Hunting effort and
game vulnerability studies on a small scale: a new technique combining
radio-telemetry, GPS and GIS
For centuries hunting has existed
as a popular pastime (for both recreation and subsistence purposes) around the
world. Yet, this practice affects the distribution, population, and behavior of
game animals in many different areas. With respects to game management, it is
important to understand the ways in which various harvesting strategies impact
animal populations. Thus, it is important to have techniques that enable
provide spatial data pertaining to both hunters and hunted populations. Recent
technological advancements allow for the unique combination of GPS and GIS data
in order to study special and temporal relations between hunters and game
animals.
In this particular study, Brøseth and Pedersen combine
GPS data from ptarmigan hunters in Norway with data from radio-tagged willow
ptarmigan to identify factors affecting the bird's probability of survival in
within an area of 30 square km. Hunts were conducted by 9 experiences
hunters from the tenth through the twenty-second of September in
1997. GPS units were attached to the hunter's backpacks, tracking their
movement throughout the hunting grounds. Each hunter marked the positions of
harvested ptarmigans throughout each hunt. Those conducting the study
captured ptarmigan within the hunting area during March and April prior to the
hunts. They fitted the birds with necklace radio transmitters, which revealed
valuable information about the birds and their habits (home ranges, etc.).
*The
image on the left depicts the lines taken by the hunters during this study,
while the image on the right displays polygons revealing the home range of
ptarmigans within the hunting area paired with lines used by hunters within
these given ranges. It should also be noted that the circle indicates the lodge
housing the hunters during this study.
During
the 50 hunter-days hunters traveled a total of 818 km and harvested 135 birds
(roughly 20% of the population). Logistic regression indicated that the birds
that resided closer to the cabin experience higher hunting pressures and lower
rates of survival (and vice versa). Although these results might seem obvious,
the methods utilized in obtaining and analyzing data are fascinating to say the
least. The combination of GIS, GPS and radio telemetry provides detailed visual
information, which can greatly assist hunting and conservation efforts on a
global scale.
Source:
Brøseth, H., & Pedersen,
H. r. (2000). Hunting effort and game vulnerability studies on a small scale: a
new technique combining radio-telemetry, GPS and GIS. Journal Of Applied
Ecology, 37(1), 182-190. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00477.x
I personally thought that ptarmigans that lived closest to the cabins would be safer. Most hunters usually go out from their cabins a decent distance before they start hunting. It is advanced to use the combination of GIS, GPS, and radio in order to do a study like this. Usually, they just use one of the technologies and track simpler questions. Using all three of these technologies would be useful in many studies besides hunting as well.
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