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Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design

Publication ,  Journal Article
Balmer, BC; Wells, RS; Howle, LE; Barleycorn, AA; McLellan, WA; Ann Pabst, D; Rowles, TK; Schwacke, LH; Townsend, FI; Westgate, AJ; Zolman, ES
Published in: Marine Mammal Science
January 1, 2014

Electronic tags have proven to be valuable tools in assessing small cetacean movement and behavior. However, problems associated with tag size and attachment have limited duration and damaged dorsal fins. These outcomes have motivated researchers to develop a new satellite-linked tag design that reduces detrimental effects to tagged animals, while increasing transmission durations. The goals of this study were to review previous studies that deployed single-pin transmitters and determine factors that influence transmission duration. Then, test these factors utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to identify an optimal single-pin satellite-linked tag design, and evaluate this prototype through field studies. A review of four projects, which deployed 77 single-pin radio tags, determined that tags attached along the lower third of the dorsal fin and approximately 33 mm from the trailing edge resulted in longer transmission durations and reduced negative impacts to the dorsal fin. Based upon these results and CFD modeling, prototype, single-pin satellite-linked tags (n = 25) transmitted for 163 ± 22 d (mean ± 95% CI) which greatly exceeded transmissions for previous small cetacean telemetry studies. These results suggest that the newly developed single-pin satellite-linked tag design strikes a balance between reducing impacts to the individual while maximizing transmissions. © 2013 Society for Marine Mammalogy.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

EISSN

1748-7692

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2014

Volume

30

Issue

2

Start / End Page

656 / 673

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

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MLA
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Balmer, B. C., Wells, R. S., Howle, L. E., Barleycorn, A. A., McLellan, W. A., Ann Pabst, D., … Zolman, E. S. (2014). Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design. Marine Mammal Science, 30(2), 656–673. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12072
Balmer, B. C., R. S. Wells, L. E. Howle, A. A. Barleycorn, W. A. McLellan, D. Ann Pabst, T. K. Rowles, et al. “Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design.” Marine Mammal Science 30, no. 2 (January 1, 2014): 656–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12072.
Balmer BC, Wells RS, Howle LE, Barleycorn AA, McLellan WA, Ann Pabst D, et al. Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design. Marine Mammal Science. 2014 Jan 1;30(2):656–73.
Balmer, B. C., et al. “Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design.” Marine Mammal Science, vol. 30, no. 2, Jan. 2014, pp. 656–73. Scopus, doi:10.1111/mms.12072.
Balmer BC, Wells RS, Howle LE, Barleycorn AA, McLellan WA, Ann Pabst D, Rowles TK, Schwacke LH, Townsend FI, Westgate AJ, Zolman ES. Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design. Marine Mammal Science. 2014 Jan 1;30(2):656–673.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

EISSN

1748-7692

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2014

Volume

30

Issue

2

Start / End Page

656 / 673

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology