Browsing by Author "Cortes, Esteban I."

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    A protocol for error prevention and quality control in camera trap datasets
    (WILEY, 2025) Silva Rodriguez, Eduardo A.; Cortes, Esteban I.; Vasquez-Ibarra, Viviana; Galvéz Arriagada, Nicolás Marcelo Salvador; Cusack, Jeremy; Ohrens, Omar; Moreira-Arce, Dario; Farias, Ariel A.; Infante-Varela, Jose
    Camera traps are a mainstream methodology in applied ecology, but surprisingly there are no widely accepted protocols to ensure the quality of the data obtained from these devices. We reviewed a sample of 147 articles from the recent camera-trapping literature and found that only 4.8% report a measure of quality control. We propose a framework to process media files obtained from camera traps that minimises errors by adopting a series of systematic procedures. Before classification, the focus is on detecting camera malfunctions, correcting storage and programming errors and establishing clear exclusion criteria. Classification can follow different approaches, including single or double human-eye review, which can be supported by artificial intelligence. The protocol is followed by quality control procedures that enable users to determine whether a dataset meets quality standards and is ready to be analysed, or if further revision is needed. Synthesis and applications: The proposed protocol introduces quality control as a key component of camera trap data processing, thus reducing error rates and making the reporting process more transparent. These principles also apply to other methods, such as autonomous sound-recording units. We suggest that by adopting formal quality control procedures, applied ecology will be able to capitalise the many advantages brought by new technologies and data processing tools., Las c & aacute;maras trampa son una metodolog & iacute;a frecuentemente usada en ecolog & iacute;a aplicada; sin embargo, sorprendentemente, no existen protocolos ampliamente aceptados para asegurar la calidad de los datos obtenidos por estos equipos. Revisamos una muestra de 147 art & iacute;culos recientes de la literatura sobre c & aacute;maras trampa y encontramos que solo 4,8% reporta alguna medida de control de calidad. Proponemos un marco para procesar los archivos obtenidos a trav & eacute;s de c & aacute;maras trampa que minimiza los errores a trav & eacute;s de una serie de procedimientos sistem & aacute;ticos. Previo a la clasificaci & oacute;n, el foco es en la detecci & oacute;n de fallas en el funcionamiento de las c & aacute;maras, la correcci & oacute;n de errores de almacenamiento y programaci & oacute;n, y el establecimiento de criterios de exclusi & oacute;n claros. La clasificaci & oacute;n puede seguir diferentes aproximaciones, incluyendo revisi & oacute;n & uacute;nica o doble, la cual puede ser apoyada por inteligencia artificial. El protocolo es seguido por procedimientos de control de calidad que permiten a los usuarios determinar si un set de datos cumple con est & aacute;ndares de calidad y est & aacute; listo para ser analizado, o si se requiere revisi & oacute;n adicional. S & iacute;ntesis y aplicaciones: El protocolo propuesto introduce el control de calidad como un componente clave para el procesamiento de datos de c & aacute;maras trampa, reduciendo las tasas de error y haciendo que el proceso de reporte sea m & aacute;s transparente. Estos principios aplican tambi & eacute;n para otros m & eacute;todos, como los dispositivos de grabaci & oacute;n de sonidos aut & oacute;nomos. Sugerimos que, al adoptar procedimientos de control de calidad formales, la ecolog & iacute;a aplicada podr & aacute; capitalizar las m & uacute;ltiples ventajas que ofrecen las nuevas tecnolog & iacute;as y herramientas de procesamiento de datos.
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    On the causes and consequences of the free-roaming dog problem in southern Chile
    (2023) Silva-Rodriguez, Eduardo A.; Cortes, Esteban I.; Zambrano, Brayan; Naughton-Treves, Lisa; Farias, Ariel A.
    Free-roaming dogs are an important concern for public health, livestock production and the environment. Human be-haviors-such as allowing pets to roam, abandoning dogs, or feeding stray animals-could influence free-roaming dog abundance and the frequency of occurrence of dog-caused problems. Here we aim to determine patterns of free-roaming dog abundance in urban and rural areas, to reveal spatial variation in human behaviors underlying the free-roaming dog problem, and to test for associations between free-roaming dog abundance and related problems. We conducted our study in Chile, where dogs are a major environmental issue. In Chile, as in many other Global South countries, many people leave their dogs to roam, partly due to norms and to lax enforcement of dog control laws. To address our objectives, we counted dogs in 213 transects in urban and rural areas to model dog abundance using N-mixture models. Then we conducted interviews in 553 properties around the transects to determine people's dog management, their behavior towards free-roaming dogs and the prevalence of dog-caused problems. Dog abun-dance was higher in transects where a higher number of owned dogs was allowed to roam, as well as in lower-income neighborhoods (based on property tax valuation). Meanwhile, rural citizens were more likely to let their dogs' roam. Dog abandonment was reported more frequently in lower-income urban neighborhoods and rural areas. Not surprisingly, we found that several problems-such as dog bites-were more frequent where we detected more free-roaming dogs. Our results highlight that the owned dog population is a central component of the free-roaming dog problem, and that human behavior is the key driver underlying the problem. Dog management programs should promote responsible dog-ownership, with a strong message focused on keeping dogs inside properties and preventing abandonment.