Challenges in Representing Spatio-Temporal Wildlife Migration Data

Lauren Tierney, InfoGraphics Lab, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
James E. Meacham, InfoGraphics Lab, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
Alethea Y. Steingisser, InfoGraphics Lab, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
Emily L. Nyholm, InfoGraphics Lab, Department of Geography, University of Oregon

New GPS-collar technology is providing wildlife ecologists the opportunity to collect an immense amount of location and time-stamped data, giving new insight into animal migration and ecology that was not possible before. Mapping and visualizing the wildlife migration data in meaningful ways poses many design challenges. This presentation focuses on the temporal data and cartographic design challenges encountered in the creation of thematic maps and data graphics for the in-production Atlas of Wildlife Migration: Wyoming's Ungulates, as well as associated scientific and conservation reports. The recent discovery of the longest land mammal migration in the lower 48 states, the 150-mile "Red Desert to Hoback" mule deer seasonal migration, will be featured in this presentation.

NACIS 2014

Transcript

1. Challenges in Representing Spatio- Temporal Wildlife Migration Data Lauren Tierney James Meacham Alethea Steingisser Emily Nyholm InfoGraphics Lab Department of Geography University of Oregon NACIS 2014
3. http://vimeo.com/88619272 Film Clip Red Desert to Hoback Mule Deer Migration The longest land mammal migration in the lower 48
4. The Red Desert to Hoback Mule Deer Migration Discovery Conservation Assessment Elevation, Distance, and Land Ownership
5. Data Collection Data Analysis Visualization
6. Primary Data Collection – GPS Collars Photos: Wyoming Game & Fish Department Other data collected: • Blood samples • Age • Body fat • Body measurements • Ultrasound
7. Collected Data • Time-stamped GPS collar data • Collection frequency aids in providing accurate representations of routes on a very fine landscape scale • Compare between years, species, and individuals
8. Data Analysis: How do we use it? • Used to create lines and annotate seasonal ranges, intensity of use, and stopovers
9. Stopovers – Stopping to Forage
10. Stopovers – Stopping to Forage
11. Stopovers – Stopping to Forage
12. The Timing of Migration: Moose
13. Timing of Migration Dependent upon Phenology (Greenup)
14. Atlas Examples
15. Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit – USGS University of Wyoming Matt Kauffman Senior Editor Hall Sawyer Associate Editor William Rudd Contributing Editor Matt Hayes Spatial Analyst Emilene Ostlind Text editor University of Oregon InfoGraphics Lab Department of Geography James Meacham Cartographic Editor Alethea Steingisser Production Manager Lauren Tierney Graduate Research Fellow Students Megen Brittell, Riley Champine, Emily Nyholm