Sampling strategies for radio-tracking coyotes

摘要: Ten coyotes radio-tracked for 24 h periods were most active at night and moved little during daylight hours. Home-range size determined from radio-locations of 3 adult increased with the number locations until an asymptote was reached about 35-40 independent day or 3-6 nights hourly radio-locations. Activity coyote did not affect asymptotic nature home-range calculations, but sizes more than considerably larger locations. Coyote calculated locations, fullnight tracking periods, half-night periods. Fulland sampling strategies involved obtaining 12 6 respectively. The strategy best compromise our needs, as it adequately indexed homerange size, reduced time energy spent, standardized area calculation without requiring researcher to become completely nocturnal. Night also provided information activity sociability. Radio-telemetry is now a common way study movements (Andelt Gipson 1979, Berg Chesness 1978, Sealander 1972, Litvaitis Shaw 1980). Although monitoring radio-collared has been used determine daily 1980), no one compared advantages limitations calculating based on radiolocations obtained coyote's inactive Our purpose compare different sample strategies. A good should: (1) define large proportion actual used, (2) minimize length observation period, (3) maximize research efficiency, (4) standardize calculations. For radiotracking coyotes, we propose 2 that have over designs commonly in past. Critics animal movement studies emphasized lack biological interpretation shape species' home range (e.g. Sanderson 1966). This inability correlate ecological factors may be due inconsistent methodology. Failure frequency observations (or radio-locations) period results methodological variation. Moreover, pooling long obtain "adequate sizes" eliminates sensitivity changes use time. Heezen Tester (1967) concluded only mininum needed calculate should order increase efficiency. They noted