Understanding the spatial and
temporal use of habitats by animals is critical to resolving their role in the
environment and formulating sound management plans. Fish movement data can be used
to measure response to harmful environmental events (e.g. red tide events),
water temperature, salinity, no or reduced fishing zones, and movement of other
species (e.g. known predators). For tracking of aquatic animals acoustic
telemetry has several benefits over traditional radio and satellite telemetry.
Radio waves cannot transmit through saltwater, and given the very salty nature
of Florida including tidally influenced creeks and rivers, radio telemetry is
very limiting. Satellite telemetry, while very informative and functions well
in saltwater, is also very expense. Financial constraints may limit the number
of animals in a study. Acoustic telemetry is the best of both worlds, it works
equally well in salt and freshwater and is cost effective.
Several companies including Vemco,
Sonotronics and Lotek produce the hardware needed for tracking animals with
acoustic technology. While most tracking equipment in Florida is purchased from
Vemco, Sonotronics and Lotek offer compatible tags and receivers. Acoustic tags
transmit an underwater sound aka ping
that uniquely identifies an animal. When in range, the pings are registered on
an underwater device called a receiver that also records the date and time. Multiple
animals can be tracked at once with little effort on behalf of the scientists.
After the original start-up of tag and receiver deployment, effort is only
needed to download and service receivers at the leisure of the scientists (but
at least once a year).
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| A Goliath grouper poses next to an underwater receiver. |
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| Lemon sharks circle around an underwater receiver. |
