Project Update: we develop methods (hacks) to analyze videos using freely available open- source software.

The overall goal is two-fold:

1. Create frame-processing algorithms that allow videos of animal behaviour to be displayed as single images displaying key components of behaviour.   Subsequent image projection techniques then allow all replicates within a treatment to be combined into a single image.  These then provide a useful tool for  qualitative and quantitative analyses of behaviour without explicit of tracking of structures or individuals.
   
2. Establish work-flows for using open-source tracking software options with maximum flexibility in video sources and subsequent analyses.

Examples of our videograms or tracking used to analyze behaviour in:

• zebrafish: doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-953-6_7, doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.044
• Trichoplax: doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-974-1_4
• gastropods: doi: 10.1080/10236244.2015.1123870

Some initial tips…

For videograms: This chapter explains videograms and how to use them in more detail. To get started, use the demo procedure in ImageJ to produce a videogram from one of the versions of this sample video.

For open-source tracking: start with ImageJ (that’s the FIJI version), and make use of the FFMPEG plugin (available in the “Manage update sites option” in the Updater).  Then explore the MTrackJ (manual tracking, great analysis options) and Trackmate (automated tracking) plugins.  This converter helps get Trackmate data into MTrackJ for analysis.