Juvenile hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) equipped with a turtle-adapted coded radio transmitter (apex of carapace), data storage tag (left post-marginal scute) and coded acoustic transmitter (right post-marginal scute, not visible in photo). Photo Mitch Sisak

Over 50 oral presentations were made and some 50 technical posters were displayed, covering the latest developments in bio-logging techniques and their application to widely ranging studies from blue-fin tuna and sperm whales to gannets and penguins. 

Some of the logging systems involved the use of satellite telemetry to remotely transmit and receive the data directly form the study animals while others required the recovery of the recording unit from the animals. Information was presented on the deployment of multi-sensor instruments that measured the depth, temperature, fin beats and direction of movements of various diving animals, such as penguins and seals which provided intriguing information with respect to the swimming and diving capabilities of these species. Specialist sensors, that measured heart rate or the partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs in Emperor penguins, showed how the metabolic processes of these animals adapts to allow them to dive for extended periods to deep depths. Information recorded by jaw movement sensors integrated into data loggers attached to seals showed how these systems could be used to provide information about the foraging strategies these animals use.

There are a wide range of tracking devices, each suited to gather specific types of biological and environmental data. Photo Mitch Sisak

The size of some of the systems being deployed has reached almost miniature status, with complete tracking systems being deployed on a number of aerial bird species including Shags, Petrels and Boobies. Information from these studies was showing how different species are using different foraging strategies despite living or breeding in the same location and how some species change strategy once they were nesting or rearing chicks.

One of the largest programmes currently running is the ‘Tagging Of Pacific Pelagics’ (TOPP), which is a pilot programme running under the Census of Marine Life. The programme aims to deploy satellite transmitting environmental data logging tags on 21 species of marine pelagic organism and has already tagged mako, salmon and white sharks, elephant seals, blue-fin and yellow-fin tuna, albatross, sea-lions and leatherback turtles. TOPP is evaluating the effectiveness of using animals to gather biological and environmental data by tracking the individual animal’s movements while recording oceanographic data from their immediate surroundings. Currently, some 2000 animals have been tagged in this programme.

The Symposium also hosted two evening workshops, one on the understanding the errors inherent with satellite tagging and the other on the search for best practice to minimize impact to the animals tagged in bio-logging science. Both were well attended and sparked much debate and input from participants.

Bio-logging is becoming an important field in research into wild animals and is set to produce more advances in the coming year as the technology for rapid GPS fixing, remote data transfer using GSM phone technology and multi-sensor logging devices are field tested and refined.