Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice
Unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have become common tools for ecological monitoring and management. However, UAS use has the potential to negatively affect wildlife. Both policy makers and practitioners require data about the potential impacts of UAS on natural biota, but few studies exist and some o...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.648772/full |
| _version_ | 1819159907044163584 |
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| author | Douglas J. Krause Jefferson T. Hinke Michael E. Goebel Wayne L. Perryman |
| author_facet | Douglas J. Krause Jefferson T. Hinke Michael E. Goebel Wayne L. Perryman |
| author_sort | Douglas J. Krause |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have become common tools for ecological monitoring and management. However, UAS use has the potential to negatively affect wildlife. Both policy makers and practitioners require data about the potential impacts of UAS on natural biota, but few studies exist and some of the published results conflict. We conducted two experiments to assess the responses of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) to UAS overflights. First, to provide a baseline for assessing disturbance from UAS operations, we compare behavioral responses from UAS flights to those from traditional, ground surveys. Second, to inform users and policy makers about preferred flight methods, we assess behavioral and physiological responses to UAS flown at specific altitudes, during different stages of breeding chronology, and with other site factors. Between January 2017 and March 2018 we conducted 268 UAS flight approaches and 36 ground-based surveys at Cape Shirreff, Antarctic Peninsula. We applied generalized linear mixed effects models and Kruskal-Wallis tests to 10,164 behavioral scores obtained from three independent observers. When directly compared, behavioral responses by all species to UAS overflights at 30 m were not different from control periods, while responses to ground surveys were significantly more intense. Behavioral responses generally increased as UAS flew lower, and for penguins those increases intensified as the breeding season progressed (i.e., guard and molt stages). We argue that results from UAS wildlife response studies need to be assessed relative to the impacts of alternative methods, and within the ecological context of the target species. Finally, we suggest data-driven best practices for both UAS use and for the design of future UAS-wildlife response studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:48:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a184ac970ef44cdb3d70eb04a20d5e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:48:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a184ac970ef44cdb3d70eb04a20d5e62022-12-21T18:19:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452021-03-01810.3389/fmars.2021.648772648772Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy AdviceDouglas J. Krause0Jefferson T. Hinke1Michael E. Goebel2Wayne L. Perryman3Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, San Diego, CA, United StatesAntarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, San Diego, CA, United StatesAntarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, San Diego, CA, United StatesMarine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, San Diego, CA, United StatesUnoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have become common tools for ecological monitoring and management. However, UAS use has the potential to negatively affect wildlife. Both policy makers and practitioners require data about the potential impacts of UAS on natural biota, but few studies exist and some of the published results conflict. We conducted two experiments to assess the responses of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) to UAS overflights. First, to provide a baseline for assessing disturbance from UAS operations, we compare behavioral responses from UAS flights to those from traditional, ground surveys. Second, to inform users and policy makers about preferred flight methods, we assess behavioral and physiological responses to UAS flown at specific altitudes, during different stages of breeding chronology, and with other site factors. Between January 2017 and March 2018 we conducted 268 UAS flight approaches and 36 ground-based surveys at Cape Shirreff, Antarctic Peninsula. We applied generalized linear mixed effects models and Kruskal-Wallis tests to 10,164 behavioral scores obtained from three independent observers. When directly compared, behavioral responses by all species to UAS overflights at 30 m were not different from control periods, while responses to ground surveys were significantly more intense. Behavioral responses generally increased as UAS flew lower, and for penguins those increases intensified as the breeding season progressed (i.e., guard and molt stages). We argue that results from UAS wildlife response studies need to be assessed relative to the impacts of alternative methods, and within the ecological context of the target species. Finally, we suggest data-driven best practices for both UAS use and for the design of future UAS-wildlife response studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.648772/fullanimal behaviordisturbanceRPASunmanned aerial systemsUASUAV |
| spellingShingle | Douglas J. Krause Jefferson T. Hinke Michael E. Goebel Wayne L. Perryman Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice Frontiers in Marine Science animal behavior disturbance RPAS unmanned aerial systems UAS UAV |
| title | Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice |
| title_full | Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice |
| title_fullStr | Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice |
| title_short | Drones Minimize Antarctic Predator Responses Relative to Ground Survey Methods: An Appeal for Context in Policy Advice |
| title_sort | drones minimize antarctic predator responses relative to ground survey methods an appeal for context in policy advice |
| topic | animal behavior disturbance RPAS unmanned aerial systems UAS UAV |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.648772/full |
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