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.

Products

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Data-Collecting Argos (SPLASH) Tag [more info]

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 [more info]

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 [more info]

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 [more info]

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-F Fast-GPS Tag [more info]

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 [more info]

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-L Linked Archival Tag [more info]

The MK10-L is exactly the same as the Mk10-AL except the Mk10-L does not include an Argos transmitter. The tag must be physically recovered to retrieve the data.

Direct U.S. prices start at $1900.

Mk10-PAT Pop-up Archival Transmitting Tag [more info]

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) [more info]

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.

Animals

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Seals/Sea Lions

Wildlife Computers first tags were built to support research on the movements and behavior of seals and sea lions. Their frequent surfacing often allows the transmission of behavioral data to Argos satellites and the determination of their geographical position. It also allows the use of Fastloc™ to provide higher-resolution fixes. Also since many of these species predictably return to specific rookeries and haul-out sites, archival tags can sometimes be recovered and the entire dataset retrieved.

Sharks & Fishes

Tags for sharks and fishes have been part of the Wildlife Computers family of products for many years. There are currently several tag types and configurations available. These include implantable archival tags that must be recovered and pop-up tags that release at predetermined times and transmit data to the Argos satellites. For fish that occasionally come to the surface, fin-mounted transmitters can provide Argos geographical position estimates. For animals that are not easily restrained, towed tags can be attached by harpooning or darting onto the dorsal surface. (Note: Not all types of tags are available in all configurations.)

Turtles

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.

Penguins & Other Birds

Penguins and other birds require the smallest possible tags. We have successfully answered this challenge with a variety of archival and transmitting tags.

Other Marine Applications

Wildlife Computers tags have long been used by operators of long-line and trawl fishing vessels to confirm the sink rates and depth of their gear. We welcome the opportunity to discuss other uses of our family of tags in marine applications.

Other Animals

Our tags have been used on animals such as sirenians (manatees and dugongs) and bears. Wildlife Computers tags may be suitable for animals not listed. We will be happy to discuss which options might be suitable for the species you want to study.

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