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Tracking Data for Three Large-bodied Gull Species and Hybrids (Larus spp.) Active

By Alaska Science Center June 26, 2020

Available here are tracking data of large-bodied gull species and hybrids (Larus species). These data were collected to better understand the migratory movements of these birds and their role in the dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria among areas of Alaska and other regions.

Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at:  https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH

Tracking Maps

Argos Wildlife Tracking of Gulls and hybrids – animation
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Argos Wildlife Tracking of Gulls and hybrids.(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)

Gull Species and Hybrids Tracking Maps

These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.

  • Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
  • Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
  • Seabirds Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
  • Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.

Data Packages

Argos GPS Satellite Telemetry Data

These data packages contain the data collected from GPS satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data include location data estimated by GPS and the Argos System (Doppler). They have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.

NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0 or Speed_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1 or Speed_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter” or “Location_Speed_Filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.  

Suggested Citation

Ramey, A.M., Hatch, S.A., Ahlstrom, C.A., van Toor, M.L., Woksepp, H., Chandler, J.C., Reed, J.A., Reeves, A.B., Waldenström, J., Franklin, A.B., Bonnedahl, J., Gill, V.A., Mulcahy, D.M., and Douglas, D.C. 2020, Tracking data for three large-bodied gull species and hybrids (Larus spp.) (ver 2.0, March 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FZ4OJW

Version History
First release: June 2020
Revised: March 2021 (ver. 2.0)

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
A shorebird walking through the grasses in southwestern Alaska

USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
Learn More
link
John Reed (USGS scientist) holding a gull marked with a satellite transmitter at the Soldotna landfill in June 2016

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Migratory Birds

Migratory birds, and particularly those using habitats close to human settlements, may be infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The USGS is working with public health professionals to understand the role of birds in the maintenance and dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Additionally, the USGS is investigating how antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds may relate to public and...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Migratory Birds

Migratory birds, and particularly those using habitats close to human settlements, may be infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The USGS is working with public health professionals to understand the role of birds in the maintenance and dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Additionally, the USGS is investigating how antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds may relate to public and...
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

Evidence for continental-scale dispersal of antimicrobial resistant bacteria by landfill-foraging gulls

Anthropogenic inputs into the environment may serve as sources of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and alter the ecology and population dynamics of synanthropic wild animals by providing supplemental forage. In this study, we used a combination of phenotypic and genomic approaches to characterize antimicrobial resistant indicator bacteria, animal telemetry to describe host movement patterns, and a
Authors
Christina Ahlstrom, Mariëlle L. van Toor, Hanna Woksepp, Jeffrey C Chandler, John Reed, Andrew B. Reeves, Jonas Waldenström, Alan B. Franklin, David C. Douglas, Jonas Bonnedahl, Andrew M. Ramey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Satellite tracking of gulls and genomic characterization of fecal bacteria reveals environmentally mediated acquisition and dispersal of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Gulls (Larus spp.) have frequently been reported to carry Escherichia coli exhibiting antimicrobial resistance (AMR E. coli); however, the pathways governing the acquisition and dispersal of such bacteria are not well-described. We equipped 17 landfill-foraging gulls with satellite transmitters and collected gull fecal samples longitudinally from four locations on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to as
Authors
Christina Ahlstrom, Jonas Bonnedahl, Hanna Woksepp, Jorge Hernandez, John Reed, T. Lee Tibbitts, Björn Olsen, David C. Douglas, Andrew M. Ramey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
  • Overview

    Available here are tracking data of large-bodied gull species and hybrids (Larus species). These data were collected to better understand the migratory movements of these birds and their role in the dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria among areas of Alaska and other regions.

    Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

    USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at:  https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH

    Tracking Maps

    Argos Wildlife Tracking of Gulls and hybrids – animation
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
    Argos Wildlife Tracking of Gulls and hybrids.(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)

    Gull Species and Hybrids Tracking Maps

    These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.

    • Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
    • Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
    • Seabirds Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
    • Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.

    Data Packages

    Argos GPS Satellite Telemetry Data

    These data packages contain the data collected from GPS satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data include location data estimated by GPS and the Argos System (Doppler). They have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.

    NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0 or Speed_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1 or Speed_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter” or “Location_Speed_Filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.  

    Suggested Citation

    Ramey, A.M., Hatch, S.A., Ahlstrom, C.A., van Toor, M.L., Woksepp, H., Chandler, J.C., Reed, J.A., Reeves, A.B., Waldenström, J., Franklin, A.B., Bonnedahl, J., Gill, V.A., Mulcahy, D.M., and Douglas, D.C. 2020, Tracking data for three large-bodied gull species and hybrids (Larus spp.) (ver 2.0, March 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FZ4OJW

    Version History
    First release: June 2020
    Revised: March 2021 (ver. 2.0)

  • Science

    Below are other science projects associated with this project.

    link
    A shorebird walking through the grasses in southwestern Alaska

    USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

    Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection

    Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
    Learn More
    link
    John Reed (USGS scientist) holding a gull marked with a satellite transmitter at the Soldotna landfill in June 2016

    Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Migratory Birds

    Migratory birds, and particularly those using habitats close to human settlements, may be infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The USGS is working with public health professionals to understand the role of birds in the maintenance and dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Additionally, the USGS is investigating how antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds may relate to public and...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Migratory Birds

    Migratory birds, and particularly those using habitats close to human settlements, may be infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The USGS is working with public health professionals to understand the role of birds in the maintenance and dispersal of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Additionally, the USGS is investigating how antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds may relate to public and...
    Learn More
  • Publications

    Below are publications associated with this project.

    Evidence for continental-scale dispersal of antimicrobial resistant bacteria by landfill-foraging gulls

    Anthropogenic inputs into the environment may serve as sources of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and alter the ecology and population dynamics of synanthropic wild animals by providing supplemental forage. In this study, we used a combination of phenotypic and genomic approaches to characterize antimicrobial resistant indicator bacteria, animal telemetry to describe host movement patterns, and a
    Authors
    Christina Ahlstrom, Mariëlle L. van Toor, Hanna Woksepp, Jeffrey C Chandler, John Reed, Andrew B. Reeves, Jonas Waldenström, Alan B. Franklin, David C. Douglas, Jonas Bonnedahl, Andrew M. Ramey
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Satellite tracking of gulls and genomic characterization of fecal bacteria reveals environmentally mediated acquisition and dispersal of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

    Gulls (Larus spp.) have frequently been reported to carry Escherichia coli exhibiting antimicrobial resistance (AMR E. coli); however, the pathways governing the acquisition and dispersal of such bacteria are not well-described. We equipped 17 landfill-foraging gulls with satellite transmitters and collected gull fecal samples longitudinally from four locations on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to as
    Authors
    Christina Ahlstrom, Jonas Bonnedahl, Hanna Woksepp, Jorge Hernandez, John Reed, T. Lee Tibbitts, Björn Olsen, David C. Douglas, Andrew M. Ramey
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center