Acting Out Animal Tracking: Map-a-Buddy
An elk with a radio tracking collar.Copyright Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTQxNjAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHkidBvgAI6EdIeDXIvfdrAJuM3388jPTdUvyA2NMMgyUQQAFrridQ!!/dl3/d3/L0lDU0lKSWdra2trIS9JSFJBQUlpQ2dBek15cXhtLzRCRWo4bzBGbEdpdC1iWHV3RUEhLzdfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNTZCNjAwMDAwMDAvc2EuU1RFTFBSREI1MzEyNzk2/?pname=Forest%20Service%20-%20Tule%20bull%20with%20radio%20tracking%20collar.&recid=&counter=null.0&actid=&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=photogallery&navid=130120000000000&cid=3290&pnavid=130000000000000&ss=110508
Students are introduced to the concept of tracking and spatial movements of animals in relation to the environments in which they live. Students improve their understanding of animal tracking and how technology is used in this process.
Engineers creatively design the remote sensing tracking devices and tracking systems used to gather data, map and analyze the movement of animals in their environment for a wide range of purposes, including commercial, conservation and scientific research; fishing and ecotourism industries; ocean, gulf and bay shipping lane routing; and urban development planning.
After this activity, students should understand the purpose and reasons for performing animal tracking. In addition, they should be able to comprehend and interpret the data from this foraging activity.