Argos Tags |
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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.
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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.
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-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.
Avian Cricket (AC1) Transmitting Tag
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Built on the success of our field-proven Argos satellite transmitter, the Avian Cricket (AC1) tag is the first in the Wildlife Computers line of products designed specifically for the study of bird behavior and migration. It includes activity and temperature sensors and a recovery beacon.
Direct U.S. prices start at $2100. Please contact us for pricing on specific configurations.
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.
Cetaceans
Wildlife Computers tags have been used on both large and small cetaceans. These animals surface frequently but generally are not recaptured, nor do they return to predictable locations. Transmitting tags are therefore most appropriate for these species. For smaller species that can be restrained, we have developed a variety of fin-mounted configurations. For larger species, dart or harpoon attachment techniques have been developed by various researchers. We have produced highly-specialized custom-designed tags to fit individual project needs. In addition, we now offer tags utilizing Fast-GPS and pop-up technologies. Archival tags have also been used in cetacean research when mounted on a bouyant housing and attached by suction. The detached housings are then retrieved for data download. (Note: Not all types of tags are available in all 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 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.