Motus Wildlife Tracking System [email protected] …The configuration of each telemetry station...
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1 1 Motus Wildlife Tracking System [email protected] http://motus.org/ Introduction: Some of the largest barriers to effective conservation and management of migratory animals is our ability to determine the importance of various landscapes and how they are utilized throughout their annual cycle. Our landscape includes numerous geographic (e.g. Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, mountains) and anthropogenic features (major urban centers, industrial, utility and transportation infrastructure) that might influence migratory animals use of and movement through the landscape. Gaining a better understanding of these processes will help decision-makers and other stake holders make informed and ecologically sound decisions with regards to wildlife management, policy, and regulation.
Transcript of Motus Wildlife Tracking System [email protected] …The configuration of each telemetry station...
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MotusWildlifeTrackingSystem
[email protected]://motus.org/
Introduction:Someofthelargestbarrierstoeffectiveconservationandmanagementofmigratoryanimalsisourabilitytodeterminetheimportanceofvariouslandscapesandhowtheyareutilizedthroughouttheirannualcycle.Ourlandscapeincludesnumerousgeographic(e.g.GulfofMexico,GreatLakes,mountains)andanthropogenicfeatures(majorurbancenters,industrial,utilityandtransportationinfrastructure)thatmightinfluencemigratoryanimalsuseofandmovementthroughthelandscape.Gainingabetterunderstandingoftheseprocesseswillhelpdecision-makersandotherstakeholdersmakeinformedandecologicallysounddecisionswithregardstowildlifemanagement,policy,andregulation.
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Automatedradio-telemetrysystemsallowresearcherstotrackthemovementsofradio-taggedbirds,batsandinsectsthroughoutthelandandseascapewithunprecedentedtemporalprecision.TheMotusWildlifeTrackingSystem(Motus|http://motus.org/)isacoordinatedhemisphericcollaborationofresearchersmaintaininganetworkofautomatedreceivingstationsthroughouttheAmericas,andrecentlyEurope.MotusisaprogramofBirdStudiesCanada(BSC),Canada'sleaderinbirdresearchandconservation,inpartnershipwithcollaboratingresearchersandorganizations.ThepurposeofMotusistofacilitatelandscape-scaleresearchandeducationontheecologyandconservationofmigratoryanimals.ThecurrentMotusarraycomprisesover375stationsacrosstheglobeoperatedbymorethan75collaborators.Theconfigurationofeachtelemetrystationisdescribedbelow,Figure1showsapictureofatypicaltelemetrystation.Figure2showsthecurrentdistributionofstations.Since2013,morethan10,000animalsofmorethan100specieshavebeenmonitoredusingthesystem.DatacollectedfromthesearraysfeedintoamasterdatabaseatBSC'sNationalDataCentrewhereitisarchived,visualized,anddistributedtoresearchersandthegeneralpublic.FormoredetailedinformationyoucanreadourresearchpaperinAvianConservationandEcology-http://www.ace-eco.org/vol12/iss1/art8/Landownercontributions:Weareseekingassistancefromindividuallandownersto:
• Grantpermissiontoinstalloneormoretelemetrystationsonsuitableland• Grantaccesstoprojectstaffforperiodicinspections,downloads,andmaintenance
throughoutthelifeoftheproject(minimumonceayear,max3timesayear)• Provideapointofcontacttofacilitatetheprocess• Sitespecific:Whenamenableandappropriate,allowtheuseofcurrentinfrastructureto
affixantennaandstorehardwareinlieuofindependenttowers• Sitespecific:Whenamenableandappropriate,supplyminimalpowerrequiredtorun
equipment• Sitespecific:Whenamenableandappropriate,supplyinternetaccesstoallow
automaticdatadownload• Whenpossible,fundtheequipment,installation,andmaintenanceofMotusstations.
FundingaMotusStation:
Thecostoftheequipmentrangesfromabout$3,000to$10,000dependingonthetypeofsetup(e.g.solarvs.power,towervs.building,numberofantenna,etc.).Annualmaintenance
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costsrangefrom$100to$5,000perstation/yeardependingontheremotenessofthestation,whetherornottheyarepoweredorhaveinternetaccess.
LandownersorinterestedpartiescanalsofundastationwhichenablesMotusandcollaboratorstoexpandandmaintainthesystemelsewhere,andhelptosupportthefundamentaldatabasemanagement,webtools,programandprojectcoordinationthatkeepthewholesystemoperating.
Formoreinformationvisithttps://motus.org/donate/,[email protected].
AveragecostofMotusstationcomponents,setup,andmaintenance.
