John G. T. Anderson

Wireless sensor networks for habitat monitoring

We provide an in-depth study of applying wireless sensor networks to real-world habitat monitoring. A set of system design requirements are developed that cover the hardware design of the nodes, the design of the sensor network, and the capabilities for remote data access and management. A system architecture is proposed to address these requirements for habitat monitoring in general, and an instance of the architecture for monitoring seabird nesting environment and behavior is presented. The currently deployed network consists of 32 nodes on a small island off the coast of Maine streaming useful live data onto the web. The application-driven design exercise serves to identify important areas of further work in data sampling, communications, network retasking, and health monitoring.

An analysis of a large scale habitat monitoring application

Habitat and environmental monitoring is a driving application for wireless sensor networks. We present an analysis of data from a second generation sensor networks deployed during the summer and autumn of 2003. During a 4 month deployment, these networks, consisting of 150 devices, produced unique datasets for both systems and biological analysis. This paper focuses on nodal and network performance, with an emphasis on lifetime, reliability, and the the static and dynamic aspects of single and multi-hop networks. We compare the results collected to expectations set during the design phase: we were able to accurately predict lifetime of the single-hop network, but we underestimated the impact of multi-hop traffic overhearing and the nuances of power source selection. While initial packet loss data was commensurate with lab experiments, over the duration of the deployment, reliability of the backend infrastructure and the transit network had a dominant impact on overall network performance. Finally, we evaluate the physical design of the sensor node based on deployment experience and a <i>post mortem</i> analysis. The results shed light on a number of design issues from network deployment, through selection of power sources to optimizations of routing decisions.

Analysis of wireless sensor networks for habitat monitoring

We provide an in-depth study of applying wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to real-world habitat monitoring. A set of system design requirements were developed that cover the hardware design of the nodes, the sensor network software, protective enclosures, and system architecture to meet the requirements of biologists. In the summer of 2002, 43 nodes were deployed on a small island off the coast of Maine streaming useful live data onto the web. Although researchers anticipate some challenges arising in real-world deployments of WSNs, many problems can only be discovered through experience. We present a set of experiences from a four month long deployment on a remote island. We analyze the environmental and node health data to evaluate system performance. The close integration of WSNs with their environment provides environmental data at densities previously impossible. We show that the sensor data is also useful for predicting system operation and network failures. Based on over one million data readings, we analyze the node and network design and develop network reliability profiles and failure models.

Restoration of a multi-species seabird colony

Nesting herring and great black-backed gulls (Larus argentatus and Larus marinus) were removed from a recently abandoned tern (Sterna sp.) colony through a combination of poisoning and shooting. Following gull control, all three species of tern that had nested in the colony prior to the arrival of the gulls returned and nested in increasing numbers. In addition to the restoration of the terns, removal of the gulls led to colonization and/or significant increases in populations of four other seabirds. Gull numbers were greatly reduced by initial poisoning efforts, but continued immigration from surrounding colonies has required an on-going program of shooting to eliminate territorial birds nesting in areas utilized by terns and other species. In situations calling for active management we advocate rapid, focused intervention, and stress the importance of inter-organizational cooperation, and an active program of public education.

An Analysis of Band Returns of the American White Pelican, 1922 to 1981

Abstract A total of 3,859 band-recovery records of the American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) banded between 1922 and 1981 at 77 sites in the U.S. and Canada was analyzed using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Returns showed a clear pattern of two major migratory routes, with birds from California, Oregon and Nevada breeding colonies dispersing south to the coasts of the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Mexico, and birds from central Canada, the Dakotas, Colorado, Minnesota and Montana following the Missouri and Mississippi River drainages to the Gulf of Mexico coasts, Florida and Central America. Pelicans banded at breeding colonies in Utah and Wyoming were recovered along both routes, with some evidence of a third pathway suggested for these birds along the western slope of the Rockies. The only region of substantial overlap in returns between birds banded in the western breeding colonies and those from mid-western breeding colonies (east of the North American Continental Divide) was in southern Mexico and Texas. Returns from Central America consisted almost exclusively of American White Pelicans banded in the eastern portion of the breeding range.

Introduction: A Historical Perspective on Trends in Some Gulls in Eastern North America, with Reference to Other Regions

Abstract. This Special Publication of Waterbirds is the result of a symposium on the decline of some North Atlantic gull populations held in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, in October 2013 as part of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Waterbird Society. Here, we focus on the rise and subsequent decline in the 20th century of Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) populations in eastern North America with reference to other regions. In addition to survey reports, the Special Publication includes several papers on closely related species (Lesser Black-backed Gull, L. fuscus; Ring-billed Gull, L. delawarensis; and Kelp Gull, L. dominicanus) with contrasting population trends, and papers related to breeding biology, diet and predation, movement, demographics and contaminants.