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Citizen Science: Training Pet Dogs to Detect the Spotted Lanternfly

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dc.contributor.authorDecker, Hannahen
dc.contributor.committeechairFeuerbacher, Erica N.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHall, Nathaniel J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBergamasco, Lucianaen
dc.contributor.departmentAnimal and Poultry Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-17T08:00:10Zen
dc.date.available2021-09-17T08:00:10Zen
dc.date.issued2021-09-16en
dc.description.abstractDogs have been used alongside humans as detection tools for centuries. There have been a multitude of studies published that demonstrate the accuracy and utility of detection dogs, more specifically conservation scent detection dogs. With ubiquitous agricultural threats in the United States, there is a need for a tool to help decrease the threat level. Pet dogs could be the answer. There are millions of pet dogs in the United States and with the success of the dog sport nose work there is the potential to use pet dogs as detection tools. In this proof-of-concept study, six pet dogs were trained to detect the spotted lanternfly. The dogs completed a training phase and five tests. The mean sensitivity of the six dogs, for the five tests, was 79.75%. The mean PPP of the six dogs, for all five tests, was 66.79%. The results suggest that these six dogs could be beneficial detection tools for the Spotted Lanternfly. Based on the findings in this study, pet dogs could be invaluable in the field of conservation scent detection.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralDogs have been used alongside humans as detection tools for centuries. There have been a multitude of studies published that demonstrate the accuracy and utility of detection dogs, more specifically conservation scent detection dogs. With ubiquitous agricultural threats in the United States, there is a need for a tool to help decrease the threat level. Pet dogs could be the answer. There are millions of pet dogs in the United States and with the success of the dog sport nose work there is the potential to use pet dogs as detection tools. In this proof-of-concept study, six pet dogs were trained to detect the spotted lanternfly. The dogs completed a training phase and five tests. The mean sensitivity, or proportion of correct detections, of the six dogs, for the five tests, was 79.75%. The mean PPP, or likelihood it is that the source of odor is present when a dog offers an alert; of the six dogs, for all five tests, was 66.79%. The results suggest that these six dogs could be beneficial detection tools for the Spotted Lanternfly. Based on the findings in this study, pet dogs could be invaluable in the field of conservation scent detection.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:32411en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/105006en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectConservationen
dc.subjectdogsen
dc.subjectscent detectionen
dc.subjectcitizen scienceen
dc.subjectSpotted Lanternflyen
dc.titleCitizen Science: Training Pet Dogs to Detect the Spotted Lanternflyen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineAnimal and Poultry Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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