Inferences about the conservation utility of using unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct rapid assessments for basking freshwater turtles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), an emerging technology, show promise in ecological research. In this comparative study, I compare UAVs to a traditional sampling method, observations using spotting scopes. UAVs have yet to be used successfully for sampling freshwater turtles; however, they have been used with mixed success for monitoring mammals and birds. Herein, I propose that the conservation utility of UAVs be formally assessed in the field prior to them being used to make adaptive conservation and management decisions. I quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the use of UAVs using a mixed methods approach in contrast to a proven field method as a means to elucidate our basic understanding of presence-absence. Being able to successfully use UAVs for ecological surveying would provide an easy, efficient, and less invasive way to study basking turtles.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Daniels, Kelly

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wilson, Thomas P.
• Carroll, Andrew; Reynolds, Bradley R.
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Ecological surveys
• Turtles
• Reptile surveys

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/565

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1721