Home security cameras as a tool for behavior observations and science affordability
- 1Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- 3Graduate Program in Zoology, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Bahía, Brazil
Abstract
Reliably capturing transient animal behavior in the field and laboratory remains a logistical and financial challenge, especially for small ectotherms. Here, we evaluate home security cameras as affordable, accessible and suitable alternatives for monitoring small, cold-blooded animals historically overlooked by commercial camera traps. These cameras are often lightweight, weather-resistant, operate offline or online, store data continuously for up to four weeks and can use phone notifications over local Wi-Fi to alert users to behaviorally relevant events. We first benchmark a representative home security camera against an established trail camera under matched laboratory conditions in both continuous and motion-triggered modes, comparing event detection, recording duration, and missed-event rates. We then validate the system during a 1.5-month deployment in a tropical primary rainforest, assessing weather durability, sensitivity-versus-data-volume trade-offs, and whether behavioral measurements obtained in the laboratory are reproducible under natural conditions. We discuss the relative affordability of our system for researchers in the Global South, home to the largest ectotherm diversity.
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BibTeX
@article{goolsby2026home,
title = {{Home security cameras as a tool for behavior observations and science affordability}},
author = {Billie C. Goolsby and M Fischer and Tony G. Chen and Daniela Pareja-Mejía and Daniel A. Shaykevich and Amaris R. Lewis and Gaëlle Raboisson and Katharina Dellefont and Madison P. Lacey and Lauren A. O’Connell},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360298},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360298},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Home security cameras as a tool for behavior observations and science affordability
AU - Billie C. Goolsby
AU - M Fischer
AU - Tony G. Chen
AU - Daniela Pareja-Mejía
AU - Daniel A. Shaykevich
AU - Amaris R. Lewis
AU - Gaëlle Raboisson
AU - Katharina Dellefont
AU - Madison P. Lacey
AU - Lauren A. O’Connell
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360298
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360298
AB - Reliably capturing transient animal behavior in the field and laboratory remains a logistical and financial challenge, especially for small ectotherms. Here, we evaluate home security cameras as affordable, accessible and suitable alternatives for monitoring small, cold-blooded animals historically overlooked by commercial camera traps. These cameras are often lightweight, weather-resistant, operate offline or online, store data continuously for up to four weeks and can use phone notifications over local Wi-Fi to alert users to behaviorally relevant events. We first benchmark a representative home security camera against an established trail camera under matched laboratory conditions in both continuous and motion-triggered modes, comparing event detection, recording duration, and missed-event rates. We then validate the system during a 1.5-month deployment in a tropical primary rainforest, assessing weather durability, sensitivity-versus-data-volume trade-offs, and whether behavioral measurements obtained in the laboratory are reproducible under natural conditions. We discuss the relative affordability of our system for researchers in the Global South, home to the largest ectotherm diversity.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -