CTmax Tracker v1.2
A Windows desktop application developed for Critical Thermal Maximum (CTmax) experiments in fish and other aquatic ectotherms. CTmax Tracker integrates interactive specimen tracking with live temperature monitoring and ramp control, allowing users to record specimen-specific CTmax events (including internal temperature estimation) and export trial data for analysis.
Key capabilities:
- Interactive multi-specimen experimental tank with draggable and resizable specimen markers to mirror lab setup
- USB-1208LS DAQ integration for live temperature monitoring
- Real-time temperature ramping (heating and cooling) with configurable rates
- Internal body-temperature estimation based on Newton's law modeling (explicit for fish)
- Specimen-specific CTmax event logging with timestamped CSV export
- Trial recording workflow with demo and licensed activation modes
System requirements: Windows 10/11 (64-bit). Optional USB-1208LS DAQ hardware with MCC InstaCal drivers for live control and monitoring.
Temp-Pref Tracker v.2.5
A Windows desktop application for real-time, webcam-based object tracking designed for thermal preference research. Uses an infrared / low light sensitive USB camera for contrast-based contour detection to follow a subject (i.e., a fish) inside a two-choice thermal arena and records timestamped X-Y coordinates at one-second intervals.
Key capabilities:
- Real-time contrast-based object tracking
- Automatic brightness-based tracking calibration with user-adjustable sensitivity sliders
- Adjustable X-threshold line that splits the arena into left/right zones
- Mask drawing tools to isolate the region of interest
- DAQ hardware: dual-channel temperature monitoring with 2-point calibration
- Digital output control for heating, cooling, and mixing pump trigger with safety and rate limits
- Optional internal core/body temperature estimation using specimen mass and chamber temperature
- System Control trials with configurable heat/cool cycling
- Data export to timestamped CSV files
- Trial (7-day) and licensed activation modes
New in v.2.5: updated installer package and manual, plus optional internal core/body temperature estimation support and related CSV export fields.
Additional Software in Use (BETA)
We also use two additional software tools that are currently in BETA and may be available upon request:
1) Sedimentation-Preference Tracker v1.0 (Chronic)
This program is designed to test movement patterns of mobile species across stable sedimentation/turbidity gradients typically found with increasing distance to riverine outlets in nearshore marine ecosystems. It uses a system of 2 to 12 (user-defined) interconnected exposure tanks and real-time break-beam laser detections of animal movements between chronic exposure tanks to determine preference/avoidance limits.
2) Sedimentation-Threshold Tracker v1.3 (Acute)
This program is designed to determine threshold tolerance limits of mobile aquatic species to progressive acute changes in sedimentation/turbidity. The program mimics sediment/turbidity plumes encountered during heavy rainfall or resuspension events in the field by dynamically controlling the sedimentation increase rate and exposure duration in two interconnected exposure tanks. It uses break-beam laser detection of animal movements to determine threshold tolerance limits.