Transmitter attachment and release methods for short-term shark and stingray tracking on coral reefs

C.W. Speed; O.R. O'Shea; M.G. Meekan

doi:10.1007/s00227-012-2151-y

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Transmitter attachment and release methods for short-term shark and stingray tracking on coral reefs

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Transmitter attachment and release methods for short-term shark and stingray tracking on coral reefs

C.W. Speed, O.R. O'Shea and M.G. Meekan

Marine Biology, Vol.160(4), pp.1041-1050

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2151-y

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Abstract

This study details a simple and cost-effective means of attaching acoustic transmitters to coral reef sharks and stingrays, which potentially allows for retrieval and reuse on completion of tracks. Between 2008 and 2011, galvanised timed releases were trialled in both static field tests and on blacktip reef sharks Carcharhinus melanopterus, cowtail Pastinachus atrus, and porcupine Urogymnus asperrimus rays in Coral Bay (−23°08′41″, 113°45′53″), Western Australia. The timed releases remained attached to animals for the duration required for tracking and in four out of five deployments transmitters were recovered after release from the animals. The use of modified Rototags for sharks and stainless steel darts for stingrays allowed rapid and effective attachment to animals, with limited impact on their welfare in the short term. External attachment for short-term tracking of coral reef-associated elasmobranchs should be considered as a complementary option to internal placement of transmitters in animals either by surgery or by ingestion.

Details

Title: Transmitter attachment and release methods for short-term shark and stingray tracking on coral reefs
Authors/Creators: C.W. Speed (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
O.R. O'Shea (Author/Creator)
M.G. Meekan (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Publication Details: Marine Biology, Vol.160(4), pp.1041-1050
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Identifiers: 991005543363607891
Copyright: © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science