Performance of a GPS Animal Location System under Boreal Forest Canopy

Rempel, Robert S.; Rodgers, Arthur R.; Abraham, Kenneth F.

doi:10.2307/3802461

Cited by 156 publications

(217 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Finally, the GPS system provides accurate time stamping of a position. When GPS was coupled with data transmission technologies (Rempel et al 1995;Rodgers et al 1996;Schwartz & Arthur 1999), a new era of animal tracking began, and recent literature contains numerous examples of successful studies using GPS positioning (Godley et al 2008;Gremillet et al 2008;Laurian et al 2008;Trathan et al 2008;Van Beest et al 2010).…”

Section: Gps: Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

Tomkiewicz¹,

Fuller

Kie

et al. 2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

408

357

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Biologists can equip animals with global positioning system (GPS) technology to obtain accurate (less than or equal to 30 m) locations that can be combined with sensor data to study animal behaviour and ecology. We provide the background of GPS techniques that have been used to gather data for wildlife studies. We review how GPS has been integrated into functional systems with data storage, data transfer, power supplies, packaging and sensor technologies to collect temperature, activity, proximity and mortality data from terrestrial species and birds. GPS 'rapid fixing' technologies combined with sensors provide location, dive frequency and duration profiles, and underwater acoustic information for the study of marine species. We examine how these rapid fixing technologies may be applied to terrestrial and avian applications. We discuss positional data quality and the capability for high-frequency sampling associated with GPS locations. We present alternatives for storing and retrieving data by using dataloggers (biologging), radio-frequency download systems (e.g. very high frequency, spread spectrum), integration of GPS with other satellite systems (e.g. Argos, Globalstar) and potential new data recovery technologies (e.g. network nodes). GPS is one component among many rapidly evolving technologies. Therefore, we recommend that users and suppliers interact to ensure the availability of appropriate equipment to meet animal research objectives.

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Section: Gps: Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

Tomkiewicz¹,

Fuller

Kie

et al. 2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

408

357

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“…The GPS collars logged non-differentially correctable horizontal position data in the WGS84 datum, altitude, date, time, satellite identifier, location mode (2-or 3-dimensional [2D or 3D]), dilution of precision (DOP), and the time required to obtain a location. The GPS collars operated in auto 2D/3D mode, meaning that when signals from ≥4 satellites were obtained, a 3D location (horizontal position and elevation) was taken, but if only three satellite signals were obtained, a 2D location (horizontal position only) was taken using the elevation obtained from the last 3D location (Rempel et al 1995). GPS collars were programmed to obtain a GPS location every six hours on the hour (120-second maximum on time with no retry on failed attempts) and had an estimated 181-day GPS battery life (C. Kochanny, Advanced Telemetry Systems, personal communication).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Habitat Use and Movements of Mountain Goats, <em>Oreamnos americanus</em>, in East-central British Columbia

Poole¹,

Heard

2003

Can Field Nat

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Poole, Kim G., and Douglas C. Heard. 2003. Seasonal habitat use and movements of Mountain Goats, Oreamnos americanus, in east-central British Columbia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 117(4): 565-576.To identify the potential for adverse effects of forest development on Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus), we documented the patterns of forest use by goats and the factors influencing goat habitat use. We used a combination of 15 very high frequency (VHF) and six global positioning system (GPS) radiocollars to document the distribution and movements of 21 (15 female, 6 male) goats from 1997 to 1999 in the mountains surrounding the Robson Valley in east-central British Columbia. Because canopy closure reduces the likelihood that a GPS receiver will obtain a location fix, we estimated that GPS collars underrepresented forest use by about 23%. Three goats used separate winter and summer ranges separated by 8-13 km, while most simply exhibited seasonal shifts in elevation. In winter, goats were more often at lower elevations, in commercial forest stands, on southerly aspects, and moved less each hour and over the course of the winter. Goat use declined in areas >500 m from escape terrain and goats were found lower in elevation from evening to dawn compared to daylight hours. Collared goats used high elevation licks, which were either within their home range, or in two cases, 6 and 14 km from their typical home range. We documented use of known mid-elevation mineral licks by three collared goats, but no use of known low elevation (valley bottom and lower slopes) mineral licks. Robson Valley goats appeared to be at relatively low risk from disturbances related to logging, because although forest use was documented during winter, it occurred primarily on high elevation, steep slopes where trees are currently of low commercial value, and goats made little use of low elevation mineral licks. We recommend that in this area a forested buffer of 500 m around cliffs be left to reduce the possibility of adverse effects on goats especially, on southerly aspects above 1300 m.Key Words: Mountain Goats, Oreamnos americanus, British Columbia, distribution, habitat use, home range, mineral licks, movements.the Columbia Mountains to the southwest. Goats were monitored up to 28 km from the main valley. Elevations ranged from 715 m at the northwest end of the valley bottom to surrounding peaks that were generally between 2600 and 3250 m. Shackleton (1999) rated the relative density of goats in the area as moderate. Within a 2700-km 2 census zone (above 1675 m) encompassing the study animals, the goat density was estimated at 0.8 goats/km 2 (Poole et al. 2000). Climate varied with elevation, with a general increase in precipitation and decline in temperature with increasing elevation. Mean July and January temperatures for Valemount, located at 797 m in the centre of the study area, were 15.8 and -11.0°C, respectively, with an average annual precipitation of 503 mm, 180 mm of which fall as snow (Environment Canada climate normals, unpublished...

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“…GPS collars are capable of collecting multiple daily fixes over an extended time and provide an unbiased and precise estimate of animal locations. The spatial and temporal resolution of GPS data allows researchers to study interactions of animals and their habitat at an unprecedented level of detail (Rempel et al, 1995;Rempel & Rodgers, 1997). GPS data from 7 female Owl Lake caribou were collected from January 2002 to March of 2006.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining effects of an all weather logging road on winter woodland caribou habitat use in south-eastern Manitoba

Schindler

Walker

Davis

et al. 2007

Ran

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Abstract:The Owl Lake boreal woodland caribou population is the most southerly population in Manitoba. It is provincially ranked as a High Conservation Concern Population. Forestry operations exist in the area and there are plans for further forest harvest and renewal. The Happy Lake logging road is the only main access through the Owl Lake winter range. This logging road is currently closed to the public and access is limited to forestry operations during specific times of the year. An integrated forestry/caribou management strategy for the area provides for the maintenance of minimum areas of functional habitat. Habitat quality along the road was compared to habitat quality in the winter core use areas, within the winter range and outside the winter range. To evaluate the extent of functional habitat near the road, we conducted animal location and movement analysis using GPS data collected from January 2002 to March 2006. Habitat quality in the winter range, core use areas and along the road were assessed and found to be similar. Analysis of caribou locations and movement illustrate less use of high quality habitat adjacent to the Happy Lake Road. Loss of functional habitat is suggested to occur within 1 kilometre of the road. This potential loss of functional habitat should be incorporated into integrated forestry and caribou conservation strategies. Road management is recommended to minimize the potential sensory disturbance and associated impacts of all weather access on boreal woodland caribou.

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Performance of a GPS Animal Location System under Boreal Forest Canopy

Cited by 156 publications

References 2 publications

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research

Seasonal Habitat Use and Movements of Mountain Goats, <em>Oreamnos americanus</em>, in East-central British Columbia

Determining effects of an all weather logging road on winter woodland caribou habitat use in south-eastern Manitoba

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