Joanne Isaac
Rats spotted from space..
September 21st 2008 22:50
:
22 Sept 08
Scientists are planning to use satellite technology to monitor endangered kangaroo rats in California.
Giant kangaroo rats occur in the San Joaquin Valley and, due to land change for agriculture, have been forced up the hills and now occupy less than 10% of their historical range.
The kangaroo rats are crucial for the desert ecosystem, as an ecosystem engineer and important prey item for native carnivores.
A PhD student at UC Berkeley plans to use sattelite imagery to monitor the kangaroo rat population. Studies have previously used satellite imagery to monitor large animals, but this time the researchers won't be looking for the rats themselves (only 15 cm long!) but large cleared areas around their burrows - which apparantly will be visible from space...
Giant kangaroo rats occur in the San Joaquin Valley and, due to land change for agriculture, have been forced up the hills and now occupy less than 10% of their historical range.
The kangaroo rats are crucial for the desert ecosystem, as an ecosystem engineer and important prey item for native carnivores.
A PhD student at UC Berkeley plans to use sattelite imagery to monitor the kangaroo rat population. Studies have previously used satellite imagery to monitor large animals, but this time the researchers won't be looking for the rats themselves (only 15 cm long!) but large cleared areas around their burrows - which apparantly will be visible from space...
Watching ratty antics from space
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