Rare but significant events, such as death or dispersal, have been nearly impossible to study. This lack of information is a fundamental weakness in many ecological models. Using an animal's location and its physiological state we can alert field researchers about the departure of an animal from its
habitat, or of a death. (See Latest Updates for more details on Predation data)
Photo by Christian Ziegler ©
The relationship among biological processes at different scales is very poorly understood. In particular there is growing interest in the relationship
between individual and population-level properties. The ability to locate animals automatically and in real time will dramatically improve the
information we have about the interactions among animals and between animals and their environment. In addition, these new animal tracking techniques will facilitate novel analytical and mathematical approaches which
are likely to yield significant insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of tropical rainforests.
Photo by Roland Kays©
Species
interactions
Interactions among organisms in tropical rainforests are fundamental
to the generation and maintenance of macroscopic patterns and processes
at the level of the ecosystem. Monitoring simultaneously a wide range
of animals, many of which have been poorly, or never, studied allows
a greater understanding of whole biological communities. This will help
us elucidate the
mechanisms sustaining the biological diversity of this system, and the
mechanisms by which animal populations are regulated.
Photo by Christian Ziegler ©
Physiology
Using physiological data collected in the field such as heart rates, we
can study energetics and selection on life history traits in the wild.
The cost
of movement and interactions can finally be quantified.
Photo by Christian Ziegler ©
Animal Rhythms have never been effectively quantified for animals in the wild. As a result of this lack of information, selection pressures acting on rhythms
have previously been almost impossible to study. Now we can evaluate the importance of predator avoidance or temporal niche partitioning for the
evolution of activity rhythms. With the high and constant temporal resolution that our system provides, we can now study how animals can transition between diurnal and nocturnal lifestyles. The picture to the right shows
how the change in signal strength from the collar of a monitored animal can be used to evaluate activity rhythms.
(click to enlarge)