Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-92). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-72). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-51). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also electronically on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 125 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis aims to address some of the deficiencies that exist in this discipline, in order to widen the applicability of biotelemetry methods and ultimately provide new data which will improve our understanding of animal movement strategies.

A partially automated radio-tracking system with semi-continuous azimuth data collection and XYLOG5 and MAP computer programs for azimuth data analysis was used for studies of California quail (Callipepla californica) at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Oregon, in 1988 and 1989. Movements of 58 hens were monitored daily to determine nest locations and dates of incubation activities throughout 2 breeding seasons (May to mid-August). Locations for specified periods during the breeding season for nesting quail were used in 2 studies: 1) effect of methyl parathion application to home ranges; and 2) home ranges and habitats used. Foraging home ranges during the first one-half of incubation for 15 hens were treated with water (n = 8) or methyl parathion 4E (n = 7) at a rate of 0.56 kg a.i./ha. No significant measurable effects were found for rates of nesting success and recruitment to 15 days post-hatching between water and methyl parathion groups. A significantly lower hatching rate was found for the methyl parathion group wherein 71 of 103 (69%) eggs for control hens and 36 of 71 (51%) methyl parathion group hens hatched. No significant measurable effects were found for nest attentiveness from pre- to post-treatment period within groups and use of treated areas between groups. Home range sizes, nesting cover, and cover-type composition of home ranges were described for radio-tracked hens. During 4 periods of the breeding season, mean home range size ranged from 4 to 22 ha and was significantly smaller during incubation. Hens used roadsides, characterized by early seral stage vegetation, for nesting more frequently than expected in relation to availability, used cultivated fields less than expected, and did not use road surfaces, buildings, and foundations. Nest sites had significantly more bareground and less grass, shrub, and vertical cover than random sites and also were located in early successional vegetation. Ability to collect azimuth data and precisely analyze locations and home ranges for hens within a 6-hour period daily throughout the 2 field seasons were advantages of the radio-tracking system. Small sample size largely because of transmitter failures, potential for system overload, expenses incurred to employ personnel, and subjectiveness of collected azimuth data were disadvantages of the system. Efforts to advance radio-tracking technology should focus upon development of remote antennas, which are computer-controlled to collect and relay azimuth data to a central station. / Graduation date: 1991

Voltaire wrote "With great power comes responsibility", a quote which can easily be applied to scientists nowadays whose work effectively shapes the life of billions of living beings, operating through various disciplines from medicine through to ecology. To help scientists working with wild creatures, animal-attached electronic devices, commonly referred to as 'tags', have become indispensable tools, pushing the boundaries into the unimaginable enabling, for instance, information to be sent from animals into space and back via satellites. This 'great power' does indeed come with 'responsibility' however, as evidence piles up of the deleterious effects of tags on their animal carriers. The aim of this doctoral project is to provide scientists with an analytical framework within which to examine the effects of external tags on wild animals with a view to providing guidelines informing best practise in animal tagging. For that purpose, an integrative, multidisciplinary approach was undertaken which, from a theoretical to an experimental level, assessed the impact of tags on birds. With a main focus on marine birds, the results show that tag effects ranged from behavioural aberrations to compromised energetics, ultimately reducing both flying and swimming performance. This impact varied as a function of tag size, mass, shape, position and attachment, as well as being dependent on bird morphology and lifestyle. The length of time to which a bird is exposed to deleterious tag effects appears critical since these effects can snowball over time. Fortunately, and as reported in this thesis, there are simple rules which can be implemented to help minimise tag impact even for long-term studies, mainly through an optimised tag design and innovative attachment system. So, happily, this thesis shows that by careful thinking, we can benefit maximally from our 'great power' and thus ensure that our 'responsibilities' to wild animals are best informed.

Telemetry triangulation provides an estimate of a radio-tagged animal’s location that is influenced by various time and site-specific factors that can cause errors. If these errors are not considered when using location data, the conclusions drawn about animal behavior such as habitat use might be misleading. I determined home range and habitat use and selection characteristics of red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) in central Maryland. The effects of telemetry triangulation errors on these characteristics were examined. Red-shouldered hawk location estimates were obtained by triangulation to radio-tagged birds. Point estimates were determined by using ≥3 azimuths. A confidence ellipse was calculated around each point estimate which represented the error area associated with that point estimate. From the distribution of possible points within the error area of each point estimate, sampled points (simulated points) were generated for use in additional analyses to assess telemetry error. Home range sizes, based on point estimates and simulated point estimates were delineated using the convex polygon and harmonic mean models. Habitat occurrence was described from a digitized cover type map. Average home range sizes based on point estimates and simulated point estimates for 3 male hawks were larger than average home range areas for 2 female hawks. There were differences detected between pooled point estimate home range sizes and the pooled simulated point estimate home range sizes. There were fewer differences in home range sizes based on the harmonic mean model than the convex polygon. No significant seasonal differences were found for point estimate or simulated point estimate home range Sizes. Seasonal habitat use did not vary based on pooled data from all hawks on PWRC. Bottomland forest was the most frequently used habitat type; however, water habitats (ponds and river) were the most frequently selected. Bottomland forests, river swamps, terrace/bluff forests, residential/structural areas, seepage swamps, pine forests, and pine/oak forests were selected occasionally by most hawks. The two most infrequently selected habitats were powerlines and upland oak forests. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2003. / Title from title page screen (viewed Mar. 18, 2004). Thesis advisor: Lisa I. Muller. Document formatted into pages (v, 61 p. : col. ill., maps (some col.)). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-60).