Lecture 04 – January 17, 2024 Field Methods II Flashcards
Home Range:
This term refers to the area in which an animal lives and moves on a periodic basis. It encompasses all the resources an individual requires to survive and reproduce.
Environmental DNA (eDNA):
Refers to genetic material obtained from environmental samples, such as soil, water, or air, rather than directly sampled from an individual organism. It is used to detect the presence of species in an environment without the need to visually observe or capture them.
When an organism nuclear or mitochondrial dna is released into the environement
- Explain how to measure an individual’s home range size using radio transmitters, camera traps, genetic methods, direct observations, and indirect evidence. Identify advantages of each method. use the document above
To measure an individual animal’s home range size, several methods can be used:
Radio Transmitters: These devices are attached to an animal and emit signals that can be tracked over long distances, providing real-time location data.
Camera Traps: Set up in various locations, these capture images of animals, which can then be used to infer the range based on sightings.
Genetic Methods: Analyzing genetic material collected from the environment can help identify where an animal has been, based on where its DNA is found.
Direct Observations: Researchers follow and observe the animal over time, noting its location and movement patterns.
Indirect Evidence: Includes tracking animal signs such as footprints, feces, or food remains, which suggest the presence of an animal in a particular area.
Each of these methods has its advantages, such as the accuracy and continuous monitoring capability of radio transmitters, or the non-invasiveness of camera traps and genetic methods. Direct observations provide contextual behavioral data, while indirect evidence can be collected without the need for the animal to be present.
Explain how radio transmitters give researchers additional information over other tracking methods. use the document above to the answer the question
Radio transmitters provide researchers with additional information because they can give real-time location data of the animal, which allows for the study of movement patterns, habitat use, and home ranges. This method also enables the collection of data over longer periods and across greater distances, which is especially useful for animals that are elusive or have extensive ranges.
Advances in Transmitters
○ Activity sensors can be used to measure movement
○ Mortality sensors send a signal if an animal has been inactive for a predetermined
amount of time
○ Satellite monitoring for long-range tracking
○ Solar-powered transmitters for a longer lifespan
○ Implanted transmitters may have less of an effect on natural behaviours (reducing
bias)
Describe the relationship between body size and home range size. use the document above to the answer the question
The relationship between body size and home range size is generally positive; larger animals tend to have larger home ranges. This is because larger animals require more resources, such as food and mates, which necessitates larger areas to support their needs. This relationship is influenced by various factors including the type of food resources available, the method of foraging, and the ecological role of the species.
Larger-bodied animals use more space than smaller-bodied animals
Explain how stable isotopes can be used to identify the geographic origin of an individual. use document above
Stable isotopes can be used to identify the geographic origin of an individual by analyzing the unique isotopic signatures that an animal accumulates from its local environment. These isotopes are incorporated into tissues through diet and water and reflect the isotopic composition of the geographic area where the animal has been living. By comparing these signatures to known isotopic maps, researchers can infer the origins of the individual.
