Evaluating GPS biologging technology for studying spatial ecology of large constricting snakes

Abstract

GPS telemetry has revolutionized the study of animal spatial ecology in the last two decades. Until recently, it has mainly been deployed on large mammals and birds, but the technology is rapidly becoming miniaturized, and applications in diverse taxa are becoming possible. Large constricting snakes are top predators in their ecosystems, and accordingly they are often a management priority, whether their populations are threatened or invasive. Fine-scale GPS tracking datasets could greatly improve our ability to understand and manage these snakes, but the ability of this new technology to deliver high-quality data in this system is unproven. In order to evaluate GPS technology in large constrictors, we GPS-tagged 13 Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in Everglades National Park and deployed an additional 7 GPS tags on stationary platforms to evaluate habitat-driven biases in GPS locations. Both python and test platform GPS tags were programmed to attempt a GPS fix every 90 min.

Publication
Animal Biotelemetry
Date

Reference: Smith B.J., Hart K.M., Mazzotti F.J., Basille M. & Romagosa C.M. (2018) Evaluating GPS biologging technology for studying spatial ecology of large constricting snakes. Animal Biotelemetry, 6:1. DOI: 10.1186/s40317-018-0145-3