Data from: Performance and accuracy of lightweight and low-cost GPS data loggers according to antenna positions, fix intervals, habitats and animal movements

Recently developed low-cost Global Positioning System (GPS) data loggers are promising tools for wildlife research because of their affordability for low-budget projects and ability to simultaneously track a greater number of individuals compared with expensive built-in wildlife GPS. However, the reliability of these devices must be carefully examined because they were not developed to track wildlife. This study aimed to assess the performance and accuracy of commercially available GPS data loggers for the first time using the same methods applied to test built-in wildlife GPS. The effects of antenna position, fix interval and habitat on the fix-success rate (FSR) and location error (LE) of CatLog data loggers were investigated in stationary tests, whereas the effects of animal movements on these errors were investigated in motion tests. The units operated well and presented consistent performance and accuracy over time in stationary tests, and the FSR was good for all antenna positions and fix intervals. However, the LE was affected by the GPS antenna and fix interval. Furthermore, completely or partially obstructed habitats reduced the FSR by up to 80% in households and increased the LE. Movement across habitats had no effect on the FSR, whereas forest habitat influenced the LE. Finally, the mean FSR (0.90 ± 0.26) and LE (15.4 ± 10.1 m) values from low-cost GPS data loggers were comparable to those of built-in wildlife GPS collars (71.6% of fixes with LE < 10 m for motion tests), thus confirming their suitability for use in wildlife studies.

近期研发的低成本全球定位系统（Global Positioning System，GPS）数据记录仪是野生动物研究领域极具潜力的工具：相较于昂贵的内置式野生动物GPS设备，其适配低预算项目的采购成本优势显著，且可同时追踪更多个体。然而，由于此类设备并非专为野生动物追踪场景设计，其可靠性需经过严格的验证与评估。本研究首次采用与内置式野生动物GPS测试相同的方法，对市售GPS数据记录仪的性能与精度展开评估。研究团队通过静态测试，探究了天线位置、定位间隔与生境类型对CatLog数据记录仪的定位成功率（fix-success rate，FSR）及定位误差（location error，LE）的影响；同时通过运动测试，分析了动物移动对上述两类误差的作用。静态测试结果表明，受试设备运行状态稳定，其性能与精度随时间推移保持一致；且在所有天线位置与定位间隔设置下，定位成功率均表现良好。但定位误差会受到GPS天线与定位间隔的显著影响。此外，完全或部分遮挡的生境会使定位成功率最高下降80%，同时增大定位误差，该情况在人类聚居区域尤为突出。跨生境移动对定位成功率无显著影响，但森林生境会对定位误差产生明显作用。最终，低成本GPS数据记录仪的平均定位成功率（0.90 ± 0.26）与平均定位误差（15.4 ± 10.1 m），与内置式野生动物GPS项圈的对应指标（运动测试中71.6%的定位结果的定位误差小于10米）相当，由此证实此类设备完全适用于野生动物研究工作。