Thinking small: Next-generation sensor networks close the size gap in vertebrate biologging

by Simon P. Ripperger, Gerald G. Carter, Rachel A. Page, Niklas Duda, Alexander Koelpin, Robert Weigel, Markus Hartmann, Thorsten Nowak, J örn Thielecke, Michael Schadhauser, Jörg Robert, Sebastian Herbst, Klaus Meyer-Wegener, Peter Wägemann, Wolfgang Schröder-Preikschat, Björn Cassens, Rüdiger Kapitza, Falko Dressler, Frieder Mayer

Recent advances in animal tracking technology have ushered in a new era in biologging. However, the considerable size of many sophisticated biologging devices restricts their application to larger animals, whereas older techniques often still represent the state-of-the-art for studying small verte brates. In industrial applications, low-power wireless sensor networks (WSNs) fulfill requirements similar to those needed to monitor animal behavior at high resolution and at low tag mass. We developed a wireless biologging network (WBN), which enables simultaneous direct proximity sensing, high-re solution tracking, and long-range remote data download at tag masses of 1 to 2 g. Deployments to study wild bats created social networks and flight trajectories of unprecedented quality. Our developments highlight the vast capabilities of WBNs and their potential to close an important gap in biologg ing: fully automated tracking and proximity sensing of small animals, even in closed habitats, at high spatial and temporal resolution.

Source: PLoS Biology: Archived Table of Contents - April 1, 2020 Category: Biology Authors: Simon P. Ripperger Source Type: research