All-terrain utility vehicles for field-based research in animal ecology and evolution

这项RTI补助金将为我在新斯科舍省黑貂岛的野生（野生）马种群的个体研究工作提供必要的设备支持。这项长期（30年以上）的研究是第一年，是我在动物生态学和进化方面整体研究计划的重要组成部分。我的实地工作需要两个人的团队定期对350-400匹马进行位置、行为、形态和生物样本的采样。岛屿长42公里：这个提议是针对关键采购两辆6 × 4全地形John Deere Gator多功能车，用于沿着海滩运送研究人员。鳄鱼将通过海运运到岛上，并将在那里停留15-30年。每台鳄鱼可以搭载两个人，所以这个设备每天可以支持四个人的野外活动。证明约翰迪尔短吻鳄是我在黑貂岛工作的最佳交通工具很容易：短吻鳄是迄今为止学生使用的最安全的全地形交通工具，也是黑貂岛站工作人员强烈推荐的可靠交通工具。6轮Gators具有宽轴距，最高时速限制在30公里/小时，低压，高浮力轮胎结合差动锁是海滩旅行的完美选择。沙滩在涨潮时经常受到冲刷，导致地形不规则，包括流沙区域，可能导致四轮车辆在高水位以下搁浅。黑貂岛的旅行条件可能很恶劣，有致盲、风沙、海雾和雨水是一个特别的问题（即使带着护目镜）；因此，绝对有必要为操作员提供一些外壳（驾驶室）。约翰迪尔公司就是为此目的提供出租车的。有了这两辆车，我已经安排了一名本科生和两名研究生明年夏天和我一起在塞布尔岛工作。到第四年，我计划有多达六个人在岛上工作。国家科学研究委员会对我的项目的投资将在研究生产力和高素质人才的培训方面看到令人印象深刻的回报。

This RTI Grant will provide essential equipment support for my work on the individual-based study of the wild (feral) horse population of Sable Island, Nova Scotia. This long-term (30+ year) study is in its first year and comprises an important component of my overall research program in animal ecology and evolution. My field work requires two, two-person teams to regularly sample 350-400 horses for locations, behaviour, morphology, and biological samples. The island is 42 km long: this proposal is directed at the critical purchase of two 6 × 4 all-terrain John Deere Gator utility vehicles for transporting researchers along the beaches. Gators will be shipped by sea to the island and will remain in place for 15-30 years. Each Gator carries two persons, and so this equipment will support the field activities of four people each day. Making the case that the John Deere Gator is the best vehicle for my work on Sable Island is easy: Gators are by far the safest all-terrain vehicles for students to use and they come highly recommended as reliable machines by staff at Sable Island Station. Six-wheeled Gators with a wide wheel base, maximum speeds limited to 30 km/h, and low-pressure, high-flotation tires combined with differential lock are perfect for beach travel. Sand beaches are subject to frequent washouts at high tide leaving irregularities in terrain, including areas of quicksand that can cause stranding of four-wheeled vehicles below the high water mark. Conditions of travel can be severe on Sable Island, with blinding, wind-driven sand, sea mist, and rain being a particular problem (even with goggles); hence, it is absolutely necessary that there be some enclosure (a cab) for operators. John Deere provides cabs just for this purpose. With these two vehicles, I have scheduled one undergraduate and two graduate students to work with me on Sable Island next summer. By year four I plan to have up to six individuals working on the island. NSERC's investment in my program would see an impressive return in terms of research productivity and training of highly qualified personnel.