Animal-Borne GPS and Digital Aerial Photography Technology

摘要

Three black bear Global Positioning System (GPS) collars were tested in 1998.211u001eOverall success in obtaining location fixes was poor, ranging from 6 to 21%. The 211u001eGPS units functioned well initially, obtaining locations from 66 to 84% of the 211u001einitial 100 attempts. Success in subsequent attempts was extremely poor ranging 211u001efrom only 2 to 15%. The problem appears to be the length of time the GPS unit 211u001esearches for satellite acquisition. Because of the lack of consistent location 211u001efix acquisition, the objectives of comparing GPS and VHF telemetry and 211u001edetermining annual landscape use of black bears could not be met. High spatial 211u001eresolution black and white digital imagery (400 images) were collected for the 211u001enorthcentral Upper Peninsula (UP) study area in the early spring of 1996 before 211u001eleaf out. Since the GPS data did not provide an entire season of data or a very 211u001elarge quantity of points, it was decided to evaluate the utility of the imagery 211u001eby incorporating the VHF radio telemetry location readings for 17 female and 12 211u001esub-adult male black bears which were collected on this study, 1991-1995. The 211u001eapplication of this technology for identifying small areas of preferred habitat 211u001ewhich are underutilized because of their spatial relationship with avoided 211u001ehabitats is presented.