Marine Mammal Tagging Flashcards
Why do we tag animals?
To get information on:
- How the animal does post-release
- Survivorship
- Was the time and money invested in the animal worth it?
What is the primary function of tagging?
- Identify the animal for subsequent recaptures
- Follow the animal for a period of time
Both are intended to gain biological information
What are some considerations for the welfare of the animal that go into tagging?
- Minimizing pain and dsicomfort
- The environmental conditions that the animal is being held under
- The type of tag being applied
- The ability of the animal to conduct normal behavior
- Minimizing the risk of infection
Why is cost-benefit analysis important when deciding to tag an animal
- Needed to determine what kind of information you desire
- Justifies the use of funds and other resources
- Assess the potential impacts on animal welfare
What animals can you tag?
- Cetaceans
- Pinnipeds
- Sea turtles
- Sharks
- Sturgeons
- Penguins
What questions can tagging answer?
- Foraging locations
- Migration patterns
- Post-rehab behavior
What are different types of tags?
- Plastic cattle tag
- Head tag
- Hot branding
- Freeze branding
- VHF tag
- Satellite tags
What is a plastic cattle tag?
- Used for pinnipeds and small cetaceans
- Pinnipeds - tag is attached to the flipper webbing with a plastic pin
- Cetaceans - attached to dorsal fin with a single plastic pin
What are the advantages of cattle tags?
- Trivial cost
- Little physical trauma
- Can be stored indefinitely
What are the disadvantages of cattle tags?
Only useful if the animal is seen again in close quarters
What is a head tag?
- Used for pinnipeds only
- Glued to the top of the head
What are the advantages of head tags?
- Low cost
- Visible up to 100m with a telescope/binoculars
- Can be stored indefinitely
What are the disadvantages of head tags?
Only useful if the animal is seen again
What is hot branding?
- Used for pinnipeds only
- Mark is applied to skin with a hot metal brand
What are the advantages of hot branding?
- Low cost
- Potential to last for the duration of the animals life
What are the disadvantages of hot branding?
- Only useful if the animal is seen again at close quarters
- The healing process is prolonged and can cause infections
What is freeze branding?
- Used for small cetaceans only
- Mark is applied to skin with a very cold metal brand (Why?)
What are the advantages of freeze branding?
- Small cost
- No tarns-dermal trauma
- Potential to last for the duration of the animals life
What are the disadvantages of freeze branding?
Only useful if the animal is seen again at close quarters
What is a VHF tag?
- Used for pinnipeds and cetaceans
- Pinnipeds - electronic package glued to the fur of the head or shoulders
- Cetaceans - electronic package attached to dorsal fin with pins, a blubber anchor, or suction cup
What are the advantages of VHF tags?
- Ability to detect the animal at ranges from a few km from land or ship, 10s of km from aircraft
- Low cost compared to satellite tags
What are the disadvantages of VHF tags?
- Costs will be high if ship or aircraft needed for tracking
- Information can only be obtained when you are in range
What is a satellite tag?
- Used for pinnipeds and cetaceans
- Pinnipeds - electronic package glued to the fur of the head or shoulders
- Cetacean - electronic package attached to dorsal fin via pins or blubber anchor
What shape is a cetaceans satellite tag
What are the advantages of Satellite tags?
Ability to track the animal anywhere in the world without having to follow it by ship or aircraft
