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Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment? / VICTORIA THOMAS

Swansea University Author: VICTORIA THOMAS

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Abstract

Tags that researchers attach to animals are equipped with a variety of sensory systems which allow us to quantify the ultra-fine scale movement of animals. Such technology aids conservation efforts by providing evidence-based data on the causal drivers behind animal space use. Yet, the attachment of...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MRes
Supervisor: Nichols, H. ; Wilson, R.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66096
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first_indexed 2024-04-20T08:25:34Z
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spelling v2 66096 2024-04-20 Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment? 8541a3ff669f757b73e8716f297118b5 VICTORIA THOMAS VICTORIA THOMAS true false 2024-04-20 Tags that researchers attach to animals are equipped with a variety of sensory systems which allow us to quantify the ultra-fine scale movement of animals. Such technology aids conservation efforts by providing evidence-based data on the causal drivers behind animal space use. Yet, the attachment of tags sometimes requires individuals to be captured or restrained, which can cause acute stress and unusual movement patterns. To circumvent these issues, we are developing a remote tagging apparatus (TA), consisting of a gateway which deploys a tag when an animal walks underneath. A first step in investigating the feasibility of this tagging system in the wild is to investigate how animals react to a TA in their environment. Here, I deployed TAs at 22 field sites around Swansea, South Wales, and monitored the reactions of animals to them using camera traps. I focused on terrestrial carnivores (particularly foxes (Vulpes vulpes), otters (Lutra lutra) and badgers (Meles meles), but also recorded the reactions of other mammals and birds to the gateways. I aimed to examine (1) how animals react to the gateway, (2) whether animals showed neophobia to the gateway, and if this decreased over time, (3) how the siting of the gateway influenced whether animals were more likely to walk under it, and (4) whether baiting around the gateway increased the number of individuals that visited the site. I demonstrate that animals initially show neophobia of the gateway, but this decreases over time. Habitat specifics (i.e. vegetation cover and the density of the animal path/trail) made no difference in the number of times animals walked under the gateway, whereas baiting the gateway significantly increased number of animals visiting the site. These findings imply that remote tagging is possible but neophobia must be taken into account. Whilst still in the developmental stage, this remote tagging project shows potential for future studies wishing to tag animals without capturing or restraining them. E-Thesis Swansea, Wales, UK Neophobia, Habituation, Animal movement, Animal tagging, Novel object, Automatic tagging, Remote tagging, Terrestrial vertebrates 17 1 2024 2024-01-17 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Nichols, H. ; Wilson, R. Master of Research MRes 2024-04-20T10:08:52.1813252 2024-04-20T09:22:36.0046539 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences VICTORIA THOMAS 1 66096__30077__8fcbbb284bc54c9ea0a2012ad04339bb.pdf Thomas_Victoria_MRes_Thesis_Final_Redacted_Signature.pdf 2024-04-20T09:57:22.8225387 Output 1196861 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Victoria Thomas, 2024. true eng
title Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
spellingShingle Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
VICTORIA THOMAS
title_short Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
title_full Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
title_fullStr Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
title_full_unstemmed Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
title_sort Towards a remote animal tagging method with minimal detriment; how do animals react to new constructions in their environment?
author_id_str_mv 8541a3ff669f757b73e8716f297118b5
author_id_fullname_str_mv 8541a3ff669f757b73e8716f297118b5_***_VICTORIA THOMAS
author VICTORIA THOMAS
author2 VICTORIA THOMAS
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Tags that researchers attach to animals are equipped with a variety of sensory systems which allow us to quantify the ultra-fine scale movement of animals. Such technology aids conservation efforts by providing evidence-based data on the causal drivers behind animal space use. Yet, the attachment of tags sometimes requires individuals to be captured or restrained, which can cause acute stress and unusual movement patterns. To circumvent these issues, we are developing a remote tagging apparatus (TA), consisting of a gateway which deploys a tag when an animal walks underneath. A first step in investigating the feasibility of this tagging system in the wild is to investigate how animals react to a TA in their environment. Here, I deployed TAs at 22 field sites around Swansea, South Wales, and monitored the reactions of animals to them using camera traps. I focused on terrestrial carnivores (particularly foxes (Vulpes vulpes), otters (Lutra lutra) and badgers (Meles meles), but also recorded the reactions of other mammals and birds to the gateways. I aimed to examine (1) how animals react to the gateway, (2) whether animals showed neophobia to the gateway, and if this decreased over time, (3) how the siting of the gateway influenced whether animals were more likely to walk under it, and (4) whether baiting around the gateway increased the number of individuals that visited the site. I demonstrate that animals initially show neophobia of the gateway, but this decreases over time. Habitat specifics (i.e. vegetation cover and the density of the animal path/trail) made no difference in the number of times animals walked under the gateway, whereas baiting the gateway significantly increased number of animals visiting the site. These findings imply that remote tagging is possible but neophobia must be taken into account. Whilst still in the developmental stage, this remote tagging project shows potential for future studies wishing to tag animals without capturing or restraining them.
published_date 2024-01-17T10:08:49Z
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score 11.014067

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