title: Movement-based estimation and visualization of space use in 3D for wildlife ecology and conservation.
abstract: Advances in digital biotelemetry technologies are enabling the collection of bigger and more accurate data on the movements of free-ranging wildlife in space and time. Although many biotelemetry devices record 3D location data with x, y, and z coordinates from tracked animals, the third z coordinate is typically not integrated into studies of animal spatial use. Disregarding the vertical component may seriously limit understanding of animal habitat use and niche separation. We present novel movement-based kernel density estimators and computer visualization tools for generating and exploring 3D home ranges based on location data. We use case studies of three wildlife species--giant panda, dugong, and California condor--to demonstrate the ecological insights and conservation management benefits provided by 3D home range estimation and visualization for terrestrial, aquatic, and avian wildlife research.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, San Diego, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeff A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tracey
authors.affiliation: San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fuwen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ronald R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Swaisgood
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, San Diego, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology*; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D020454:Dugong / Q000502:physiology*; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods*; D001503:Ursidae / Q000502:physiology*