Tracking Technology Assists Scientists in Studying Wildlife

New technologies are allowing scientists, wildlife biologists and researchers to probe deeper into the lives and habits of animals. Tiny sensors, radio collars, cameras strapped to the animals and Global Positioning Systems are currently being used around the world on a variety of animals. In September, the National Science Foundation launched a special report on "The Secret Lives of Wild Animals," that is a multi-displinary effort to study the complex web of relationships that animals to their environment, to other animals and humans. This report has provided educators, scientists and the public with a wonderful overview of how these new technologies are being applied deer, ocelots and agoutis, dragonflies, zebras and seals. The following studies are highlighted in the report.

Joshua Millspaugh and the Missouri Department of Conservation are studying the interactions among white-tailed deer. They have developed Deercam, a camera that is attached to a deer's antlers, which records the daily habits and interactions among white-tailed deer. The purpose of this project is to observe deer movement and their other activities over long periods of time within an enclosed habitat. This is less intrusive and a more practical method of studying the interactions amoung deer. In the near future, Millapaugh and his team hope to take this project and apply it in the wild.

On Barro Colorado Island, radio collars are being used to study the prey and predator relationship between Ocelots and Agoutis. Researchers are using what an automated radio telemetry system that monitors movements of multiple animal species, along with infrared cameras to view the interactions among the animals. What they have discovered is that the Ocelots are keeping the Agouti population in check. This allows the spiny fruit seeds, which the Agouti eat to be absorbed into the soil and grow into trees.

On the Ol Pejeda Conservancy in Kenya, biologists and researchers from Princeton University have developed Zebranet, which is an interdisciplinary effort between computer scientists who are developing a global positioning system (GPS) and biologists who are studying animal migrations and interactions around watering holes. The scientists have conducted tests
to see how Zebras react to an empty watering hole, and whether or not they attempt to venture near danger for a drink.

In Antarctica, researchers have strapped a camera to the back of a Weddell seal to study not only its feeding habits, but also to understand how silverfish and tooth fish play major ecological roles in the food chain. Previous knowledge of these two species of fish only came from commercial fishing boats when fisherman opened the stomachs of predators. Now, sealcam takes us below the ice pack for a glimpse of how the seals hunt for these types of fish.

In New Jersey, researchers have glued a miniaturized radio transmitters to the bottom of a dragonfly to study how, when and what determines how the green darner dragonfly migrates. The team has tracked how green darner dragonflies migrated south from northern New Jersey during the fall months.

These fascinating studies give us a glimpse of how tracking technology has been a wonderful resource in studying and conducting research on animals unobtrusively within their own habitat. The special report is filled with information about the tracking technology, researchers on the projects, quick facts and movies. Visit the National Science Foundation's website to see this Special Report, you will definately be amazed.