Exam 2

Telemetry

Tracking animals using transmitters that emit signals.

VHF Telemetry

Very High Frequency radio signals (older, widely used).

GPS Telemetry

Satellites record animal positions.

Signal Bounce

When the signal reflects off objects (like cliffs, buildings) and misleads the receiver.

Signal Attenuation

Signal weakens with distance or vegetation density.

Triangulation

Estimating location by getting bearings from at least 2–3 different positions.

Digitigrade

Walking on toes (e.g., cats, dogs).

Plantigrade

Walking on full foot (e.g., bears, humans, raccoons).

Unguligrade

Walking on the tips of toes (hooves) (e.g., deer, cows).

Primary Literature

Original research articles presenting new data, methods, or findings.

Biological Species Concept

Groups that interbreed naturally and produce fertile offspring. But does not account for asexual reproduction or hybridization.

ESUs (Evolutionary Significant Units)

Distinct populations important for preserving evolutionary processes.

Research Hypothesis

Prediction based on observation.

Descriptive Research

Observations without manipulation.

Natural Experiment

Compare naturally occurring conditions.

Manipulated Experiment

Researcher imposes changes.

Spurious Correlation

False connection between variables.

eDNA sampling

Detects species from water/soil.

Metabarcoding

Analyzing whole communities from DNA samples.

Genomic sequencing

Studying whole genomes.

Law of Association

Patterns where species consistently associate with certain conditions or species.

Camera Trap

A camera that captures images of animals for wildlife studies.

Acoustic monitors

Recording animal calls for studying wildlife.

Track surveys

Following footprints to study animal presence.

Scat surveys

Collecting feces to gather data on animal species.

What Are the two axis for ESUs

Molecular diversity (genetic distance from other populations).

Adaptive diversity (differences in traits due to environment).