Fence Electronic Tag Trap System and Monitoring Method for Monitoring the Daily Activity Rhythm of Mice

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fence electronic tag trap system and a monitoring method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats, belonging to the technical field of grassland rodent and pest control. This application designs an electronic tag fence trap system, namely, the Trap Electronic-Barrier System, which consists of a physical barrier and an electronically inductive coil hole, and can continuously and long-term monitor rats carrying electronic tags. Its basic principle is to utilize the habit of rats to walk along the edges of objects, and drill into the set electronic traps closely along the edge line of the barrier they pass by. The fence electronic trap can greatly increase the probability of obtaining the information carried by the captured rats. This method can automatically record and multiply the probability of recapturing marked animals, and obtain the daily and nocturnal activity time rhythms of the marked rats. Compared with using infrared cameras or Internet of Things technology to monitor the daily and nocturnal activity time rhythms of rats, this method has the least interference to rats, and the probability of monitoring and capturing marked rats is higher, further increasing the accuracy of experimental data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of grassland rodent and pest control, and specifically relates to a fence electronic tag trap system and a monitoring method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rodents. Background Art

[0002] The monitoring of the time allocation of animal behavior mainly relies on various instruments and equipment that can continuously and uninterruptedly automatically record the activity time of target animals day and night. At present, the monitoring and recording equipment for wild animals mainly uses two methods: infrared cameras and Internet of Things intelligent monitoring equipment.

[0003] Rodent circadian rhythm: The time allocation law of rodent behavior activities within 24 hours of a day and night. For example, those showing the daily activity time characteristics of activity, with the repeated activity time mainly distributed during the day, are called diurnal rodents, those distributed at night are called nocturnal rodents, and those with distributions both day and night are called rodents without obvious daily rhythm.

[0004] The infrared camera monitoring method uses the change in environmental heat (temperature difference) caused by warm-blooded animals passing in front of the camera to trigger the camera to automatically take pictures of the animals, and uses these pictures to identify the target species that appear at specific locations and times. The image data obtained by this method includes information such as animal species, behavior, date, time, weather, and location. By statistically analyzing the activity time of the target animals captured in this way, the daily activity rhythm can be obtained; the accuracy of calculating the daily activity rhythm of animals by the infrared camera monitoring method is closely related to the clarity of the photos. The currently used infrared camera monitoring method mainly horizontally arranges the cameras, mainly targeting medium and large animals. When they pass by, it is easy to trigger the camera and take pictures of the parts above the shoulder height of the target species, which is easy to identify the target species. For ground-dwelling rodents, due to their small heat source targets and relatively long distances from the camera when passing in front of the lens, it is difficult to trigger the camera's photographing function, or due to the angle problem of the captured images, it is not easy to identify the species, let alone distinguish between male and female. In places with strong sunlight during the day, such as grassland environments, the triggering of the camera is extremely susceptible to the influence of light, and it is not easy to capture the activities of the target rodent species.

[0005] Internet of Things intelligent monitoring technology, a rat intelligence monitoring system based on Internet of Things technology, detects the biological signs of rats through a composite gravity and infrared sensing system, records and counts the activity time of the rats moving in the target area, and then transmits the detection results to the system background server through dual-frequency wireless communication technology. Users can obtain the monitoring data in a timely manner through computers, mobile phones, logging in to websites, emails or text messages, and obtain their daily activity rhythms. The Internet of Things intelligent monitoring technology is a random monitoring method for behavioral time allocation. The monitoring of the target rat species by this technology also depends on whether it can capture the images of the rats passing by the device. Its essence is an infrared camera vertically installed, plus the function of automatically transmitting the captured images to the background server. It partially overcomes the drawback that it is difficult for the horizontally installed infrared camera to be triggered by the rats moving on the ground. However, due to the problem of the image angle taken, most of the obtained images are of the back of the rats, which are not easy to identify the species, nor can the male and female genders be identified. On the other hand, it needs the rats to enter the cylindrical monitoring aisle to trigger the camera to take pictures. The alertness of the rats reduces the probability of them entering the aisle, resulting in low monitoring efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a fence electronic tag trap system and a monitoring method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats. The system is simple, easy to set up, and not affected by human factors in monitoring, which can greatly improve the probability and accuracy of monitoring tagged animals.

[0007] More specifically, the main technical idea proposed by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] This application designs an electronic tag fence trap system, the fence electronic trap (Trap Electronic-Barrier System): composed of a physical barrier and an electronically inductive coil hole, which can continuously and long-term monitor the rats carrying electronic tags. Its basic principle is to utilize the habit of rats to walk along the edge of objects, and drill into the set electronic trap closely along the edge line of the barrier they pass by. The fence electronic trap can greatly improve the probability of obtaining the information carried by the captured rats.

[0009] Among them, the passive electronic tag (Radio Frequency Identification, RFID) technology, also known as radio frequency identification technology. Inject an electronic tag chip with a pre-set unique number into the subcutaneous tissue of the back of the captured animal. After capturing the animal, use an electronic tag reader to read the tag part to obtain the number and related information of the animal.

