Exam 2
Telemetry Lab Terms and Problems
Key Terms:
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.
Problems:
Terrain interference (hills, rocks block signals).
Dense vegetation (weakens or distorts signals).
Human error (bad bearing measurements).
Animal movement between bearings (wrong triangulation).
Equipment failure (dead batteries, broken antennas).
Animal Tracks and Gait Types
Know whether each track is:
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)
Camera Trap Questions and Setups
Questions camera traps can answer:
Presence/absence: Is the species there?
Occupancy: What habitats do they use?
Abundance/density: How many are there?
Behavior: What are they doing? (e.g., feeding, mating, fighting)
Activity patterns: Time of day movement.
How to set them up:
Occupancy surveys: Systematic grid across habitats.
Density estimation: Individual recognition is needed (e.g., two cameras per station for both sides of an animal).
Activity monitoring: Set to record 24/7 with timestamped photos.
Behavioral studies: Cameras near dens, watering holes, trails.
Alternatives to Camera Traps
Alternatives:
Direct observation: Watching animals (needs more labor).
Track surveys: Following footprints.
Acoustic monitors: Recording calls.
Scat surveys: Collecting feces.
Advantages of Camera Traps:
Non-invasive.
Continuous sampling (day and night).
Permanent photographic records.
Less human presence = less disturbance.
Disadvantages:
Expensive startup cost.
Vulnerable to theft/damage.
False triggers (moving vegetation, rain).
Requires data management (lots of images!).
Maslow’s Hammer
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
In wildlife science, it means over-relying on one method or tool rather than selecting the right tool for the job.
Key idea: Choose methods based on the research question — not just because it's familiar or easy.
Primary Literature
Primary Literature:
Original research articles presenting new data, methods, or findings.
Peer-reviewed.
Example: Journal of Wildlife Management research paper.
Not Primary Literature:
Review articles, textbooks, popular articles (e.g., National Geographic).
Tip:
If it has methods, results, and original data ➔ it’s primary!
Choosing Camera Features for Specific Objectives
Example:
Goal: Identify individual jaguars.
Setup: 2 cameras per station, angled to capture both sides.
Camera: Use white flash (better color photos) rather than infrared (black and white blurry at night).
Other features to consider:
Trigger speed: Fast animals need quick triggers.
Battery life: Long studies in remote areas need good batteries.
Memory size: High activity areas need big memory cards.
Laws of Association in Wildlife Management
Definition:
Patterns where species consistently associate with certain conditions or species.
Based on observation and experience over time (long-term empirical knowledge).
Compared to:
Controlled experiments (which are newer and focus on cause-and-effect relationships).
Which is better?
Neither is inherently better — both are important.
Laws of association build foundational knowledge; experiments test mechanisms.
Genetics Quizzes and Methods
Advancements in Genetic Methods:
eDNA sampling: Detects species from water/soil.
Microsatellites & SNPs: Track individuals, relatedness.
Metabarcoding: Analyzing whole communities from DNA samples.
Genomic sequencing: Studying whole genomes.
Compared to conventional methods:
Less invasive.
Sometimes more cost-effective.
Broader coverage of species (even rare/cryptic ones).
Requires specialized lab work and analysis.
Biological Species Concept and ESUs
Biological Species Concept:
Groups that interbreed naturally and produce fertile offspring.
ESUs:
Distinct populations important for preserving evolutionary processes.
Two axes:
Molecular diversity (genetic distance from other populations).
Adaptive diversity (differences in traits due to environment).
Identifying Axis:
If separated by ancient events ➔ Molecular.
If showing present-day adaptations ➔ Adaptive.
Research Hypotheses and Study Types
Which are better?
Manipulated experiments are strongest for cause-effect.
Descriptive and natural experiments are crucial for generating hypotheses.
Identifying Study Type from a Description
If researchers manipulate something ➔ Manipulated experiment.
If nature causes differences and researchers observe ➔ Natural experiment.
If just observing and recording ➔ Descriptive research.
Best Practices for Surveying Wildlife with Drones
Fly at appropriate altitudes (low for detail).
Fly at 90° straight down camera angles for better counts.
Fly midday to avoid shadow distortion.
Standardize flight patterns (e.g., lawnmower pattern).