{
  "abstract": "1. Monitoring the diel activity patterns of free-living animals is a methodological challenge. Signal strength fluctuations from Very High Frequency (VHF) radio transmitters deployed within the Motus Wildlife Tracking System can be used as a proxy for activity. However, analytical tools to extract behavioral metrics that quantify activity patterns from these data are needed. 2. We developed roostR, an open-source R package that converts Motus detection data into quantitative behavioral metrics, including roost initiation and departure, roost duration, observation time, and restlessness. The package uses a sequential pipeline built around signal volatility and rolling medians to detect transitions between active and inactive states. Default parameter values were tuned using data from 55 dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) overwintering in southeastern Ohio. 3. We provide an example from a dark-eyed junco over a 58-day period. roostR estimated roost onset on 48 nights and departure on 56 mornings, with higher rolling median signal differences during the day than at night, consistent with a diurnal animal, and variable restlessness periods each night. We also used the package to estimate roost behavior of an American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) over 43-nights. 4. roostR enables researchers to extract individual activity data from Motus datasets. Because all thresholds are user-adjustable, the pipeline is adaptable across species, tag specifications, and ecological contexts, enabling researchers to test hypotheses about how environmental factors influence diel activity patterns.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Ohio University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "K. A. Williams"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. E. Morgan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. M. Lyons"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5mwr6a7pc45xq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.10.750597",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.10.750597v1.full",
  "id": "5mwr6a7pc45xq",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.10.750597v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "animal behavior and cognition"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2303|Wildlife Ecology and Conservation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213274657",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.10.750597v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-10",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5mwr6a7pc45xq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:35Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.10.750597",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.10.750597v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:animal behavior and cognition",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "roostR: An R package to examine diel activity patterns from Motus radio telemetry data",
  "title_text": "roostR: An R package to examine diel activity patterns from Motus radio telemetry data",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:35Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5mwr6a7pc45xq",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}