Turtles
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Turtle researchers are successfully using the full complement of Wildlife Computers products in the field. We have designed several configurations especially for turtle tagging and would be happy to help you select what best suits your animal. Attachment devices such as base plates are also available for some configurations.
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Pop-up Archival Transmitting (PAT) tags are designed to track the large-scale movements and behavior of fish and other animals which do not spend enough time at the surface to allow the use of real-time satellite tags. As with traditional satellite tags, the PAT utilizes the Argos system for relaying summaries of the data collected. However, the data are transmitted at the end of the deployment when the tag detaches from the subject animal on a user-specified date.
Since PAT tags can yield data without the animal being recaptured, they offer a fisheries-independent means of tracking a target species. In addition, a full archival record is maintained in non-volatile memory. Thus, should the PAT be recovered, you will be able to retrieve the same detailed data as are collected by a conventional archival tag. A surprising number of PAT tags have been recovered by beachcombers and fisheries personnel.
The PAT tag is attached to the animal via a tether. Generally, the researcher determines the best tether design and attachment method.
While PAT tags have been used for a variety of applications, they were designed and are best-suited for medium to large fish. These tags are designed to transmit from an unobstructed ocean surface. Locations where overhanging reefs, kelp beds or marine debris occur may result in reduced transmitter performance. The anticipated deployment environment should be considered when evaluating the appropriateness of this technology. PAT tags have been successfully deployed on a variety of species, including tuna, marlin, and sharks, as well as swordfish and sea turtles.
Transmitting tags are used when studying how an animal moves through its environment. Data are available without recapturing your animal. Data on the animal's behavior and environment are collected by the tag, summarized, and transmitted to you via the Argos satellite system. Argos also provides the geographical position of the tag based on these transmissions.
The Argos system consists of data acquisition and relay equipment attached to the NOAA low-orbiting weather satellites and ground-based receivers and data processing systems. The Argos satellite equipment records the transmissions from our transmitting tags and later downloads these data back to earth. Service Argos, the organization which administers the Argos system, then processes these data and determines your tag's position. Your data and the Argos-calculated locations of the tag are sent to you via the internet or on monthly CDs. Wildlife Computers supplies analysis programs to help you decode, format and interpret the Argos-relayed data.
Transmitting tags have an antenna that must be wholly above the surface of the water for transmissions to occur. Each transmission takes approximately 0.5 to 1.0 second. An Argos satellite must receive at least three transmissions during a pass over the tag in order to calculate the tag's location. The Argos system is currently one-way. That is, the tag does not know if a transmission was received by the satellite or not. Therefore, many transmissions must be sent to increase the chance that at least three are received by an orbiting satellite during a pass. Satellite pass durations vary between 5 and 20 minutes, and Argos dictates that a tag may not transmit any faster than once every 45 seconds. Marine mammals and sea turtles are good study animals because they spend enough time at the surface breathing to allow sufficient transmissions to be made.
For a more detailed explanation of the Argos System and how it works, visit their website.
Satellite tags have been deployed on many marine animals, including seals and sea lions, sea turtles, cetaceans, penguins, polar bears and fishes. We have developed a variety of configurations to suit attachment to different study animals.
For fish and other animals that do not remain at the surface for long periods of time, we have developed a specialized transmitting tag called the Pop-up Archival Transmitting (PAT) tag. The PAT collects and stores data throughout its deployment. It releases itself from the animal and floats to the surface on a user-specified date. Data are then transmitted to the Argos system.
Wildlife Computers has incorporated Fastloc™ technology into an Argos-linked data recording tag in order to create a Fast-GPS tag. This tag addresses the difficulties inherent in deploying traditional GPS receivers on free-ranging marine animals which spend very little time at the surface. The ability to achieve highly accurate GPS locations, while requiring the tag antenna to be above the surface for less than one second, represents a major step forward in the ability to track marine animals.
The Fast-GPS tag (Mk10-AF) acquires the GPS signal snapshots, which can be completed in .008 seconds, and archives them along with depth and temperature data. On subsequent surfacing, a percentage of the summarized data and Fast-GPS snapshots are transmitted via the Argos system. Should the Mk10-AF tag be recovered, it yields the full archive of all Fast-GPS snapshots and sampled data.
Since the initial Mk10-AF, we have added the Fast-GPS capability to both standard archival (Mk10-F) and basic location-only Argos-linked tags (Mk10-AFB).
For more information on Fastloc™ technology, see Wildtrack Telemetry Systems.
Wildlife Computers archival tags are designed to collect and record data on the swimming behavior of marine animals. Between the various models, you can sample depth, environmental temperature, stomach temperature, and light level. Light level can be used for determining geographic location on a coarse scale. Time is implicitly encoded with the stored data.
- Flexible user-programmable data sampling regimes.
- Data can be sampled and stored from once a second to once every 255 minutes.
- Mk9 archival tags can be programmed to collect light levels to be used for location calculation. PC-based software that estimates dawn and dusk times and calculates location based upon those times is provided with the tag order.
- Tags store 64 million readings as standard.
