Mark Elbroch, Blake Lowrey, and Heiko Wittmer investigated the importance of fieldwork over predictive modelling in quantifying predation events of carnivores marked with GPS technology.
Global positioning system (GPS) technology has revolutionized the study of carnivores. Researchers commonly estimate kill rates with GPS data using the following steps. Firstly, researchers mark individual animals and fit them with GPS collars. Next, they visit a subset of “GPS clusters” (aggregated location data) during field surveys and assign spatiotemporal covariates associated with predation and non-predation events. Lastly, they develop predictive models with data collected in the field to estimate the probability that each cluster they did not visit in the field was a predation event. Such predation models help reduce field efforts and save money; however, these models are prone to error when carnivores eat prey of different sizes or exhibit shorter-than-expected handling times.
CyberTracker certified all personnel conducting field investigations to ensure reliable and standardized prey identification (Evans et al. 2009). Personnel identified prey remains by their tissues (hair, skin, rumen, and bone fragments), assessed the state of prey remains (e.g., the lay of the carcass, which parts were fed upon), and determined the presence and location of bite marks to determine if the puma had killed or scavenged the prey.
Their results highlight the importance of conducting intensive fieldwork over predation modeling to measure prey selection and kill rates of carnivores.
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