Data from: Challenging conventional views on the elevational limits of pronghorn habitat
Data files
Jul 25, 2024 version files 160.44 MB
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AllGPS_Jan2022.cpg
5 B
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AllGPS_Jan2022.dbf
124.21 MB
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AllGPS_Jan2022.prj
403 B
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AllGPS_Jan2022.sbn
7.07 MB
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AllGPS_Jan2022.sbx
113.45 KB
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AllGPS_Jan2022.shp
22.58 MB
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AllGPS_Jan2022.shx
6.45 MB
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DeploymentData.csv
4.91 KB
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README.md
2.53 KB
Abstract
Innovations in animal tracking technologies have allowed researchers to gain an unprecedented view into the daily lives of animals, advancing our understanding of their ecology, evolution, and physiology, while also providing insights that can defy conventional knowledge. Here, we present an example that challenges conventional knowledge of what constitutes typical pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) habitat by highlighting the use of extraordinary high-elevation summer ranges in the Carter Mountain area within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) in Wyoming, USA. Furthermore, this discovery of high-elevation habitat use, which only occurs in a portion of the population, raises questions about the processes that generate and maintain diversity in animal movement tactics across individuals that share a common winter range and have access to the same resources.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.w9ghx3fz8
This is the repository for the GPS dataset from a Scientific Naturalist article published in Ecology, describing the use of high-elevation habitat by pronghorn in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Description of the data and file structure
This repository includes a shapefile (“AllGPS_Jan2022.shp”) with all GPS collar data collected for the study along with a csv file (“DeploymentData.csv”) with information on GPS collar deployment.
The shapefile includes the following database information:
animalID - The individual identifier for each collared pronghorn (this identifier is consistent across the csv and the shapefile).
date - date (YYYY/MM/DD)
year - year (YYYY)
month - month
day - day of the month
hour - hour
latitude - Latitude (rounds to 2 significant digits) in WGS 84
longitude - Latitude (rounds to 2 significant digits) in WGS 84
easting - UTM easting in zone 12 N, WGS 84
northing - UTM northing in zone 12 N, WGS 84
horizontal - horizontal error in GPS (in meters)
The csv has the following columns:
animalID - The individual identifier for each collared pronghorn (this identifier is consistent across the csv and the shapefile).
captureDate - The date (MM/DD/YYYY) the individual was captured.
deathDate - The data (MM/DD/YYYY) the individual died, if applicable. If this column is blank, this means the individual did not die during the study duration.
captureDeath - Coded as N or Y, N indicates that there was no captured related death, while Y indicates the opposite.
dropDate - The date (MM/DD/YYYY) the collar was programmed to drop off.
MigStatus - Coded as yes, no or nomad. yes indicated that the individual was classified as a migrant, no indicated that the individual was classified as a resident and nomad indicates that the individual was classified as a nomad. All classifications were done by Dr. Hall Sawyer based on observations of annual GPS movements and Net Squared Displacement profiles.
Sharing/Access information
If you want to re-use this data, we recommend contacting either Ellen Aikens (eaikens@uwyo.edu) or Hall Sawyer (hsawyer@west-inc.com) to discuss the study system and data collection methods. If you have questions after reviewing this readme file, please contact the corresponding author, Ellen Aikens.
Data was collected from GPS collars deployed on n=128, adult, female pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) near Cody, WY, USA in 2019. The study duration was 2 years (November 2019 - November 2021).