Evaluation of a Global Positioning System backpack transmitter for wild turkey research

Abstract

Radiotelemetry is the standard method for monitoring wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo) movements and habitat use. Spatial data collected using telemetry‐based monitoring are frequently inaccurate due to triangulation error. However, new technology, such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has increased ecologists' ability to accurately evaluate animal movements and habitat selection. We evaluated the efficacy of micro‐GPS backpack units for use on wild turkeys. We tested a micro‐GPS developed specifically for avian species that incorporated a GPS antenna with a lightweight rechargeable battery and a very high frequency (VHF) transmitter. We conducted a series of static tests to evaluate performance in varying types of vegetative canopy cover and terrain. After static testing, we deployed micro‐GPS on 8 adult male Rio Grande wild turkeys (M. g. intermedia) trapped in south Texas and 2 adult females trapped in the Texas panhandle. Micro‐GPS units collected 26,439 locations out of 26,506 scheduled attempts (99.7% fix rate) during static testing. Mean distance error across all static tests was 15.5 m (SE = 0.1). In summer 2009, we recovered micro‐GPS from 4 tagged males and both females to evaluate data collection. Units on males acquired approximately 2,500 locations over a 65‐day test period (94.5% fix rate). We recovered units from the 2 females after 19 days and 53 days; those units acquired 301 and 837 locations, respectively, for a 96% fix rate. Cost analysis indicated that VHF will be cost effective when 1 location per day is required up to 181 days, but micro‐GPS becomes less expensive as frequency of daily locations increases. Our results indicate that micro‐GPS have the potential to provide increased reliable data on turkey movement ecology and habitat selection at a higher resolution than conventional VHF telemetric methods. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Evaluation of the performance and accuracy of Global Positioning System bug transmitters deployed on a small mammal

“…We observed high rates of FSR from bugs deployed on hedgehogs in a rural landscape which is similar to other studies (Guthrie et al 2011;Quaglietta et al 2012;Recio et al 2013). …”

“…If the animal enters an area inaccessible to the researcher, they may be unable to obtain a fix, further adding to costs. Studies using triangulation are often accurate to just 200-600 m , and the method is particularly time consuming (Guthrie et al 2011). Since we used homing, our VHF locations were determined using a handheld GPS utilising the same technology as the bugs and accurate to 6.6 m±0.08 (625 VHF locations during 2012) which is comparable to the bugs.…”

“…Static tests reveal reduced accuracy and performance in obstructive (e.g. forests) compared to open habitats (Guthrie et al 2011) potentially biasing conclusions of habitat use in the focal animal though misclassification or underrepresentation of use (for review, see Frair et al 2010).…”

Error Properties of Argos Satellite Telemetry Locations Using Least Squares and Kalman Filtering

“…However, the use of GPS is limited by the need to download stored positions or the need for a data relay system to transmit positions to a distant user – often via VHF or Argos. Present GPS-based systems with data relay are generally not light enough for deployment on animals weighing <1000 g (i.e., maximum ∼ 30 g, using the maximum 3% of body weight rule of thumb) for more than several days or a few weeks– largely because of power limitations [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10].…”

Hunting and Nesting Phenology Influence Gobbling of Wild Turkeys

“…We banded all captured birds with uniquely numbered aluminum rivet‐style leg bands. We radio‐marked all females with backpack‐style global positioning system (GPS) units (Lotek Wireless, Newmarket, ON, Canada; Guthrie et al ). We programmed GPS units to record locations hourly from 0500 through 2000 and 1 roost location at 2359 for the life of the units (Cohen et al ).…”