Correcting a bias in the computation of behavioural time budgets that are based on supervised learning
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Authors
Resheff, Yehezkel S
Bensch, Hanna M
Zöttl, Markus
Rotics, Shay
Publication Date
2022-07Journal Title
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
ISSN
2041-210X
Publisher
Wiley
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
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Resheff, Y. S., Bensch, H. M., Zöttl, M., & Rotics, S. (2022). Correcting a bias in the computation of behavioural time budgets that are based on supervised learning. Methods in Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.13862
Description
This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Wiley.
Abstract
1. Supervised learning of behavioral modes from body-acceleration data has become a widely used research tool in Behavioral Ecology over the past decade. One of the primary usages of this tool is to estimate behavioral time budgets from the distribution of behaviors as predicted by the model. These serve as the key parameters to test predictions about the variation in animal behavior. In this paper we show that the widespread computation of behavioral time budgets is biased, due to ignoring the classification model confusion probabilities.
2. Next, we introduce the confusion matrix correction for time budgets - a simple correction method for adjusting the computed time budgets based on the model's confusion matrix.
3. Finally, we show that the proposed correction is able to eliminate the bias, both theoretically and empirically in a series of data simulations on body acceleration data of a fossorial rodent species (Damaraland mole-rat, Fukomys damarensis).
4. Our paper provides a simple implementation of the confusion matrix correction for time budgets, and we encourage researchers to use it to improve accuracy of behavioral time budget calculations.
Keywords
body-acceleration, bio-logging, behavioral time budget, biotelemetry, machine learning, animal behaviour
Sponsorship
We thank the Wenner-Gren and the Blavatnik foundations for (non-parallel) stipends granted to S.R. The data collection was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
(Grant agreement No. 742808) and by the Crafoordska Stiftelsen (2018-2259 & 2020-0976). We are grateful to the Kalahari Research Trust and the Kalahari Meerkat Project for access to facilities in the Kuruman River Reserve, and to Prof Marta Manser
for her contribution to the management of the reserve. We would like to thank the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation for permission to conduct the data collection.
Embargo Lift Date
2023-04-04
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.13862
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/334318
Rights
All rights reserved
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