a drop-down list and see the species, gender, release date, release location, length and weight. “This information is useful when a fish is detected
that hasn’t been found for a long time or is a long distance from its last location,” adds Pherigo. These observations often spark researchers to further inves- tigate whether an individual fish may now be reproduc- tive and migrating to a spawning location. The SIMS application is used by multiple field crews
from two different agencies. The cruise-log and telemetry- location data are transmitted back to the main office at the end of each day to facilitate near-real-time data deliv- ery. Newly recorded data are compiled and incorporated daily into a larger spatial database, providing a complete record of the movement of the tracked pallid sturgeon within the study. To date, the SIMS mobile-mapping application has
been used to record more than 6,500 locations for approximately 150 pallid sturgeons. These data are integral to analyzing and understanding migration pat- terns and habitat selection of pallid sturgeon through- out space and time.
Authors’ Note: Any use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
lFigure 5. An error message alerts field crew members immediately if a data value falls outside the
expected range. Kimberly Chojnacki is a biologist with the USGS, Columbia
Environmental Research Center; e-mail: kchojnacki@usgs.gov. Aaron DeLonay is an ecologist with USGS in Columbia, Mo.; e-mail: adelonay@usgs.gov.
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