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The first GPS-GSM collar in Spain is delivering position data
Introduction
Spanish ibex in the Sierra Nevada National park of Southeast Spain (next figure) are part of an
intensive research programme to study the effect of human activities, habitat requirement, epizootic events and heavily supervised management. The capture, handling and study of
Spanish ibex is a daily activity of the National and Natural Park staff.
Future planned studies in this remote mountain area (with plenty of peaks over 3000 masl)
require the development of a new locating system to study in detail relevant events such as ski activities, interference by domestic herbivores, tourist activities or some other ecological
constraint on the spatial distribution and seasonal migration of the population. In addition, the proposed study will examine the capacity of this species to disperse in relation to some epizootic
events. The information gained from these studies will help the Park's staff to identify the problems and to make more rational decisions on the Management and Conservation Programme of this endemic species.
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For a management plan on ibex, the knowledge of the spatial
and temporal behaviour of the species is important. So, in April 11, 2003, in a pilot project, one male Spanish ibex was caught in a trap and fitted with a GPS-Plus GSM collar.
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The ibex wear a 750 g collar which determine and save their respective locations via GPS
(Global Positioning System). The form of data transmission is new: the locations of the animals are transmitted via a GSM-modem (Global System for Mobile Communication) integrated into
the collar, like an SMS (Short Message Service) sent by mobile phone.
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The location data are transmitted directly to our office where they are transferred by computer
to digital maps. The collars are programmed to take fixings every 4 hours and send the data by SMS on a daily basis. The movement of the ibex from April 11 until November 29, 2003 are
presented in the left figure (n=1401)
For more information please contact:
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Dr R.C. Soriguer
Department Biology of Game and Pest Species
Doñana Biological Station. CSIC
Aptado 1056,
Sevilla 41080
Phone: ++34 954232340
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 soriguer@ebd.csic.es
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Centro Administrativo del Parque Nacioanl de Sierra Nevada
Carretera Antigua de Sierra Nevada Km. 7
18071 PINOS GENIL (GRANADA),
Phone: ++34 958 026311/ 04
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jose.granados@oapn.mma.es
javier.cano@oapn.mma.es
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Dr Jesús María Pérez Jiménez
Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology
Dirección: Edificio B-3. Paraje las Lagunillas S/N.
23071 Jaén.
Phone: ++34 953-00 25 20
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jperez@ujaen.es
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