A test of computer-assisted matching using the North Pacific humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, tail flukes photograph collection

Testing was conducted of a computer-assisted system for matching, humpback whale tail flukes photographs. Trials with a 12,000-photographs database found no differences in match success between matching by computer and matching by comparing smaller catalogs ranging in size from 200 to 400 photograph...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine fisheries review 2003-06, Vol.65 (3), p.25-37
Main Authors: Mizroch, Sally A, Harkness, Suzanne A.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Equipment and supplies
Evaluation
Humpback whale
Image interpretation, Computer assisted
Image processing
Marine
Megaptera novaeangliae
Photography
Technology application
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Summary:Testing was conducted of a computer-assisted system for matching, humpback whale tail flukes photographs. Trials with a 12,000-photographs database found no differences in match success between matching by computer and matching by comparing smaller catalogs ranging in size from 200 to 400 photographs. Tests with a 24,000-photographs database showed that, on average, the first match was found after examining about 130 photographs whether the photograph quality was excellent, good, or poor. Match success did not appear to be strongly related to whether the tail flukes had especially distinctive markings or pigment patterns (recognition quality). An advantage of computer-assisted matching is the ability to compare new photographs to the entire North Pacific collection, where no bias is introduced based on expectation of resightings within or between specific areas, or based on expectation of behavioral role (e.g. matching "known" females to "known" females).
ISSN:0090-1830
1939-2044