[0010] The first aspect of the present invention provides a product, specifically a fence electronic tag trap system for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats, and the system includes

[0011] A fence buried in the target area;

[0012] A plurality of holes provided on the fence and equipped with electronic tag readers;

[0013] And a plurality of mousetraps arranged inside the fence.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, the above-ground height of the fence is 30-40 cm, and the underground height is greater than 20 cm.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, the plurality of holes are holes having a circular ring structure formed by winding an electronic tag reader coil around.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, the plurality of holes are flush with the ground.

[0017] The second aspect of the present invention provides a method, specifically: a method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of mice based on a fence electronic tag trap system, including the following steps:

[0018] Bury a fence in the target area, and arrange a plurality of holes flush with the ground at equal intervals along the edge of the fence;

[0019] At each hole, install and fix the induction coil of the electronic tag reader around the hole to form a hole with an electronic tag reader as a circular ring structure;

[0020] According to needs, arrange mousetraps between the fences, place bait, place mousetraps every evening, check the mousetrap situation early the next morning, take out the mice in time if there are any, and record the mouse species, gender, weight and the position of the captured cage;

[0021] Mark the mice with a unique number through an electronic tag in the body of the mice, release them at the capture location, and continuously place them for several days until the number of marked mice reaches the target value;

[0022] When the mice pass through the set holes, automatically record the numbers of the marked mice and the time when the electronic tags carried by the mice are detected, check the working condition of the reader and export the record file to obtain the number, activity location and detected time data of the marked mice;

[0023] Use the daily activity rhythm statistical model to calculate the daily activity rhythm of the target mouse species.

[0024] As a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the fence is a plastic mesh fence with a pore diameter ≤ 1 cm, the above-ground part of the fence is 30-40 cm high, and it is buried 10-15 cm underground.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the hole is a 5 cm × 5 cm hole, and the distance between every two holes is 5 m.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the mousetrap is a grid-shaped mouse cage, and the distance between every two mouse cages is 10 m.

[0027] In summary, the present invention mainly has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] 1. The monitoring system of the present invention can continuously and automatically obtain the activity information of animals with electronic tag numbers, reduce human participation during the information acquisition process, lower the difficulty of information acquisition, and save labor.

[0029] 2. The monitoring system of the present invention can be placed in the target area for a long time without disturbing the marked animals again. It can greatly increase the probability of detecting the marked animals, increase the number of times of detecting the target animals, and improve the accuracy of analyzing their activity time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1A is a schematic cross-sectional layout diagram of the trap system of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the ground fixation of the fence of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 1C is a picture of the induction coil of the electronic tag reader of the present invention arranged around the hole.

[0033] Figure 2 is the electronic tag chip.

[0034] Figure 3 is the chip injector.

[0035] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of the plastic mesh fence detection openings and mouse cages around the RFID electronic tag reader coil set in the target area.

[0036] Figure 5 is a picture of the mouse caught alive by the mouse cage.

[0037] Figure 6 is a time distribution diagram of the monitoring times of the captured mice. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0039] Based on the problems described in the background art, the applicant found that by combining the method of electronic tags with the design of a trap system, the acquisition of information on the daily activity rhythm of passive rodents can be transformed into the acquisition of information on the daily activity rhythm of active rodents, thus greatly improving the ease and accuracy of information acquisition. The following elaborates on this technical solution in detail.

[0040] A method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats based on a fence electronic tag trap system, comprising the following steps:

[0041] (1) Bury a plastic mesh fence with a pore diameter ≤ 1 cm in the target area. The above-ground part of the fence is 30 - 40 cm high, and about 10 - 15 cm is buried underground, with the bottom edge of the fence not easily exposed from the soil being appropriate. Use bamboo or other material support rods to bury them in the soil to fix the fence, as shown in the schematic diagram ( Figure 1A 、 1B ). Along the edge of the fence, cut a 5 cm × 5 cm hole flush with the ground at intervals of 5 m, and install and fix the induction coil of the electronic tag reader around the hole, as shown in the schematic diagram ( Figure 1C ).

[0042] (2) Use an iron mousetrap (specification: 235 mm × 115 mm × 115 mm), use peanuts as bait, arrange the traps in a grid of 6 m × 10 m at intervals of 10 m, and set up a certain number of mousetraps as needed ( Figure 4 ). Place the mousetraps every evening, check the trapping situation early the next morning, and if there is a rat ( Figure 5 ), take it out in time, record the rat species, gender, weight, and the position of the trapping cage, inject an RFID electronic tag and then release it at the trapping location. Place them continuously for several days until the number of marked rats reaches the target value.

