The GPS craze: six questions to address before deciding to deploy GPS technology on wildlife

GPS and satellite technology for studies on wildlife have improved substantially over the past decade. It is now possible to collect fine-scale location data from migratory animals, animals that have previously been too small to deploy GPS devices on, and other difficult-to-study species. Often rese...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New Zealand journal of ecology 2015-01, Vol.39 (1), p.143-152
Main Authors: Latham, A. David M., Latham, M. Cecilia, Anderson, Dean P., Cruz, Jennyffer, Herries, Dan, Hebblewhite, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal migration
Animal radio tracking
Animals
Applied ecology
Data processing
Dispersal
Ecological modeling
Environmental conservation
Evaluation
FORUM ARTICLE
Global Positioning System
Global positioning systems
GPS
Habitat conservation
Human ecology
Marine ecology
Remote sensing
Satellites
Telemetry
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife ecology
Wildlife management
Wildlife research
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Summary:GPS and satellite technology for studies on wildlife have improved substantially over the past decade. It is now possible to collect fine-scale location data from migratory animals, animals that have previously been too small to deploy GPS devices on, and other difficult-to-study species. Often researchers and managers have formatted well-defined ecological or conservation questions prior to deploying GPS on animals, whereas other times it is arguably done simply because the technology is now available to do so. We review and discuss six important interrelated questions that should be addressed when planning a study requiring location data. Answers will clarify whether GPS technology is required and whether its use would increase efficiency of data collection and learning from location data. Specifically, what are the required: (1) ecological question(s); (2) frequency and duration of data collection; (3) sample size; (4) hardware (VHF or GPS or satellite) and accessories; (5) environmental data; and (6) data-management and analysis procedures? This approach increases the chance that the appropriate technology will be deployed, budgets will be realistic, and data will be sufficient (but not excessive) to answer the ecological questions of interest. The expected results are important advances in ecological science and evidence-based management decisions.
ISSN:0110-6465
1177-7788
1177-7788