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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• behavioural studies
• video surveillance
• methods

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jerry Krantz (Oregon State University, US), Bruce Halliday (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia), Heather Proctor (University of Alberta, Canada), Dave Walter (Royal Alberta Museum, Canada), Chuleui Jung (Andong National University, Korea), Vikram Prasad (West Bloomfield, USA) and Daria Bajerlein (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland) for their help during work on this article.

Supplemental data

The supplemental data for this article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2013.877075.