Preface. Tagging for telemetry of freshwater fauna

Abstract

Many fresh waters support diverse and often endemic fauna, yet they are probably the most threatened type of ecosystem on the planet (Abell et al. 2008). Effective conservation of this fauna relies on a full understanding of its behaviour, including habitat preferences, home ranges and migration requirements. Telemetry is based on tagging an animal with a transmitter that emits a signal, which in turn is detected from a manual or remote receiver (Cooke 2008). This evolving technology is enhancing our understanding of the distribution and behaviour of freshwater fauna (e.g. Peterman et al. 2008) and its interactions across interfaces with terrestrial, estuarine and marine systems (e.g. Grotheus et al. 2005; Roshier et al. 2006). Telemetry studies use a range of methods, including passive integrated transponder (PIT), radio, acoustic and satellite telemetry, depending on study aims and the performance of equipment in different habitats (Cooke and Wagner 2004). Similarly, various tagging techniques are required for telemetry studies of the diverse fauna occupying freshwater ecosystems. For instance, tagging a fish is a very different proposition to tagging a crayfish, waterbird or platypus. Although tagging is an important stage in any telemetry study, the expertise required to tag a particular species is often underestimated (Kenward 2001; Cooke 2008). This Special Issue was prompted by the need to collate the burgeoning literature on tagging methods for telemetry, to discuss attachment methods and their limitations and to explore future advances in telemetry of freshwater fauna. Further development and testing of tagging methods is likely to be required, especially for rare and/or small species. It is also likely that the capacity to tag multiple species across diverse animal groups will become necessary in the shift towards large collaborative research programs with an ecosystem focus.