- Memory is non-volatile so collected data will not be lost even if the battery goes flat.
- Collected data are easily downloaded to a PC by the user.
Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting Tag (SPOT5)
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The SPOT5 tag is our smallest Argos transmitter, other than the AC1 (which is designed for avian applications). It is designed specifically for the marine environment. The SPOT5 is available in a variety of shapes optimized for deployment on seals, turtles, large and small cetaceans, sharks and other fishes, penguins and large sea birds. The SPOT5’s size and weight also make it suitable for other non-marine applications.
Direct U.S. prices start at $1350 for the 3 x AAA back or head mount configuration. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Data-Collecting Argos (SPLASH) Tag
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The SPLASH is our data-collecting Argos satellite tag. This tag combines the sampling and detailed data storage functions of the Mk9 archival tag with the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter. It includes sensors to measure depth, temperature, light level, and wet/dry periods (to determine surfacing). During the deployment, depth and temperature data are collected, analyzed, summarized, and compressed for transmission through the Argos satellites. Data throughput is maximized by flexible, user-programmable transmission regimes. 14 Mbytes of non-volatile memory are available for the archived data. The SPLASH tag must be recovered in order to retrieve the entire raw archived data set.
Direct U.S. prices start at $3300. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk9 Archival Tag
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The Mk9 archival tag is designed to study seals, penguins, fish and other marine animals. The Mk9 measures depth, temperature, and light-level, and also differentiates wet or dry conditions. It is suitable for both external attachment and internal implantation.
The standard Mk9 configuration has the depth, temperature, light-level and wet/dry sensors mounted on the body of the tag, and comes with 64 Mbytes (minimum) data storage. Optionally, for implantable applications, the light level and/or a second temperature sensor can be mounted on a sensor stalk. A third option is an external fast-response thermistor, mounted on the body of the tag.
Direct U.S. prices start at $950 for the three standard configurations shown on the Mk9 product page. Please contact us for pricing on other configurations.
Mk10-A Data-Collecting Argos Tag
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The Mk10-A is a data-collecting Argos satellite tag, similar to the SPLASH tag. The difference is that this tag combines the sampling and detailed data storage functions of the Mk10 archival tag, rather than the Mk9, with the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter. It includes sensors to measure depth, temperature, light level, and wet/dry periods (to determine surfacing). During the deployment, depth and temperature data are collected, analyzed, summarized, and compressed for transmission through the Argos satellites. Data throughput is maximized by flexible, user-programmable transmission regimes. At least 64 Mbytes of non-volatile memory are available for the archived data. The Mk10-A tag must be recovered in order to retrieve the entire raw archived data set.
Direct U.S. prices start at $3300. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk10-AF Transmitting Fast-GPS Tag
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The Mk10-AF adds the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter and the Fastloc™ technology to the standard Mk10 archival tag. The Mk10-AF is a versatile tag that performs sub-second GPS acquistions and transmits Fastloc™ and other data through the Argos satellite system. It has the standard Mk10 sensors to measure depth, temperature, light-level and to differentiate wet or dry conditions, and has archival capabilities which include at least 64 MBytes of memory.
Direct U.S. prices start at $5000. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk10-AFB Transmitting Fast-GPS Tag- Basic model
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The Mk10-AFB tag is a lower-priced option to the Mk10-AF. The Mk10-AFB adds the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter and Fastloc™ technology to a more basic version of the Mk10 archival tag. The Mk10-AFB has similar capabilities to the Mk10-AF, but has no depth or light-level sensors, and only 1Mbyte of data storage. It can archive and transmit Fastloc™ GPS locations, haul-out (wet/dry) timelines, and time-at-temperature histogram data.
Direct U.S. prices start at $3400. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk10-F Fast-GPS Tag
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The MK10-F is exactly the same as the Mk10-AF, except the Mk10-F does not include an Argos transmitter. The tag must be physically recovered to retrieve the data.
Direct U.S. prices start at $3300. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk10-AL Transmitting Linked Sensor Tag
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The Mk10-AL adds the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter and the ability to receive remote data from a Stomach Temperature Pill (STP) to the standard Mk10 archival tag.
Direct U.S. prices start at $3600. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
Mk10-PAT Pop-up Archival Transmitting Tag
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Our Popup Archival Transmitting (Mk10-PAT) tag is a sophisticated combination of archival and Argos satellite technology. It is designed to track the large-scale movements and behavior of fish and other animals which do not spend enough time at the surface to allow the use of real-time Argos satellite tags.
The Mk10-PAT adds the Wildlife Computers Cricket Argos transmitter to the standard Mk10 archival tag. A bouyant body and a corrodible pin allows the release of the Mk10-PAT from the fish so data can be transmitted.
The standard Mk10-PAT direct U.S. price is $3500.
Stomach Temperature Pill (STP)
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The STP is designed to give insight into when an animal feeds. The STP must reside in the stomach of a warm-blooded study animal. A sudden drop in the measured temperature could be an indication that the study animal ingested cold prey. It is used in conjunction with either a Mk10-L, Mk10-AL or an HTR.
Direct U.S. prices start at $150.