FOCUS

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FOCUS

• FOCUS
• FoCuS
• focus

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Wildlife Radiotelemetry

• Read Chapter 14 in your Book
• Read the online report by Mech and Barber (2002)
  as linked on the course web page

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Wildlife Radiotelemetry

• Read Chapter 14 in your Book
• Read the online report by Mech and Barber (2002)
  as linked on the course web page

• We will discuss
• What is it?
• Why is it used?
• How is it done?
• What are the problems?
• How are these problems overcome?
• What are the alternatives?
• What are the advantages of each?
• When is it a good technique?

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Hands on!

• We will gain experience with
• How the equipment works
• Homing to a transmitter contest 1
• Estimation of system error and bias
• Use of compass
• Field experiment
• Analysis
• Triangulation contest 2
• Use of GPS
• UTM coordinates
• Use of maps
• Plotting locations
• Demonstration of computer resources for plotting
  and analysis as time permits

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What is radiotelemetry

• Involves the attachment of a radio device to a
  wild animal for the purpose of monitoring its
  location
• May be attached externally or internally

• When is internal/external more appropriate?
• May be one of several types of devices
• Conventional VHF radio transmitter
• May have various optional features
• Motion sensor
• Mortality sensor
• Heart rate monitor, temperature sensor,
• Remotely triggered syringe

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Types of devices, continued

• Conventional Satellite Transmitters
• Must pay for satellite use
• GPS receivers
• On board data retrieval
• Remote data retrieval
• Conventional radio
• Satellite download
• Must pay for satellite use
• Acoustic and combo transmitters

• More details on each in readings
• Will discuss as time permits

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What questions are answered or hypotheses tested
through wildlife radiotelemetry?

• 1
• 2 -
• 3 -
• 4

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Questions and hypotheses

• Dispersal when, which individuals, how far
• Migration as above, and pathways
• Other movements as above, and rate
• Location dens, nests, habitat type
• Behavior avoid or attracted to others
• Space use home range, territory, core area
• Survival rate requires lots of transmitters
• Breeding to locate nest, den, brood
• Impacts of land use, management,

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Is radiotelemetry a good technique?
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Is radiotelemetry a good technique?

• Be thinking about this as we go along over the
  next few weeks
• It is often the ONLY way to collect certain data
• Are those data really needed?
• Are there other ways to achieve the same
  objective(s) that are better?
• What are the alternatives?
• Other thechniques
• Do not achieve the objective

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Does the marked animal typify population?

• Minimizing the effects of radiomarking (13 ways)
• Assume there IS an effect(s)
• Literature review for proper attachment/effects
• Consult the experts about similar species/studies
• Use smallest radio possible
• Use most inconspicuous package/attachment
• Test the attachment method
• Pilot study for first-time method or species
• Practice attachment on animal or surrogate
• Ensure fit of package on each individual
• Consider periods of stress (weather, breeding,)
• Observe post-attachment behavior
• Allow for post-attachment acclimation
• Publish positive AND negative aspects of your
  experience

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Costs

• Receivers cost between 500 and 5000
• Vary from limited-frequency, channel type to
  full frequency, digital type
• May be radio, acoustic, or combo
• May be able to transmit an injection or download
  signal
• May be able to receive other data
• GPS coordinated
• Body temperature
• Others
• Scanners or manual
• tuning

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Cost, continued

• Transmitters cost from 125 to 5000
• Small VHF with no options are cheapest
• Subminiature and Large units are more
• Options cost!
• GPS is more
• Satellite rental
• 100 /mo/transmitter
• Depends on agency
• DYI is fun and cheap in the short run
• More costly in the long run
• Time and reliability are the main concerns

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Obtaining Equipment

• Dozens of companies that specialize in providing
  transmitters, receivers, and accessories
• TWS working group maintains a web site with info
• See course page links
• Selection may be based on agency contract,
  country, familiarity, or track record
• Prices are similar
• You dont always get what you pay for
• See expert advice from multiple experts

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Conventional Radiotelemetry

• VHF UHF frequency is assigned by the FCC
• EKU uses 150-152 MHz receivers
• Each transmitter (animal) usually has a unique
  frequency
• Transmitters should be separated by 10 KHz or
  more to distinguish between individulas
• E.g., 150.500, 150.510, 150.520
• Limited to about 200 animals in a study area
• Need to avoid frequencies of other studies in
  your area!
• Transmitter sends out pulses or beeps
• Slow pulse uses less battery but takes
• longer to radiolocate
• Manufacturer may alter pulse rate and
• signal strength to reduce battery drain
• or increase performance
• Depends on your objectives

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Directional Antenna

• A directional antenna is used, much like the old
  rooftop TV antennas on a rotor
• You get the strongest signal when the antenna
  points at the transmitter
• I.e., the loudest beep
• The animal is that way, but how far?
• You must home or triangulate
• to find a location
• Directional antennas may be Yagi, dual yagi, or
  loop antennas
• We will use 2-element (H-antenna) or 3-element
  yagi-type

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