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Accuracy of Aerial Telemetry in Fisheries Studies
Author(s) -
Roberts James J.,
Rahel Frank J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m04-052.1
Subject(s) - telemetry , aerial survey , fishery , environmental science , habitat , fish <actinopterygii> , biotelemetry , oncorhynchus , population , trout , remote sensing , geography , ecology , biology , computer science , telecommunications , demography , sociology
Radiotelemetry has become an important method for examining movement patterns of fishes. The use of aircraft allows transmitter‐implanted fish to be tracked over long distances and in areas difficult to access on the ground. However, the accuracy of aerially determined locations can limit the types of conclusions one can draw about fish habitat use. We utilized aerial telemetry while studying the effects of irrigation canals on a population of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii. To determine the accuracy of aerially determined locations, we used a method common in terrestrial studies whereby transmitters are placed at known locations and then located by a naïve pilot. These aerially determined locations were then compared with the known locations of transmitters to determine the mean error associated with aerial telemetry. In our study, we found that aerially acquired location errors ranged from 22 to 426 m and had a mean of 178 m. In a review of recent studies that used aerial telemetry, we found that 15 of 34 (44%) terrestrial studies but only 4 of 17 (24%) aquatic studies reported an estimate of the error associated with aerial telemetry locations. The overall mean location error of these studies was 158 m. We urge aquatic biologists to consider location errors when using aerial telemetry, especially when making inferences about fish habitat use or movement patterns.