Abstract
BackgroundThe ability to remotely monitor the behavior of animals and their interactions with their environment has revolutionized how ecologists conduct studies. The creative use and placement of sensors on both biologging and biotelemetric platforms can greatly expand the amount of information that can be garnered from ecological studies.ResultsSophisticated transmitters and data loggers, which once were built by the biologists that used them, are available off the shelf from many commercial manufacturers. The ability to purchase a wide variety of electronic tags has allowed for a wider adoption of electronic tags across ecology, but has resulted in many biologists utilizing them with little understanding of how they function. The purpose of this review is to provide a reader-friendly description of the many sensors available to monitor the behavior, physiology, and environment of both terrestrial and aquatic animals. Our approach here is firstly to describe the electrical and mechanical principles behind each type of sensor and secondly to present one or two classic examples of how they have been used to provide insights into the biology of species from a diversity of taxa. Behavioral sensors that record the speed, acceleration, tilt angle, and direction of movement of an animal as well as its swimming depth or flight altitude will be described. Additional sensors are mentioned that detect feeding and spawning behavior as well as the proximity to conspecifics, prey, and predators. Physiological sensors will be described that monitor muscular, sensory, brain, gastric activity as well as body temperature, and sound production. Environmental sensors will be described that measure irradiance, dissolved oxygen, and magnetic field intensity. It is our hope that this review serves as springboard for biologists to develop innovative ways to learn more about their subjects using the myriad sensors that are available today, and the exciting new sensors to be developed in the future.
Highlights
Ecologists have long sought an understanding of the behavior, physiology, and environmental conditions experienced by animals as they move through and interact with their environment
Sensors are increasingly accessible, many biologists that utilize electronic tags do not have a functional understanding of their basic operating principles
We recommend that biologists, when using electronic transmitters and data loggers, obtain at least rudimentary understanding of how sensors work in order to have full confidence in the accuracy of the measurements they provide
Summary
Ecologists have long sought an understanding of the behavior, physiology, and environmental conditions experienced by animals as they move through and interact with their environment. Whitford and Klimley Anim Biotelemetry (2019) 7:26 in studies, varies greatly, from the use of data loggers, which must be retrieved to access stored data, to acoustic-, radio-, and satellite transmitters that send their information to either land-based receivers (portable or stationary), or to a satellite circling the earth. Sensors are increasingly accessible, many biologists that utilize electronic tags do not have a functional understanding of their basic operating principles. We designed this review to provide biologists with a clear and concise understanding of the basic operating principles employed in any of the commonly used sensor technologies. We recommend that biologists, when using electronic transmitters and data loggers, obtain at least rudimentary understanding of how sensors work in order to have full confidence in the accuracy of the measurements they provide. The creative use and placement of sensors on both biologging and biotelemetric platforms can greatly expand the amount of information that can be garnered from ecological studies
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