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Minimizing the impact of biologging devices: Using computational fluid dynamics for optimizing tag design and positioning
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Rory Wilson ,
Thomas B. Stringell,
James Bull ,
Philip Hopkins,
Luca Borger
Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Volume: 10, Issue: 8, Pages: 1222 - 1233
Swansea University Authors:
William Kay, David Naumann, Hannah Bowen, Ben Evans , Rory Wilson , James Bull , Philip Hopkins, Luca Borger
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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/2041-210x.13216
Abstract
1. Biologgingdevicesareusedubiquitouslyacrossvertebratetaxainstudiesofmove- ment and behavioural ecology to record data from organisms without the need for direct observation. Despite the dramatic increase in the sophistication of this technology, progress in reducing the impact of these devices to...
| Published in: | Methods in Ecology and Evolution |
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| ISSN: | 2041-210X 2041-210X |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50876 |
| Abstract: |
1. Biologgingdevicesareusedubiquitouslyacrossvertebratetaxainstudiesofmove- ment and behavioural ecology to record data from organisms without the need for direct observation. Despite the dramatic increase in the sophistication of this technology, progress in reducing the impact of these devices to animals is less obvi- ous, notwithstanding the implications for animal welfare. Existing guidelines focus on tag weight (e.g. the ‘5% rule’), ignoring aero/hydrodynamic forces in aerial and aquatic organisms, which can be considerable. Designing tags to minimize such im- pact for animals moving in fluid environments is not trivial, as the impact depends on the position of the tag on the animal, as well as its shape and dimensions.2. Wedemonstratethecapabilitiesofcomputationalfluiddynamics(CFD)modelling to optimize the design and positioning of biologgers on marine animals, using the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) as a model species. Specifically, we investigate the effects of (a) tag form, (b) tag size, and (c) tag position and quantify the impact under frontal hydrodynamic forces, as encountered by seals swimming at sea.3. By comparing a conventional versus a streamlined tag, we show that the former can induce up to 22% larger drag for a swimming seal; to match the drag of the streamlined tag, the conventional tag would have to be reduced in size by 50%. For the conventional tag, the drag induced can differ by up to 11% depending on the position along the seal's body, whereas for the streamlined tag this difference amounts to only 5%.4. We conclude by showing how the CFD simulation approach can be used to opti- mize tag design to reduce drag for aerial and aquatic species, including issues such as the impact of lateral currents (unexplored until now). We also provide a step‐ by‐step guide to facilitate the implementation of CFD in biologging tag design. |
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| Keywords: |
animal welfare, biologging, biotelemetry, computational fluid dynamics, drag, flow simulation, hydrodynamics, tag design |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Issue: |
8 |
| Start Page: |
1222 |
| End Page: |
1233 |