Image analysis of weaverbird nests reveals signature weave textures

In nature, many animals build structures that can be readily measured at the scale of their gross morphology (e.g. length, volume and weight). Capturing individuality as can be done with the structures designed and built by human architects or artists, however, is more challenging. Here, we tested whether computer-aided image texture classification approaches can be used to describe textural variation in the nests of weaverbirds (Ploceus species) in order to attribute nests to the individual weaverbird that built them. We found that a computer-aided texture analysis approach does allow the assignment of a signature to weaverbirds' nests. We suggest that this approach will be a useful tool with which to examine individual variation across a range of animal constructions, not just for nests.

在自然界中，诸多动物会构筑可基于其大体形态（gross morphology）尺度便捷开展测量的结构，例如长度、体积与重量。然而，若要像人类建筑师或艺术家设计构筑的作品那样，捕捉动物构筑结构的个体独特性，则更具挑战性。本研究中，我们测试了计算机辅助图像纹理分类（computer-aided image texture classification）方法是否可用于描述织布鸟（Ploceus species）巢穴的纹理差异，以此将巢穴归属于构筑它的单只织布鸟个体。我们发现，计算机辅助纹理分析方法确实能够为织布鸟巢穴赋予个体识别特征。我们认为，该方法可作为一项实用工具，用于探究多种动物构筑结构的个体差异，而非仅局限于巢穴研究。