NDLI: A flexible GPS tracking system for studying bird behaviour at multiple scales

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Bouten, Willem Baaij, Edwin W. Shamoun Baranes, Judy Camphuysen, Kees C. J.
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	Tracking devices and bio-loggers provide crucial information on the ecology and behaviour of birds in their natural environment. An optimal tracking system should be lightweight, measure three-dimensional locations, enable flexible measurement schemes, transmit data remotely and measure environmental variables and biological parameters of the individual. Giving full consideration to the traits of birds and the constraints of technology, we have developed a GPS tracking system that attempts to achieve most of the aspirations of an optimal tracking system for free ranging birds without the need to recapture them. Here, we describe the design, performance and limitations of the system. We also present measurements on the tracked Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus to show how such a system can generate new opportunities for research at multiple scales. The GPS tracker weighs 12 g and includes a GPS receiver, micro-processor, 4 MB of memory for data storage, solar panel and battery. It has a tri-axial accelerometer to monitor behaviour. To maximize flexibility, it is equipped with a radio transceiver for bi-directional communication with a ground-based antenna network, which enables data to be downloaded and new measurement schemes to be uploaded remotely. The system facilitates a multi-scale approach to studying bird movement, from fine-scale movements (3-s measurement intervals) to long-distance migratory movements (intervals of 20–30 min) of the same individual. We anticipate that flexible tracking systems that enable researchers to optimize their measurement protocols will contribute to revolutionizing research on animal behaviour and ecology in the next decade. Ein tragbares GPS-Tracking-Gerät mit großer Mess-Bandbreite zur Untersuchung von Vogel-Verhalten Tracking-Geräte und Apparate zur Aufzeichnung biologischer Daten liefern wichtige Informationen zu Ökologie und Verhalten von Vögeln in ihrer natürlichen Umgebung. Ein optimales Tracking-Gerät müsste sehr leicht sein, dreidimensionale Ortsangaben liefern, flexible Mess-Programme zulassen, Daten drahtlos übertragen sowie Umweltwerte und biologische Parameter individueller Tiere erfassen. Unter Berücksichtigung der Eigenheiten von Vögeln einerseits und der Einschränkungen technischer Apparaturen andererseits, haben wir ein GPS-Tracking-Gerät entwickelt und dabei versucht, möglichst viele der Anforderungen an ein optimales Gerät für freilebende Vögel zu realisieren, ohne die Tiere einfangen zu müssen. Wir beschreiben hier das Design, die Leistung und auch die Grenzen dieses Tracking-Geräts. Ferner präsentieren wir damit durchgeführte Messungen bei fern-verfolgten Heringsmöwen (Larus fuscus), um zu zeigen, wie solch ein Gerät neue Möglichkeiten für derartige Untersuchungen mit großer Mess-Bandbreite eröffnen kann. Das Gerät wiegt 12 Gramm und beinhaltet einen GPS-Empfänger, einen Mikroprozessor, 4 MB Speicherplatz für Daten, eine Solarzelle und eine Batterie; ferner hat es einen drei-achsialen Beschleunigungsmesser zur Registrierung relevanter Verhaltensweisen. Um ein Höchstmaß an Flexibilität zu erzielen, ist es mit einem Sender/Empfänger für Zwei-Wege-Kommunikation ausgestattet, um über eine bodengestützten Antennenanlage das drahtlose Herunterladen von Messdaten und Heraufladen von neuen Mess-Programmen zu ermöglichen. Ferner realisiert das Gerät die Erfassung von Ortsveränderungen bei Vögeln in verschiedenen Messbereichen: von einem hoch auflösenden Bereich (Messintervalle von 3 Sekunden) bis zur Erfassung von Langstrecken-Bewegungen im Bereich von 20–30 Minuten beim selben Individuum. Wir denken, dass tragbare Tracking-Geräte Wissenschaftler helfen werden, ihre Messverfahren zu optimieren, was in den nächsten zehn Jahren zu ganz neuen Forschungsansätzen in Verhaltensforschung und Ökologie führen wird.
Starting Page	571
Ending Page	580
Page Count	10
File Format	PDF
ISSN	21937192
Journal	Journal für Ornithologie
Volume Number	154
Issue Number	2
e-ISSN	21937206
Language	English
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publisher Date	2012-11-28
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Accelerometer Animal movement Bio-logger Migration Flight strategy Foraging Zoology Animal Ecology Evolutionary Biology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

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