Potential applications of wireless sensor networks for wildlife trapping and monitoring programs

Potential applications of wireless sensor networks for wildlife trapping and monitoring programs

Blog Article

ABSTRACT There are notable costs in maintaining a wildlife trapping program, primarily labor and travel costs associated with frequently and regularly checking large numbers of traps.Wireless sensor networks have the potential to significantly decrease operational costs of terrestrial wildlife trapping and monitoring programs, particularly those involving labor‐intensive live‐trapping.Furthermore, sensor networks can ORG SHREDDED COCONUT collect, transmit, and store vast volumes of environmental data, which may be used in research or to refine wildlife management or monitoring.

In a modeled example, we estimated that operational cost savings of up to 70% could accrue from use of wireless sensor networks.Cost savings were greater when more traps were included in the network, but declined as rates of sprung traps increased.A simple benefit–cost analysis suggested that use of wireless sensor networks is justifiable economically, although widespread use may be constrained by legislative or Face balm regulatory requirements for field staff to service or check traps or the need to replace bait.

Should increasing use reduce hardware costs, this technology has great potential for reducing costs of trap‐based control programs and increasing the quantity and quality of data from wildlife monitoring studies.© 2015 The Wildlife Society.