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ATLSS PanTrack Tool Enables Visualization of Florida Panther Movements

South Florida is home to the last remaining population of endangered Florida panthers, estimated at about 60 individuals. Panther survival is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, inbreeding, insufficient numbers of large prey, and disease. Because the few remaining panthers have been so intensively studied, a detailed database is available for individuals in the population. The monitoring of Florida panthers by radiotelemetry began with the radio-collaring of two individuals in 1981 and has expanded to include forty-one panthers - a majority of the population. More than 50,000 telemetry locations have been available over the observation period.

PanTrack was originally developed to help define panther behavioral rules for the spatially explicit, individual-based ATLSS Deer/Panther model. The effectiveness of individual-based models depends on the availability of detailed observations about individuals on the landscape, and on the ability to find patterns in these observations that provide insight into key animal behaviors.

The PanTrack tool can be adapted to display and analyze any location coordinates over background map layers. In addition to its application to panther monitoring, it has been used to display annual field observation data for Cape Sable seaside sparrows and telemetry observations for American alligators. It could also be used to display movements of simulated animals generated by spatially explicit, individual-based models.

PanTrack Offers Many Features to Users

The run-time PanTrack screen consists of a PV-WAVE command window, a Landscape Map Window, and a menu board user-interface, all of which remain through the session. Zoom and Animation windows may be created and dismissed during the session.

PanTrack first reads in needed data files. After data have been loaded, the Landscape Map Window appears. This window remains throughout the PanTrack session, displaying a landscape map for South Florida. Telemetry observations are displayed in this window. The menu board then appears at the top of the monitor screen, displaying the user control panel.

Groups of related user option choices are organized into columns on the menu board. A help file describing each option is available for each column, accessed by clicking the HELP button at the top of a column. Paths for each panther are color-coded and identified in a sidebar. Telemetry data may be subset by individual, sex, genetic group, or age. The display options allow one to draw visualizations of the tracking data, animate by time step, or create movie animation. Time step may be set to year, season, month, or day. Telemetry locations may be displayed as points or connected in time sequence by vectors. Adult home range and activity area outlines may be computed and displayed. Telemetry locations are displayed over a habitat map (Florida Gap Analysis map version 6.6) with vector overlays for roads, canals, and public areas. A text window displays vital statistics information for each monitored individual. Selections may be made in any order. For unmodified options, default selections are used.

PanTrack Is Used to Study Panther Behavior

The ranges of all radio-collared panthers over an 18-year period are shown in Figure 1. The following examples of inquiries into panther demography and behavior can be addressed by studying panther telemetry observations with a tool such as PanTrack.

• Track changes in panther activity ranges over time and space.
• Compare activity ranges of male and female panthers.
• Locate reproductive centers of the panther population and determine which habitat types are most heavily used by reproducing females.
• Study seasonal components to movement patterns.
• Compare dispersal strategies of subadult males and females.
• View geographic patterns of causes of panther deaths.
• Characterize interactions in which panthers have been killed by other panthers. For example, the incursion of a subadult male into the range of an established male may lead to a violent confrontation resulting in death. Telemetry animations can view sequential snapshots of movements that have led to panther deaths.

Figure 1. The activity ranges of all radio-collared Florida panthers from 1981 through 1998. [larger image]

Platform and System Requirements

PanTrack Version 1.0.1 presently operates only on Sun workstations or on PCs with a LINUX operating system installed. The installation of PV-WAVE Version 7.00 (Visual Data Analysis Software by Visual Numerics) is required. PanTrack data and program installation require 14MB of disk space.

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The Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative supports studies conducted to provide physical and biological information, simulation modeling, and planning that are critical for achieving South Florida ecosystem restoration

For more information contact:

Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
3321 College Avenue
Davie, FL 33314

Contact Pubs Warehouse

Related information:

Related Project: Across Trophic Level System Simulation (ATLSS) Program