Impacts of Photography

Take only pictures, leave only...fear? The effects of photography on the West Indian anole Anolis cristatellus

The objective of the study was to investigate the affects of camera-related stimuli on wildlife. The stimuli investigated were audio (shutter noise) and visual (flash).  They focused on female crested anoles (Anolis cristatellus) in St. John, United States Virgin Islands. Anoles are an ideal study subject because they are able to perceive both visual and audio stimuli. The response of the female crested anoles helped to determine the affects on immediate display behavior.

The materials used included and external shoe-mount camera flash and recordings of shutter noises of five different DSLR camera models (Canon 5D Mark 2, Canon 50D, Canon 7D, Nikon D90, Nikon D5000). Three behavior categories were analyzed: look, display (pushups and tail wags), and locomotion (walk and hop). The responsiveness of anoles to different stimuli was calculated by looking at the difference in amount and rate of behaviors from the baseline. The baseline was determined by observing the behaviors of the anoles in the absence of visual and audio stimuli.

The second component of the study was the response to natural sounds (calls of birds). This was added to the study to find out if there is a correlation between camera audio stimuli and predator calls. They recorded the responses of anoles to five different exemplars of bananaquit songs (Coereba flaveola), a non-threatening stimulus, five different exemplars of kestrels’ calls (Falco sparverius), a predator, and silence (a control).

Anoles decreased their display rate following stimuli that included shutter noises, but did not change their behavior in response to flash or silence treatments. Overall, cam- era-related stimuli did not significantly change baseline rates of display. Anoles decreased display rates following kestrel calls. Overall, natural sounds did not significantly change baseline rates of display.

            Display behaviors serve as communication between individuals and are used by females to claim territories, assert positions in social hierarchies, respond to males’ courtship displays, or show fear or anxiety. Thus, decreasing display rates could potentially interfere with mating and social structure within anole communities. The response to both shutter sounds and predator calls indicates that anoles perceived these stimuli as threatening, and are exhibiting anti-predator behavior in response to shutter sounds. This demonstrates that photography may be detrimental to wildlife, and we should consider whether restrictions on camera noises should be implemented to reduce animal disturbance.