Evaluation of Global Positioning System telemetry collar performance in the tropical Andes of southern Ecuador

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ncon.2016.07.002
• Publication Date: 2016-08-24T23:01:43Z
• Authors: Meghan J. Camp; Janet L. Rachlow; Rodrigo Cisneros; David Roon; Reid J. Camp
• Keywords: Collar; Tree canopy

The objective of this study was to evaluate if canopy cover, topographic obstruction the sky, and differences among vegetation type affected performance global positioning system (GPS) telemetry in southern Ecuador. A GPS collar placed at 30 test sites Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador, we estimated cover each site. mean fix success rate 87.7% (SD = 22.3%), location error for 9.7 m 4.17 m). Canopy significantly reduced our area both terms acquisition rate. However, did not influence errors or Screening data remove less accurate, two-dimensional fixes resulted an 11% loss by 3.8 m. Understanding how habitat variables collars will assist researchers evaluating potential biases developing methods correct effect such on analyses use animal movements tropical Andes