The impacts of radio C Internat Uni telemetry on the behavior of lyn Internship report Sep 1 st 2011 till Feb 29 th 2012 Lavinia Haase Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI) Cochrane, Alberta, Canada tional Forest Ecosystem Management (B.Sc.) iversity of Applied Sciences Eberswalde nx canadensis
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The impacts of radio telemetry on the behavior of lynx canadensis
Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI)
International Forest Ecosystem Management (B.Sc.)
University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde
The impacts of radio telemetry on the behavior of lynx canadensis
Internship report
Sep 1st
2011 till Feb 29th
2012
Lavinia Haase
Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
International Forest Ecosystem Management (B.Sc.)
University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde
The impacts of radio telemetry on the behavior of lynx canadensis
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Table of contents
Acknowledgement 3
1. Introduction 4-5
1.1. Canada 4
1.2. The Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI) 5
2. Projects 6-12
2.1. Lynx project 6-10
2.1.1. Project design 6
2.1.2. Ethograms 7
2.1.3. Scat Analysis 7-8
2.1.4. Preference of trees 8
2.1.5. Hair traps 8-9
2.1.6. Potential release sites 10
2.2. Bate Analysis swift fox and lynx 11
2.2.1. Project design 11
2.2.2. Results 11
2.3. Survey 12
2.3.1. Concept 12
2.3.2. Outcome 12
3. Conclusion 13
4. References 14
5. Appendix 15-23
5.1. Behavior Catalog 15
5.2. Scat list 16-17
5.3. Map: Preference of trees 18
5.4. Map: Hair trap locations 19
5.5. Map: Trap locations for Bate Analysis (fox pen) 20
5.6. Map: Trap locations for Bate Analysis (lynx pen) 21
5.7. Data sheet Bate Analysis 22
5.8. Survey design 23
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Acknowledgement
I would like to say thank you to Ken and Clio for having me at the CEI and making me feel very much
at home. I had a great time and feel very fortunate that they gave me the opportunity to work with
those amazing animals so closely. Also thank you for always having an open ear for my ideas and
problems and for the support I got with my project whether it was theoretical or technical advice or
equipment I needed. Thank you to Mike for being a great teacher and giving me the opportunity to
take on responsibility and trusting in my abilities.
Another thank you goes out to the HNEE for the PROMOS scholarship I received. It helped me to
cover the expensive flight to Canada.
Last but not least thank you to my parents who always support me and who made my internship in
Canada happen in the first place by supporting me financially and equipping me with the right gear
for the freezing winter.
Ken Weagle, Erin Meagher, Lavinia Haase
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1. Introduction
1.1. Introduction to the region: Alberta, Canada
Alberta is the fourth largest province in Canada. It is known as a prairie province although
three quarter of the province is covered with trees.
Agriculture has historically been a core industry. Since the discovery of large deposits of oil
and natural gas they are Alberta’s main economic drivers.
Alberta has the widest variety of physical features of any province in Canada and is the only
place in North America where prairie, northern forest and mountain regions meet. There are
some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in North America, including desert
badlands, the world's only boreal forest songbird observatories, the largest collection of
Aboriginal rock art on the North American Plains, glaciers and mountains.
With its 530 parks and protected areas- including 70 Provincial Parks, five National Parks and
five UNESCO World Heritage Sites- it has more than any other province.
The fastest growing industries are the oil and gas, construction, and professional, scientific
and technical services sectors. Because of Banff National Park and Kananaskis Provincial Park
the region is Alberta’s top tourism destination.
Bison & elk
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1.2. The Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI)
The Cochrane Ecological Institute- Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society is devoted to the
preservation of biodiversity through the conservation and breeding of endangered
indigenous species, environmental impact evaluation, ecosystem restoration through the
reintroduction of extirpated flora and fauna, rescue and rehabilitation and release of injured
and orphaned wildlife, public education and field research, and the monitoring of habitat
and species through the development of non intrusive survey methods.
The CEI is a family founded, charitable, not -for -profit organization which was founded in
1971 by Miles and Beryl Smeeton and is now run by their daughter, Clio Smeeton. Miles and
Beryl Smeeton were internationally known sailors, mountaineers, and explorers.
The Smeetons initiated the swift fox reintroduction program in Canada in 1972, six years
before the species was declared extirpated in Canada. All animals held at the CEI are
destined for reintroduction. They are not maintained for public exhibit, trade, or sale. Over
the 26 years of its existence the CEI has also been an integral part of the Canadian Wildlife
Service's Trumpeter swan (Cygnus bucinnator) and wood bison (B.b.athabascae)
reintroduction programs, as well as playing a key role in the Canadian swift fox
reintroduction program. The CEI is unique in that it holds the world's longest established
(1972), largest (20 pairs), and only captive breeding colony of swift fox. These animals are
bred solely for reintroduction as part of the CEI's ecosystem restoration program.
Internationally, as species and habitat vanish, the concept of ecosystem restoration through
the reintroduction of indigenous flora and fauna, is gaining greater and greater prominence.
The preservation of habitat without those species, which made that habitat a viable whole,
is a sterile exercise.
Inside compound of the CEI
(January 2012)
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2. Projects
2.1. Lynx project
2.1.1. Project design-“The impact of radio telemetry on the behavior of lynx Canadensis”
Research topic: Impacts of radio telemetry on the behavior of Lynx Canadensis
Hypothesis: The behavior of Lynx Canadensis is being influenced by radio
telemetry (collaring).
Abstract: Establish a post-collaring ethogram of the lynx to compare with the
pre-collaring behavior as well as the behavior during the time the
lynx were collared.
Procedure: Observe the lynx from two locations (Bear Pool & Car dump) 2h /
location / day. Note their behavior every 5 minutes (see Appendix
5.1 for behavior catalog). All 24 hours of a day must be covered to
get a general idea of their behavior during all hours of the day. For
this study four 24 hour cycles have been completed.
Expected results: It is expected to see visible changes in the behavior of the lynx in a
collared state in comparison to their “natural” behavior. Those
behavioral changes could influence the animal`s physical, social as
well as mental condition.
Equipment: - notebook & pen, stop watch
- Binocular, night vision binocular
- Camera, video camera, Spy cam
- sound recording, Computer/software (Ethoscribe)
Location #1: Bear Pool Location #2: South fence line
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2.1.2. Ethogram
An Ethogram is a behavior protocol which contains a quantitative description of an
animal`s normal behavior. First of all a catalog of possible behaviors is being created.
For that the animal is being observed and all behaviors are being noted. It is
important to describe the action not the intention behind it. After the behavior
catalog has been established a hypothesis is being formulated and the study planed.
The last step is to build the final ethogram that tests your hypothesis.
The analysis of the final ethograms as well as the results and conclusion will be
presented in my bachelor thesis in a broad context to find out whether radio collars
do influence the behavior of lynx Canadensis and what influence this has on the