Incorporating the Enclosure MonitoR Use (EMU) App to ZooMonitor Observations Technical Report.

Abstract

Welfare audits that contain behavior and enclosure use assessments are commonly used in zoos and aquaria. However, the two components are often used separately from one another, and many enclosure use studies are limited by analytical problems, despite the fact that enclosure use indices such as Entropy, modified Spread of Participation Index, and Electivity Index are available. The dawning of behavior monitoring apps has facilitated zoo behavioral research, but some of the original challenges experienced when analyzing enclosure use remain. There is a need, therefore, to make enclosure use indices compatible with modern behavior recording apps, and to provide ways in which behavior and space use can be analyzed together. ZooMonitor, a behavior recording app created by Lincoln Park Zoo and built by Tracks Data Solutions, is frequently used by zoo researchers, and as such is a good focus for developments in enclosure use analysis. This paper introduces a new ShinyApp, entitled the Enclosure MonitoR Use (EMU). This new app uses ZooMonitor-based behavior and XY enclosure use data to evaluate animal data. The app is able to (1) provide heat maps of space use, showing where each behavior occurs, and (2) facilitate the use of enclosure use indices, whilst also generating indices for individual behaviors. These tools have the potential to identify areas that an animal finds valuable in its exhibit for specific behavior types and can be used to inform exhibit design decisions. EMU also allows researchers to look beyond the previous assumptions that an animal should use all its exhibit to experience the best welfare. In combination with ZooMonitor, this tool removes many obstacles that prevent detailed analysis of animal space use. Future developments of EMU may further facilitate animal space use studies.