A Low-Cost GPS GSM/GPRS Telemetry System: Performance in Stationary Field Tests and Preliminary Data on Wild Otters (Lutra lutra)

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the increasing worldwide use of global positioning system (GPS) telemetry in wildlife research, it has never been tested on any freshwater diving animal or in the peculiar conditions of the riparian habitat, despite this latter being one of the most important habitat types for many animal taxa. Moreover, in most cases, the GPS devices used have been commercial and expensive, limiting their use in low-budget projects.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe have developed a low-cost, easily constructed GPS GSM/GPRS (Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Service) and examined its performance in stationary tests, by assessing the influence of different habitat types, including the riparian, as well as water submersion and certain climatic and environmental variables on GPS fix-success rate and accuracy. We then tested the GPS on wild diving animals, applying it, for the first time, to an otter species (Lutra lutra). The rate of locations acquired during the stationary tests reached 63.2%, with an average location error of 8.94 m (SD = 8.55). GPS performance in riparian habitats was principally affected by water submersion and secondarily by GPS inclination and position within the riverbed. Temporal and spatial correlations of location estimates accounted for some variation in the data sets. GPS-tagged otters also provided accurate locations and an even higher GPS fix-success rate (68.2%).Conclusions/SignificanceOur results suggest that GPS telemetry is reliably applicable to riparian and even diving freshwater animals. They also highlight the need, in GPS wildlife studies, for performing site-specific pilot studies on GPS functioning as well as for taking into account eventual spatial and temporal correlation of location estimates. The limited price, small dimensions, and high performance of the device presented here make it a useful and cost-effective tool for studies on otters and other aquatic or terrestrial medium-to-large-sized animals.

Evaluation of the performance and accuracy of Global Positioning System bug transmitters deployed on a small mammal

“…We observed high rates of FSR from bugs deployed on hedgehogs in a rural landscape which is similar to other studies (Guthrie et al 2011;Quaglietta et al 2012;Recio et al 2013). …”

“…The maximum fix attempt period is programmable and was left at the default setting of 70 s. If the bug failed to acquire a location fix before 70 s, it recorded a failed attempt and started again at the next scheduled fix attempt. Once deployed, the bug records the time and date of each scheduled fix attempt, and the latitude, longitude and altitude of each successful fix, and other information (see Quaglietta et al 2012). …”

Energy-Neutral Data Collection Rate Control for IoT Animal Behavior Monitors

“…Both data loggers and same-message transmitters are typically designed for tracking small animals and as a result may not include methods for energy harvesting because overall device size and weight may interfere with natural behavior of the study animal. With respect to the third group, data transceivers typically use GPS satellite localization and transmit acquired data through radio communication [13]. In addition to functionality, behavior monitoring devices can be classified by their energy needs.…”

The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) in Portugal

“…Quaglietta et al (2012Quaglietta et al ( , 2013 used both radiotracking and genetic analyses to assess the otter social structure at a fine spatio-temporal scale in the Alentejo region (southern Portugal, 2007(southern Portugal, -2010. During that period, 51 individual genotypes were described by 19 microsatellites and 7 young otters were radiotracked (2 female, 5 male).…”

“…Concurrently to, or following the national survey, several short-term research projects focused on otters and resulted in an increasing number of papers and unpublished reports (mostly thesis) carried out in different aquatic environments: rivers (Florêncio, 1994;Afonso, 1997;Chambel, 1997a;Freitas, 1999;Lopes, 1999;Bernardo, 2008), intermittent streams (Matos, 1999;Marques, 2010;Salgueiro, 2009;Sales-Luís et al, 2012;Quaglietta et al, 2012Quaglietta et al, , 2013, rice fields (Trindade, 2002), high altitude lagoons (Sousa, 1995), small reservoirs (Basto, …”