensive fabrication and programming knowledge. 2. The video and coordinate animal-mounted system (VACAMS) is an animal-mounted data collection system based on a modified GoPro® action camera platform that records short, first “person” perspective videos of animal behavior on an automated time-lapse schedule. As most videos are georeferenced, researchers can return to the locations of specific behaviors and collect accurate, fine-grained data on non-woo...