Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves
ABSTRACT Acoustic triangulation is a unique, relatively noninvasive monitoring approach that can inform our understanding of a species’ distribution in time and space. Acoustic triangulation relies on standard triangulation techniques to determine the location of an acoustic event. Howl surveys are...
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Wiley
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1089 |
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| author | Jordyn R. O'Gara Charlie A. Wieder Elyse C. Mallinger Alyx N. Simon Adrian P. Wydeven Erik R. Olson |
| author_facet | Jordyn R. O'Gara Charlie A. Wieder Elyse C. Mallinger Alyx N. Simon Adrian P. Wydeven Erik R. Olson |
| author_sort | Jordyn R. O'Gara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Acoustic triangulation is a unique, relatively noninvasive monitoring approach that can inform our understanding of a species’ distribution in time and space. Acoustic triangulation relies on standard triangulation techniques to determine the location of an acoustic event. Howl surveys are frequently used to survey wolves (Canis lupus) and other canids. We evaluated the efficacy of acoustic triangulation for estimating the location of wolves. We measured precision and accuracy of acoustic triangulation using an experimental mock howl survey and field data collected with wild wolves in northern Wisconsin, USA (2014–2018). Precision of acoustic triangulation was similar to triangulation with ground‐based radiotelemetry for both pooled data and individual wolves at specific times, although the 2 techniques did not result in similar predicted locations. Distance from the howl source was the most consistently significant factor influencing the efficacy of acoustic triangulation. Error ellipse size was 33 times smaller at distances <1 km. Wind speed also reduced the accuracy of acoustic triangulation for mock howl surveys. Precision for modified howl surveys with wild wolves improved with the number of bearings. We estimated a mean bearing error of 13.2° (±2.1, 95% CI) for single bearings and a maximum distance of 1.76 km (range = 0.96–1.76 km; x¯ = 1.41 km) detection for audible anthropogenic howls. Such information can be applied to howl survey data to generate more fine‐scale location information for wolf‐pack home sites. Acoustic triangulation of wolves can provide high‐quality location information in areas where wolves are not monitored with radiocollars. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c13ede2ba00f414dbbce46734b4c4e86 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-c13ede2ba00f414dbbce46734b4c4e862025-08-20T01:56:55ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402020-06-0144235136110.1002/wsb.1089Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray WolvesJordyn R. O'Gara0Charlie A. Wieder1Elyse C. Mallinger2Alyx N. Simon3Adrian P. Wydeven4Erik R. Olson5Northland College 1411 Ellis Avenue Ashland WI 54806 USANorthland College 1411 Ellis Avenue Ashland WI 54806 USANorthland College 1411 Ellis Avenue Ashland WI 54806 USANorthland College, 1411 Ellis Avenue 1411 Ellis Avenue Ashland WI 54806 USATimber Wolf Alliance 25350 S Garden Avenue Cable WI 54821 USANorthland College 1411 Ellis Avenue Ashland WI 54806 USAABSTRACT Acoustic triangulation is a unique, relatively noninvasive monitoring approach that can inform our understanding of a species’ distribution in time and space. Acoustic triangulation relies on standard triangulation techniques to determine the location of an acoustic event. Howl surveys are frequently used to survey wolves (Canis lupus) and other canids. We evaluated the efficacy of acoustic triangulation for estimating the location of wolves. We measured precision and accuracy of acoustic triangulation using an experimental mock howl survey and field data collected with wild wolves in northern Wisconsin, USA (2014–2018). Precision of acoustic triangulation was similar to triangulation with ground‐based radiotelemetry for both pooled data and individual wolves at specific times, although the 2 techniques did not result in similar predicted locations. Distance from the howl source was the most consistently significant factor influencing the efficacy of acoustic triangulation. Error ellipse size was 33 times smaller at distances <1 km. Wind speed also reduced the accuracy of acoustic triangulation for mock howl surveys. Precision for modified howl surveys with wild wolves improved with the number of bearings. We estimated a mean bearing error of 13.2° (±2.1, 95% CI) for single bearings and a maximum distance of 1.76 km (range = 0.96–1.76 km; x¯ = 1.41 km) detection for audible anthropogenic howls. Such information can be applied to howl survey data to generate more fine‐scale location information for wolf‐pack home sites. Acoustic triangulation of wolves can provide high‐quality location information in areas where wolves are not monitored with radiocollars. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1089Canis latransCanis lupuscoyotehome siteshowl surveynoninvasive monitoring techniques |
| spellingShingle | Jordyn R. O'Gara Charlie A. Wieder Elyse C. Mallinger Alyx N. Simon Adrian P. Wydeven Erik R. Olson Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves Wildlife Society Bulletin Canis latrans Canis lupus coyote home sites howl survey noninvasive monitoring techniques |
| title | Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves |
| title_full | Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves |
| title_short | Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves |
| title_sort | efficacy of acoustic triangulation for gray wolves |
| topic | Canis latrans Canis lupus coyote home sites howl survey noninvasive monitoring techniques |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1089 |
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