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Publications Research

Published: A cost-effective and informative method of GPS tracking wildlife

Authors: Blake M Allan, John PY Arnould, Jennifer K Martin and Euan G Ritchie

Abstract

In wildlife research, our ability to GPS track sufficient numbers of individuals is always limited by cost, which restricts inference of species–habitat relationships.

Here, we describe the modification and use of a relatively new and inexpensive off-the-shelf GPS device, to provide detailed and accurate information on the movement patterns of individuals (mountain brushtail possums, Trichosurus cunninghami), including how movement varies through time, and how individuals interact with each other.

Our results demonstrated that this technology has enormous potential to contribute to an improved understanding of the movement patterns and habitat preferences of wildlife at a fraction of the cost of traditional GPS technology.

Allan BM, Arnould JPY, Martin JK, Ritchie EG (2013) A cost-effective and informative method of GPS tracking wildlife, Wildlife Research, 40, 345–348 DOI PDF

Categories
Publications Research

A cost-effective and informative method of GPS tracking wildlife (video)

In wildlife research, our ability to track sufficient numbers of individuals by GPS is typically limited by cost.

This video describes how to modify an inexpensive off-the-shelf GPS device for use in the field.

This video accompanies a paper, recently accepted for publication in Wildlife Research.