Review of Underwater Biotelemetry, with Emphasis on Ultrasonic Techniques

Abstract

Underwater biotelemetry includes studies of movements, behavior, and physiological functions of underwater animals, as well as environmental conditions surrounding them. In such studies data are received via signals from a transmitter on or in an animal. Ultrasonic signals were used in early work. More recently both ultrasonic and radio signals have been used.In the two decades since the first underwater biotelemetry studies in the mid-1950s there have been considerable technical advances. Transmitters have become smaller, more powerful, and have longer operating life. Coding of individual transmitters has become more reliable and decoding more automated. Transmitters capable of sensing environmental, behavioral, and physiological factors from free-swimming animals have been built. Receiving systems ranging from small ones for tracking from canoes to large ones for oceangoing vessels have been developed.With this equipment about 60 species of underwater animals have been studied. Various techniques of transmitter attachment have been developed and different methods of tracking explored.Underwater biotelemetry has been applied to studies of fish migration, orientation mechanisms, movement patterns at obstructions, ecology, behavior, and physiology of animals. Key words: telemetry, underwater biotelemetry, tracking, sonic tags, transmitters, receivers, hydrophones

Foraging and agonistic activity co-occur in free-ranging blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus): observation of animals by ultrasonic telemetry

“…Since its habitat is too turbid for visual observation at our study site (the Rhode River subestuary of the central Chesapeake Bay), we developed a series of ultrasonic behavioral telemetry systems for long-term continuous tracking and monitoring of agonism and foraging activity. High-frequency sonic beacons ('pingers') have been used for over 20 years to track movements of many marine animals at fine spatial and temporal scales (Stasko and Pincock, 1977), including another portunid crab (Scylla serrata) in an Australian estuary (Hill, 1978). We integrated beacon signals for long-term (up to several months) continuous tracking, with sensors and encoding circuitry to telemeter one or more behaviors.…”

Ultrasonic Biotelemetry of Muscle Activity from Free-Ranging Marine Animals: A New Method for Studying Foraging by Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus)

“…[Use of electromagnetic radiation in seawater is limited to very low frequencies and short distances, e.g., Phillips et al's (1984) system for studying the movements of rock lobsters (Panulirus cygnus) near shore.] Ultrasonic transmission has been used primarily to track a wide variety of fish, as well as cetaceans, pinnipeds, turtles, sea snakes, and alligators (Stasko, 1975;Stasko and Pincock, 1977). Several species of invertebrates also have been tracked with ultrasonic telemetry, including queen conchs (Strombus gigas) (Clifton et a!., 1970), American lobsters (Homarus americanus) (Lund and Lockwood, 1970), king crabs (Paralithodes kamtschatica) (Monan and Thorn, 1973), Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) (Chapman et al, 1975), prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) (Peebles, 1978), a portunid crab (Scylla serrata) (Hill, 1978), and spiny lob- Technical details of the electronic design are presented in Wolcott and Hines (1989), and detailed schematics and component lists are available from the first author; only a brief functional description of the circuit is given here.…”

Monitoring Techniques for Fishways

“…Telemetric techniques, based on the remote detection of a transmitter fitted to the fish using a suitable receiver, are used. Two systems of telemetric location of fish are available: -Ultrasonic telemetry using transmitters in the 20-100 kHz band (STATSKO and PINCOCK, 1977). This has the advantage that it can be used to track fish in water of any conductivity (fresh water and seawater).…”