[0043] (3) Marking of rats. Use a supporting sterile syringe to inject a rice-grain-sized cylindrical radio frequency identification (RFID) electronic tag (diameter 1.4 mm, length 8 mm) (commercially available, Figure 2 、 Figure 3 ) subcutaneously into the back of the trapped rat. This tag has a unique and separate number. When the animal passes through the set fence electronic tag trap system (including a commercially available supporting RFID electronic tag reader) ( Figure 1C ), it can automatically record the number of the marked rat and the time when the rat carrying the electronic tag is detected.

[0044] (4) After a certain period of time, check the working condition of the reader and export the record file to obtain data such as the number of marked rats, activity points, and detected time, and use a conventional daily activity rhythm statistical model to calculate the daily activity rhythm of the target rat species.

[0045] Core design points of the present invention: (1) The holes in the plastic fence can increase the probability of recapturing rats, which is related to the behavioral characteristics of rats liking to walk along the edges of objects and drilling holes. (2) The electronic tag trap fixes the coil of the electronic tag reader at the hole of the plastic fence, which can automatically record the information of the electronic tags carried by rats, and then obtain the recapture data. The plastic fence does not interfere with the operation of the electronic tag reader. The electronic tag trap can detect the rat number information without manually capturing the rats, and obtain the activity rhythm time of the target rats.

[0046] Embodiment

[0047] In 2021, the applicant used infrared cameras, Internet of Things devices and this method to monitor the daily activity rhythm of Apodemus agrarius in Yuqing County, Guizhou Province, and the results are as follows.

[0048] Twelve infrared cameras were used and arranged in 2 rows according to a 10m×10m grid, and continuously placed for 5 nights. The results showed that a total of 3 rodent-shaped animals were photographed, including 1 Apodemus agrarius and 2 rodents of unknown species. The activity time of the recorded Apodemus agrarius was 23:12. Due to the small sample size, the diurnal activity time rhythm of this rat could not be obtained.

[0049] Due to the high cost of Internet of Things monitoring devices, only 2 devices were installed near two villages more than 1000 meters apart and continuously placed for one month. During this period, 5 rodent-shaped animals were monitored and photographed. The rodent species was initially determined to be Rattus norvegicus, and no Apodemus agrarius was monitored.

[0050] Using rat traps to capture and release, the results of monitoring the activity rhythm of the target rats by this technology are as follows: 60 rat traps were arranged according to a 6m×10m grid, with a spacing of 10m ( Figure 4 ), and a fence electronic tag trap system consisting of a 60m-long fence and 12 electronic traps was set in the center of the rat trap placement area and continuously placed for 5 nights. During this period, a total of 11 rats injected with electronic tags were captured and released in situ, including 8 Apodemus agrarius and 3 Niviventer lotipes. The data recorded by the electronic tag reader were read every day. The results showed that within 5 days, the 8 Apodemus agrarius passed through the electronic monitoring fence a total of 39 times. The rat with the most monitored times was monitored every day for 5 days, with a total of 20 times; the rat with the least monitored times was monitored for 2 days within 5 days, with a total of 2 times. The time when Apodemus agrarius was monitored was concentrated between 20:21 at night and 4:25 in the early morning ( Figure 6 ).

[0051] It can be seen that through the verification of the embodiments, it is obtained that the method of the present invention can automatically record and multiply increase the probability of recapturing marked animals, and obtain the circadian activity time rhythm of marked mice. Moreover, compared with the infrared camera or the Internet of Things technology for monitoring the circadian activity time rhythm of mice, this method has the least interference with mice, and the probability of monitoring and capturing marked mice is higher, further increasing the accuracy of experimental data.

[0052] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats based on a fence electronic tag trap system, characterized in that, The steps include: Install a fence within the target area, and evenly arrange a plurality of holes flush with the ground along the edge of the fence. The target area is a natural outdoor environment. At each hole, install and fix the induction coil of the electronic tag reader around the hole to form a hole with the electronic tag reader as a circular ring structure. Arrange mousetraps between the fences as needed and place bait. Set up the mousetraps every evening and check the mousetrap situation early the next morning. If there is a mouse, take it out in time and record the mouse species, gender, weight, and the location of the mousetrap. Mark the mouse with a unique number through an electronic tag in its body, release it at the capture location, and continuously place it for several days until the number of marked mice reaches the target value. When the mouse passes through the set hole, automatically record the number of the marked mouse and the time when the electronic tag carried by the mouse is detected. Check the working condition of the electronic tag reader and export the record file to obtain the number of the marked mouse, the activity points, and the detected time data. Use the daily activity rhythm statistical model to calculate the daily activity rhythm of the target mouse species. The fence is a plastic mesh fence with a pore diameter ≤ 1 cm. The above-ground part of the fence is 30 - 40 cm high, and 10 - 15 cm is buried underground. The hole is a 5 cm × 5 cm hole, and the distance between every two holes is 5 m.

2. The method for monitoring the daily activity rhythm of rats based on the fence electronic tag trap system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mousetrap is a grid-shaped mousetrap, and the distance between every two mousetraps is 10 m.

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