Uncovering Hidden Predators: Thermal Drone Detection of Antarctic Fur Seals in Tussac Grass at South Georgia.
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| Title: | Uncovering Hidden Predators: Thermal Drone Detection of Antarctic Fur Seals in Tussac Grass at South Georgia. |
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| Authors: | Coleman, J.1 (AUTHOR) jamiecoleman0303@gmail.com, Fenney, N.1 (AUTHOR) natnne@bas.ac.uk, Trathan, P. N.1,2 (AUTHOR), Fox, A.1 (AUTHOR), Collins, M. A.1 (AUTHOR), Hollyman, P.1,3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-9. 9p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Grasses, *Islands, *Avian influenza, *Animal populations, *Predatory aquatic animals, Infrared imaging |
| Geographic Terms: | South Georgia (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands) |
| Abstract: | Antarctic fur seals are an important predator in the Southern Ocean, with > 95% of the population breeding at South Georgia. Female seals generally pup on open beaches, but many move into long tussac grass to suckle offspring, where their presence can be concealed by vegetation. This makes it difficult to assess population changes, introducing considerable uncertainty. Broad‐scale, time‐efficient monitoring capable of detecting fur seals in tussac is therefore required to better understand population trends throughout the island, especially given recent reports of declines associated with reduced food availability, as well as important negative impacts from HPAI. This study utilises a fixed‐wing drone to provide both red/green/blue (RGB) imagery and thermal imagery for detecting fur seals in tussac grass as well as along beaches for assessing populations. Thermal sensors proved highly effective at detecting fur seals in tussac relative to RGB, with a much more efficient processing workflow. However, a combination of both is necessary to accurately identify seals across the range of coastal terrain in which they are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 192557231 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Uncovering Hidden Predators: Thermal Drone Detection of Antarctic Fur Seals in Tussac Grass at South Georgia. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coleman%2C+J%2E%22">Coleman, J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jamiecoleman0303@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fenney%2C+N%2E%22">Fenney, N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> natnne@bas.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Trathan%2C+P%2E+N%2E%22">Trathan, P. N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fox%2C+A%2E%22">Fox, A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Collins%2C+M%2E+A%2E%22">Collins, M. A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hollyman%2C+P%2E%22">Hollyman, P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-9. 9p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grasses%22">Grasses</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Islands%22">Islands</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Avian+influenza%22">Avian influenza</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animal+populations%22">Animal populations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predatory+aquatic+animals%22">Predatory aquatic animals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+imaging%22">Infrared imaging</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Georgia+%28South+Georgia+%26+South+Sandwich+Islands%29%22">South Georgia (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Antarctic fur seals are an important predator in the Southern Ocean, with > 95% of the population breeding at South Georgia. Female seals generally pup on open beaches, but many move into long tussac grass to suckle offspring, where their presence can be concealed by vegetation. This makes it difficult to assess population changes, introducing considerable uncertainty. Broad‐scale, time‐efficient monitoring capable of detecting fur seals in tussac is therefore required to better understand population trends throughout the island, especially given recent reports of declines associated with reduced food availability, as well as important negative impacts from HPAI. This study utilises a fixed‐wing drone to provide both red/green/blue (RGB) imagery and thermal imagery for detecting fur seals in tussac grass as well as along beaches for assessing populations. Thermal sensors proved highly effective at detecting fur seals in tussac relative to RGB, with a much more efficient processing workflow. However, a combination of both is necessary to accurately identify seals across the range of coastal terrain in which they are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/ece3.73209 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 9 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Grasses Type: general – SubjectFull: Islands Type: general – SubjectFull: Avian influenza Type: general – SubjectFull: Animal populations Type: general – SubjectFull: Predatory aquatic animals Type: general – SubjectFull: Infrared imaging Type: general – SubjectFull: South Georgia (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Uncovering Hidden Predators: Thermal Drone Detection of Antarctic Fur Seals in Tussac Grass at South Georgia. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Coleman, J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fenney, N. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Trathan, P. N. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fox, A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Collins, M. A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hollyman, P. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20457758 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758) Type: main |
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