Equipment Quantity Cost Total(typicalstation)
Receiver 1 ~$1500 $1500Tower/Mast 1 ~$800–pop-upmast
~$1-2,000bracketedtower$800
AntennaandCables
1-6perstation ~$600perantenna(pricewillvarydependingon
lengthofcable)
$1,200
SolarPower 1,100Wsolarpanel1,110amp/hrbattery1,chargecontroller1,wiringandfuses
~$750-1,000 $1,000
Miscellaneousparts
Waterproofing,hardware,cables,
fasteners,storagebox,rebar.
~$500 $500
Total $5,000Approximateprocurementandsetupcost~$2,000 $2,000ApproximateannualMaintenancecost~$500 $500
Total $7,500*Procurement,setup,andannualmaintenancecostscanvarysubstantiallydepending
onthespecificsofeachinstallation.*
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TelemetryStationEquipment,Setup,andMaintenance:
Projecttechnicianswillneedtoaccessequipmentthroughouttheyearforroutineinspections,downloadsofdata,andmaintenance.BSCtakesfullresponsibilityforthesetupandmaintenanceofthetelemetrystations.
Thededicatedandapprovedfrequencyusedfortheprojectis166.380MHz.
Specificdetailsregardingourautomatedtelemetrysystemscanbefoundatwww.sensorgnome.org.
BasicSystemComponents:
1)SensorGnomeReceiver-seewww.SensorGnome.org/https://compudata.ca/sensorgnome/
2)Antenna-acombinationof5or9-elementYagiantennaandassociatedcables.
3)PowerSource:Eithersolarpanelsandbatteries,or120/240Vstandardelectricsupply.
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4)Connectivity:Ifthereceiverhaswiredorwirelessinternetaccess,thendatawillstreamautomaticallytotheMotusserver.Otherwisemanualdownloadswillhavetooccurevery3-4months.
Existinginfrastructure:
Howantennaareaffixedtoexistinginfrastructurevarieswitheachlocation.Typically,theyareaffixedtoasteelpolethatissecuredtotheinfrastructurewithu-bolts.Avarietyofexamplesofstationsetupsoncurrentinfrastructurecanbefoundhere-https://sensorgnome.org/Automated_VHF_Telemetry/4._Receiver_Station_Set-up
Free-standingTower:
Telemetrystationscomprisea20-30'pop-uptower,2-4,9'yagiantenna,guylines,SensorGnomereceiverandhardware,powersupplyandsolarpanels.Thetowersarenotpermanentstructuresandcanbetakendownormovedatanytime.
Thefootprintofthetowertripod,powersupplyandcomputerboxisabout3'x3'.Dependingontheheightofthetower,theguy-linesextendfromaminimumof14'toamaximumof20'fromthetripod,whichcoveragroundareaofapproximately98to220squarefeet.Guylineswillbemarkedwithreflectivetapeandappropriateyellowwirecovers.
Timeline:
Telemetrystationinstallationscanbeginassoonasallpermissionsaregranted.Itisourpreferencethatpermanentstationsbeestablishedforatleast5-10years.Atanypointtheagreementcanberevaluatedandstationstakendownormoved.
PreferredSites:
Siteswithhighelevation(highestlocationswithin~20kmineachdirection)andopenareaswithdirectline-of-sighttointendedtargetsarestronglypreferred.Secluded,somewhatruralareasarehelpful,butnotessential.Wewelcomesuggestionsaboutpotentiallocations.Specificdetailsareuniquetoeachsiteandwillbedeterminedafterconsultationandapprovaloflandowners.
Insurance:
BirdStudiesCanadaholds$5millionpublicliabilityinsurancetocoverstaffandvolunteersduringtheinstallationoftheequipment,aswellasallpublicandprivatelandownersfromliabilitycreatedbyinstalledequipmentthroughoutthedurationoftheproject.
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BenefitstotheLandowner:
• Supportingoneofthelargestmigratoryanimalconservationscienceandresearchinitiativesintheworld
• Accesstovisualizationsofanimalmovementdatacollectedfromyourandothersites• Opportunitiestoutilizethesystemtocollaborateorparticipateonlocalorbroad
researchandmonitoringprojects• Opportunitiesformutualoutreach,promotionandcommunityengagementin
collaborationwithBSC.• Conversationstarter/piece• Decorativelandscapeart
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Figure1.Examplesofautomatedradiotelemetrystations.
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Figure2.CurrentconfigurationofMotusstations.ActivenodesinColombia,Texas,andSaskatchewanarenotdisplayed.By2016stationswillbeactiveinthesouth-eastUSA,includingFloridaandtheBahamas.
