Part 5: GPS Telemetry Detection Rates (Cougar Home Ranges), GCS NAD 83 (2015)

Cougar home-ranges were calculated to compare the mean probability of a GPS fix acquisition across the home-range to the actual fix success rate (FSR) of the collar as a means for evaluating if characteristics of an animal’s home-range have an effect on observed FSR. We estimated home-ranges using the Local Convex Hull (LoCoH) method using the 90th isopleth. Data obtained from GPS download of retrieved units were only used. Satellite delivered data was omitted from the analysis for animals where the collar was lost or damaged because satellite delivery tends to lose as additional 10% of data. Comparisons with home-range mean probability of fix were also used as a reference for assessing if the frequency animals use areas of low GPS acquisition rates may play a role in observed FSRs.

本研究通过计算美洲狮的家域范围，对比家域全域的GPS定位获取平均概率与项圈实际定位成功率（Fix Success Rate, FSR），以此评估动物家域特征是否对观测得到的FSR存在影响。我们采用局部凸包（Local Convex Hull, LoCoH）法，以90%等值线为基准估算家域范围。本分析仅使用回收项圈设备的GPS下载数据；对于颈圈丢失或损坏的个体，剔除其卫星传输的观测数据——因卫星传输模式通常会额外丢失10%的有效数据。此外，本研究还以家域内平均定位获取概率作为参照，评估动物高频使用GPS低获取率区域是否会对观测到的FSR产生影响。