Telemetry Part - I ADVANCED LEC 04 WILDLIFE TECHNIQUES University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D.

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

Basic Equipment Components (and subcomponents)

• ______________ (Tx)

• ____________

Antenna

Antenna

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 – Antenna Types

• ______…omni-directional

• ______…semi-omnidirectional

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

FISH: with implanted heart rate frequency Tx

UNGULATE: vaginal implant Tx

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 – Headphones or no headphones?

• Go cheap

• Go pro

RECEIVERS – Antenna Types

• ______________

• __________ or Adcock

• ______(3-, 5-, 7- element)

• Low Frequency Loop

• Yagi (3-, 5-, 7- element)

• H-type

• Low Frequency Loop (for fish ground tracking)

For larger “anchors”, like vehicles and permanent stations….

• directional

• 5-, 7-, or more element yagi

• Null-peak antenna systems…more next time on this