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Tagging with Biotelemetry Sensors
The use of biotelemetry sensors mounted on tags, e.g. neck collars or backpacks,
sometimes also referred to as ‘radio tagging’, is not a method that is primarily used
for the purpose of surveilling large carnivores. However, the biotelemetry tags
incorporating GPS-sensors for tracking during research projects can produce results
of the utmost importance for both the surveillance and management of large
carnivores.
The objective of the analyses is to determine species, origin and sex of
each sample and to find out if the individual already is known from other
samples. These DNA-results are important as they help managers to assess
the status of stationary wolves, to identify territorial individuals, to separate
neighbouring territories and to confirm reproduction. They tell managers
where individual wolves come from and they enable county administrations
to follow the route of migrating wolves when their DNA is found in different
places. Genetically important wolves that have immigrated from the east can
be identified and subsequently protected from legal hunting or illegal activities. DNA-results have also made it possible to construct an almost complete
pedigree of the Scandinavian wolf population, which gives us information on
the degree of inbreeding in all wolf territories and in the population as a
whole, telling us how severe the genetic situation is and how many immigrating wolves from the east are needed.
Currently, DNA-sampling is being intensified in order to get better background information on the structure of the wolf population. This information
is needed to test a recently developed new conversion factor that can be used
to translate the number of wolf packs (which are counted during the annual
survey) to the total number of wolf individuals (single wolves are surveyed in
northern Sweden only) in the population. Information on the number of individuals is important for understanding the population dynamics of the species, for setting hunting quotas, for comparing population size with objectives
that have been set, for reporting to the European Union within the framework
of the EU Habitats Directive, and for the communication between managers,
media and the public.
With respect to golden eagles, methods for surveillance based on DNA are currently being tested and new methods have been developed. In the future, DNAbased results will give us insights into the turnover of individuals at breeding sites
and parenthood of the birds present, as well as the size of the home range and shape
of the territory. All of this will contribute to a better understanding of the golden
eagle population size and dynamics as well as habitat quality and the frequency of
illegal killing.
M. Schneider and H. Dettki
Tagging with Biotelemetry Sensors
The use of biotelemetry sensors mounted on tags, e.g. neck collars or backpacks,
sometimes also referred to as ‘radio tagging’, is not a method that is primarily used
for the purpose of surveilling large carnivores. However, the biotelemetry tags
incorporating GPS-sensors for tracking during research projects can produce results
of the utmost importance for both the surveillance and management of large
carnivores.
The objective of the analyses is to determine species, origin and sex of
each sample and to find out if the individual already is known from other
samples. These DNA-results are important as they help managers to assess
the status of stationary wolves, to identify territorial individuals, to separate
neighbouring territories and to confirm reproduction. They tell managers
where individual wolves come from and they enable county administrations
to follow the route of migrating wolves when their DNA is found in different
places. Genetically important wolves that have immigrated from the east can
be identified and subsequently protected from legal hunting or illegal activities. DNA-results have also made it possible to construct an almost complete
pedigree of the Scandinavian wolf population, which gives us information on
the degree of inbreeding in all wolf territories and in the population as a
whole, telling us how severe the genetic situation is and how many immigrating wolves from the east are needed.
Currently, DNA-sampling is being intensified in order to get better background information on the structure of the wolf population. This information
is needed to test a recently developed new conversion factor that can be used
to translate the number of wolf packs (which are counted during the annual
survey) to the total number of wolf individuals (single wolves are surveyed in
northern Sweden only) in the population. Information on the number of individuals is important for understanding the population dynamics of the species, for setting hunting quotas, for comparing population size with objectives
that have been set, for reporting to the European Union within the framework
of the EU Habitats Directive, and for the communication between managers,
media and the public.
With respect to golden eagles, methods for surveillance based on DNA are currently being tested and new methods have been developed. In the future, DNAbased results will give us insights into the turnover of individuals at breeding sites
and parenthood of the birds present, as well as the size of the home range and shape
of the territory. All of this will contribute to a better understanding of the golden
eagle population size and dynamics as well as habitat quality and the frequency of
illegal killing.
M. Schneider and H. Dettki