TelemetryPart - I
ADVANCED LEC
04WILDLIFE TECHNIQUES University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D.
Some background/history
• The word “telemetry” means “_______________” or to “communicate from a distance.”
• There is ____________________ between the sending and receiving units…i.e., wireless !!!
• VHF (__________________) telemetry was first used by wildlife biologist in the early ______ (John and Frank Craighead tracked grizzly bears in Rocky Mtns.)
• GPS units first used by wildlife biologists in the _____
Some background/history…con’t
• Early efforts (think 1960s, 1970s) were very challenging— many issues including…
• ________________ vs. animal morphology & behavior
• ________ of units relative to animal’s body weight• ____________(typically shorter than length of study)• Tx failure once deployed (think electronics failing)• Tx ________________ (think “distance”)• Besides equipment challenges, there were significant
data processing and interpretation “issues” to address
A common mis-step:
• There was a mentality that…”wow this is cool technology, let’s just go out and collar animals…and we’ll figure out our objective later.”
• Thus, better to address ________________________ first…then technique.
• In other words, telemetry should be a means to an end
Per Samuel and Fuller (1994:370. Wildlife Radiotelemetry chapter in Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife and Habitats)
“Radiotelemetry should be viewed as a technique that
can increase the efficiency of collecting information.
Establish biological objectives, then determine if
radiotelemetry might be a useful method in achieving
those objective.”
Major Categories of Application(see handout for details)
• Movements
• Habitat use
• Behavior
• Survival
• Productivity
• Health Status/Physiologysandhill crane migration
Tx
• VHF portion of radio frequencies• Typically _______________ or _______________
(most receivers have 4 MHz range)• Example: 163.101, 163.111, 163.121, etc.• Major components:
transmitter electronicsbatteryantennacoating on Tx and batterycollar and/or attachment material(s)
Tx – Attachment Methods(see handout for details)
• Collars• Necklaces• Harnesses• Adhesives• Tail mounts• Ear mounts• Implants• Other???
• __________ of animal• __________ of animal• __________of animal• __________• Etc.
Influenced by….
Tx – How Small???
nanotag series:
• 0.25g• 5 x 3 x 10 mm• 3mm thick• Estimated life:
10 seconds between “bursts”…33 days
RECEIVERS – Simple to Complex
• Earlier versions analogy & dials
• Most today: ________ readouts/entry with capability to program in 16, 32, or more Tx into specific channels
RECEIVERS – Antenna Types
• ______________
• __________ or Adcock
• ______(3-, 5-, 7- element)
• Low Frequency Loop
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