The Animal Locator: a new method for accurate and fast collection of animal locations for visible species

摘要: Ranging behaviour is one of the most important aspects life history many species. Spatial distributions individuals in wild linked to factors such as foraging, mating, population density, availability resources and competition. Accurate data on spatial location over time often difficult collect. Here, we propose a new simple, non-invasive economic method for collecting accurate usable different species free-ranging animals. Our instrument animal locations consists three elements: laser range finder, tilt sensor protractor. This can obtain three-dimensional parameters space from fixed point allowing user collect geographical animals and, general, any interest. The device tested showed very low average error among (1.76 6 0.643 m) within (1.79 0.058 observers, obtained were all 95% probability tolerance intervals 20 positions which measured repeatedly with Global Position System each 10 test locations. We distances target points (from 222 m), formulas calculate precision inside this interval. Precision estimated was between 0.32 3.55 m real it slightly related distance (r ¼ 0.38, P 0.054). As an example its practical application, present use framework study individually tagged alpine marmots Marmota marmota.