Motus Wildlife Tracking System

Motus Wildlife Tracking System
Name	Motus Wildlife Tracking System
Caption	Array of automated radio telemetry towers
Established	2013
Founder	Bird Studies Canada; The Centre for Conservation Biology collaborators
Type	Tracking network
Focus	Wildlife telemetry
Country	Canada; international

Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative automated radio telemetry network designed to track movements of small flying animals using coordinated arrays of receiver stations. Launched through partnerships among Bird Studies Canada, The Centre for Conservation Biology, and collaborators including USGS, the system supports research by collecting high-resolution movement data across landscapes, flyways, and geopolitical boundaries. Motus enables studies linking migratory patterns to threats, informs conservation efforts by agencies such as Environment and Climate Change Canada and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and integrates with academic programs at institutions like Cornell Lab of Ornithology and McGill University.

Overview

Motus originated from pilot projects involving teams from Bird Studies Canada, The Centre for Conservation Biology, and researchers associated with Acadia University and University of Guelph. The network employs tiny nanotags emitted by companies and laboratories collaborating with Lotek Wireless and technology partners such as Biotrack and Advanced Telemetry Systems. Motus grew through funding and coordination with organizations including NSERC, Environment and Climate Change Canada, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and philanthropic contributors like The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The initiative connects researchers at universities such as Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of British Columbia, and University of Toronto with conservation NGOs like Ducks Unlimited and government programs such as Partners in Flight.

Technology and Components

The core components include miniature VHF nanotags, solar- or battery-powered receiver stations, and centralized servers for data aggregation. Nanotags are manufactured and validated by firms and labs associated with Lotek Wireless, Biotrack, and teams at The Smithsonian Institution and Virginia Tech. Receivers use antennas and signal processing algorithms developed with input from engineering groups at University of Waterloo and Simon Fraser University. Data capture employs standards interoperable with repositories maintained by eBird partners and analytical workflows used by researchers at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Duke University, and University of Minnesota.

Deployment and Network

Motus stations are deployed across continents, forming arrays along migratory routes like the Atlantic Flyway, Mississippi Flyway, and Pacific Flyway. Installations occur at protected areas managed by Parks Canada, US National Park Service, and provincial parks in Ontario and Quebec. International collaborators include research groups at University of Cape Town, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University of Costa Rica, and marine stations linked to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Network expansion is coordinated through working groups including representatives from BirdLife International, IUCN, and regional bird observatories such as Manomet and Point Pelee National Park.

Research Applications

Researchers use Motus for studies on migratory connectivity, stopover ecology, habitat selection, and mortality events. Projects have been conducted by scientists at Cornell University, University of New Brunswick, University of Delaware, Trinity College Dublin, and University of Glasgow to investigate species such as Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Common Tern, and bats like Little Brown Bat. Studies inform assessments by agencies including NOAA and Environment and Climate Change Canada on threats linking to wind energy installations operated by companies like NextEra Energy and infrastructure managed by Transport Canada. Collaborative campaigns align with programs at museums such as the Royal Ontario Museum and conservation NGOs like The Nature Conservancy.

Data Management and Accessibility

Collected detections are uploaded to centralized databases maintained by consortium partners, with data stewardship practices influenced by institutions such as DataONE and guidelines from Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Data access policies balance open science principles advocated by OpenStreetMap-style communities and sensitive-location protections requested by partners like Bird Studies Canada and tribal authorities including Assembly of First Nations. Analytical pipelines use tools developed at RStudio and computational resources at supercomputing centers such as those affiliated with Compute Canada and XSEDE.

Conservation Impact and Case Studies

Motus data have contributed to conservation planning for migratory species reviewed by IUCN Red List assessments and influenced policy advice provided to agencies like Environment and Climate Change Canada and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Case studies include migratory passage mapping across the Great Lakes aiding management by Great Lakes Fishery Commission, stopover site identification informing protection at Point Pelee National Park and Cape May Bird Observatory, and collision-risk assessments near wind farms sited by developers such as EDF Renewables. Research by teams at Drexel University and University of Exeter has applied Motus detections to study disease spread, guiding responses by public health-linked partners such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when wildlife movements intersect with zoonotic concerns.

Limitations and Challenges

Limitations include detection range constraints influenced by topography and interference issues studied by engineers at McMaster University and Royal Military College of Canada, tag lifespan and weight considerations developed with Smithsonian Institution laboratories, and uneven global coverage requiring coordination with groups like BirdLife International and regional observatories such as Bird Studies Canada. Challenges also involve data standardization across institutions including Cornell Lab of Ornithology and legal or permitting complexities addressed by agencies such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Continued expansion depends on funding from sources like NSERC, National Science Foundation, and philanthropic foundations including The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Category:Wildlife telemetry