WildTrack: A long range (LoRa) radio and Internet of Things (IoT) system for passive tracking of translocated wildlife - Dr Kylie Robert
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 |
2:05 PM - 2:15 PM |
Sirius / Pleiades Room, Esplanade Hotel Fremantle |
Speaker
Dr Kylie Robert
Associate Professor of Zoology
La Trobe University
WildTrack: A long range (LoRa) radio and Internet of Things (IoT) system for passive tracking of translocated wildlife
Abstract
Surveying translocated wildlife is an essential part of post release monitoring to determine success. Post release tracking and monitoring of translocated wildlife is typically labour intensive and challenging in species that a small, cryptic, nocturnal or difficult to re-capture. Here we evaluate WildTrack, a long range (LoRa) radio and Internet-of-things (IoT) based tracking system which automatically logs microchipped individuals and wirelessly uploads data to the cloud for remote access. A total of 40 WildTrack modules were deployed at Gary’s Beach on Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia between May 2022 – May 2023 targeting translocated greater stick nest rats (Leporillus conditor). The WildTrack system runs continuously, and as of April 2023 yielded 2,023 detections from 30 modules. Two modules failed completely, and 8 modules failed to detect any individuals despite continued communication with the gateway, suggesting poor placement of antennas. WildTrack detected three species of translocated mammal, with Shark bay bandicoots (Perameles bougainville, 1,824 detections of 33 individuals) occurring most frequently, followed by greater stick nest rats (Leporillus conditor, 97 detections of 13 individuals) and rufus hare wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus, 102 detections of 2 individuals). We show that WildTrack allowed for non-invasive identification and location of individuals which will provide easily accessible data on survival and movement in the landscape. The system is highly scalable with 100’s of modules able to connect to a single LoRa gateway enabling the future use of long-distance arrays to increase detection rates, examine dispersal distances and determine home ranges of more mobile species.
Biography
Kylie is a zoologist with a broad interest in reproductive ecology and conservation biology.
https://robertlab.com/