Electronic Tagging Electronic Tagging and Trackingand Tracking

By Barbara StickelBy Barbara Stickel

SCM 330: Ocean Discovery through TechnologySCM 330: Ocean Discovery through Technology

BackgroundBackground

►Fish tagging and Fish tagging and recovery began recovery began in 1873 in Mainein 1873 in Maine

BackgroundBackground

► Data retrieval depended Data retrieval depended on recaptureon recapture

► Provided information Provided information on:on: homing rateshoming rates agesages growth ratesgrowth rates migration routesmigration routes

► But nothing about But nothing about behavior or habitat behavior or habitat needsneeds

Electronic Tagging and Electronic Tagging and TrackingTracking

►Microchip technology Microchip technology developed early developed early 1980s 1980s

► Cost Effective and Cost Effective and CompactCompact

► Two systems in use: Two systems in use: acoustic telemetryacoustic telemetry archival (data storage) archival (data storage)

devicesdevices

Archival TagsArchival Tags

►Developed in 1990sDeveloped in 1990s►Expensive Expensive ►Miniature computers, with clocks and Miniature computers, with clocks and

various integrated sensorsvarious integrated sensors►Data from sensors recorded at pre-set Data from sensors recorded at pre-set

time intervals and stored in tagtime intervals and stored in tag►Physical recovery necessary to retrieve Physical recovery necessary to retrieve

data data

Archival tagsArchival tags► Record and store:Record and store:

DateDate TimeTime Swim depth Swim depth Water Water

temperaturetemperature Body temperatureBody temperature Light levels (for Light levels (for

estimate of estimate of approximate daily approximate daily position)position)

(CLICK HERE)

Pop-Up Archival TagsPop-Up Archival Tags

►Developed to Developed to improve data improve data recoveryrecovery

►Detach at pre-set Detach at pre-set timetime

►Rise to surface Rise to surface ►Transmit data via Transmit data via

satellite satellite

Listening: HydrophonesListening: Hydrophones

► Retrieve and hold Retrieve and hold datadata

► Can be moored in Can be moored in arrays spanning arrays spanning thousands of thousands of milesmiles

► Array spacing Array spacing dependent on tag dependent on tag signal strengthsignal strength

Hydrophone ArraysHydrophone Arrays

►Hundreds of Hundreds of animals being animals being tracked in CINMStracked in CINMS

► Learning Learning community community structure and how structure and how ecosystem worksecosystem works

Anacapa Island is surrounded by two rings of hydrophones for continuous coverage

Acoustic ReceiversAcoustic Receivers

►Many sizes, shapes Many sizes, shapes and modelsand models

Acoustic TagsAcoustic Tags►Micro-controllers and low-power Micro-controllers and low-power

memory chipsmemory chips►Record wide range of data over long Record wide range of data over long

period of time period of time physiologicalphysiological behavioral behavioral environmental environmental

Acoustic TagsAcoustic Tags

► Ultrasonic (30 to 300 Ultrasonic (30 to 300 kHz) frequency kHz) frequency range (optimum range (optimum propagation in sea)propagation in sea)

► Transmit data to Transmit data to satellitessatellites

► Some with external Some with external antenna that turn on antenna that turn on when exposed to air when exposed to air

Acoustic Tags

► Sensors for:Sensors for: body temperaturebody temperature tail beattail beat heart rateheart rate swimming depthswimming depth water temperaturewater temperature minute-by-minute minute-by-minute

positionposition velocityvelocity mortalitymortality

Pingers -- Pingers --

• Simplest form of Simplest form of acoustic tagsacoustic tags• Transmit continuous Transmit continuous sound sound

New: Passive Integrated New: Passive Integrated Transponder (“PIT”) TagsTransponder (“PIT”) Tags

► Rice-sized device with Rice-sized device with microchip microchip

► InexpensiveInexpensive► Simple to insert Simple to insert ► Remote readout capabilities Remote readout capabilities

based on ultrasound wavesbased on ultrasound waves

PIT Tags

►Developed as Developed as low-cost way low-cost way to track to track escaped farm escaped farm salmonsalmon

►Hydrophones Hydrophones detect tags in detect tags in passing passing animalsanimals

LimitationsLimitations► Marine environment:Marine environment:

Battery and switch Battery and switch failurefailure

Water damage Water damage ► Fouling: Fouling:

A.A. Acoustic tag attached to Acoustic tag attached to Caribbean leatherback Caribbean leatherback turtle for 12 days – turtle for 12 days – barnacle already settled barnacle already settled near salt-water contactnear salt-water contact

B.B. Acoustic tag attached to Acoustic tag attached to Mediterranean loggerhead Mediterranean loggerhead turtle for 6 monthsturtle for 6 months

LimitationsLimitations►Biological challenges of free-ranging Biological challenges of free-ranging

animalsanimals Larger tunas and marlins feed in warm Larger tunas and marlins feed in warm

surface water then dive suddenly, surface water then dive suddenly, undergoing extreme temperature and undergoing extreme temperature and pressure changes pressure changes

Predator may eat tag (or tagged fish) Predator may eat tag (or tagged fish) Tag can be lost, if implanted improperly Tag can be lost, if implanted improperly Tagged fish may never again frequent area Tagged fish may never again frequent area

where hydrophones are locatedwhere hydrophones are located

Conclusion

With the proper With the proper equipment and a equipment and a little luck, we little luck, we should be able to should be able to construct a construct a comprehensive, comprehensive, community-community-based view of the based view of the underwater worldunderwater world