Comparison of 3 Methods for Evaluating Activity of Dall's Sheep

Validation of the reliability of remote-sensing data is critical to subsequent analyses, yet is often neglected. Thus, we assessed the efficacy of 3 methods of collecting information on activities of captive and free-ranging Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli) in Alaska. Conventional very high frequency...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 1992-10, Vol.56 (4), p.661-668
Main Authors: Hansen, Michael C., Garner, Gerald W., Fancy, Steven G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Artificial satellites
Biological and medical sciences
Data collection
Female animals
Fixed costs
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects. Techniques
Male animals
Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...)
Observational research
Ovis dalli
Radio transmitters
Sheep
Telemetry
Walking
Wildlife
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Summary:Validation of the reliability of remote-sensing data is critical to subsequent analyses, yet is often neglected. Thus, we assessed the efficacy of 3 methods of collecting information on activities of captive and free-ranging Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli) in Alaska. Conventional very high frequency (VHF) radio-telemetry transmitters and platform transmitter terminals that transmit to satellites, each with motion-sensitive tip-switches, were compared with simultaneous direct observation. Both VHF (98% agreement) and satellite telemetry (98% agreement) reliably distinguished active from inactive behaviors for free-ranging females. For activity of a free-ranging male, rate of agreement with direct observation was lower (P < 0.05) by satellite telemetry (89%), but not by VHF telemetry (98%). Neither telemetry method could reliably distinguish standing from lying or feeding from walking. Satellite telemetry was most cost effective when a large amount of data was required from each animal. Direct observation was most cost effective when few samples were required from each animal and when access and visibility were good.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2307/3809458