Tracking Flashcards
Why do we need to track (or follow) animals?
What are the challenges?
- Species are diverse and often have wide distributions
- Have complex life-histories (developmental stages (like a frog diff to tadpole)
in size, diet, habitat, behaviour ) - Very little known
Challenges:
*Secretive, cryptic
*Highly mobile
*Size
*Biology & ecology
*Lab - vs. Field-based
How do you study animals when they cannot be seen?
Biotelemetry & biologging
Biotelemetry vs Biologgers vs Biosensors vs Identification tags
Telemetry – remote measurement of data
Tracking – most basic form of telemetry – involves determining where an animal is located spatially using fixed receiving stations (determine fine-scale movement and
activity patterns)
Biotelemetry - remote measurement of physiological, behavioural or energetic data
What does telemetry typically involve
- Involves monitoring a signal that originates from within an animal that requires amplification (electrocardiogram) or measurement of a binary activity (tail or wing beat)
- transmission via wire/tether, but here referring to untethered animals
- Includes devices that store data on-board (archival data loggers) for later downloading or transmission
*mainly talking about non-tethered transmitters and archival loggers carried by an animal
Telemetry equipment:
Receiver – apparatus that collects (receives) information emitted by a transmitter (some have data-logging ability, others simply display or amplify the signal)
Transmitter – a device that sends (transmits) information to a receiver
Archival logger – a device that records and stores information on some recording medium or in memory for later retrieval or transmission (via satellite)
Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags (chip in pets)
Can also be used in situ with PIT-tag antenna arrays
Tags are triggered when tagged animal passes in vicinity of array
Date and time of passage, along with individual tag number is detected by the antenna receiver, recorded and
stored
bigger tag, better battery, better detection
Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags
Electronic microchip encased in biocompatible glass (variable size) – protects electronic components and
prevents tissue irritation
Injected with 12-gauge needle or inserted by surgical incision under the animal’s skin, usually into muscle or
the body cavity
Tags serve as permanent coded marker (unique alphanumeric code, globally)
Passive – tag is dormant until activated by a handheld reader – generates a close-range, electromagnetic field that activates the tag, which transmits its number
Acoustic tags
Surgically implanted
Battery operated
Send coded pinging sound signal that is unique and identifiable to researchers
Signals picked up when they pass underwater microphone receivers at various locations
3-D positioning possible with triangulation
Range 100s of meters
Tag life limited by battery size which is limited by animal size
e.g. river passage, migration, habitat use
Radio tags
Surgically implanted (muscle or abdominal cavity) or attached externally (radio collar)
Battery operated with transmitter
Sends radio wave (that is unique and identifiable to researchers) through water
column to the air
Signals picked up by radio antenna
(mounted on aircraft, cars, boats, fixed terrestrially or hand held)
Depth-distance challenge in aquatic usages due to signal loss
Less effective in marine environment
Tag life limited by battery size which is limited by animal size
GPS and VHF tracking collars
GPS – Global Positioning System (satellite)
VHF – Very High Frequency
VHF transmitters attached to a study animal emit a pulsed radio signal allowing a person to physically locate and observe the animal by homing into the signal using a receiver and directional antenna.
VHF transmitters are easy to use, reliable, versatile and affordable providing exceptional value. They can be used for a wide variety of animals, and the operating life of the battery can last up to three years. This type of collar
can be available with an internal antenna as an option, for use when there is a high chance of the antenna being damaged.
Identification (visual) tags
opercle tags, disc tags, visual implant, visible implant elastomer- glows, coded wire tags
Sensory tags - accelerometers
Allow continuous data collection on very fine scale
behaviour
Measure dynamic (movement, fin beats)and static
(gravity) acceleration on three
good as this detects angle of fish which could mean when it feeds
‘Accelerometer package’
- Multi-sensor data logger (swim speed, depth, temperature, 3-axis acceleration)
- VHF radio transmitter
- Argos transmitter (satellite tag)
Light-level geolocators
- Used to track migratory movements and identify breeding, stopover, and wintering areas
- Measure and store ambient light levels which can be used to determine latitude and longitude when the data are
downloaded - Frequently used tool in migration research.
