Development of a head-mounted satellite-linked PIT tag reader for seals and sea lions
Presentation Abstract
Biologists speculate that an increased population of harbor seals feeding on salmon smolts may have caused the observed decline in Chinook and Coho abundance in the Salish Sea. However, no method currently exists to accurately and effectively quantify seal predation rates of salmon smolts at the population scale. Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) are often implanted in juvenile salmonids and used for population tracking and the determination of survival rates. Such PIT tagging efforts also provide a unique opportunity to assess the level of smolt predation by seals and sea lions. We have designed and built a prototype that contains electronics capable of identifying and logging PIT tags ingested by seals, and transmitting this information to a satellite. This prototype is battery powered and designed to be suitable for head-mounting to a harbor seal. Phase 1 feasibility testing aims to determine the capabilities of the prototype on captive harbor seals. Specifically, the detection rates for alternative PIT tag types (12mm, 23mm, HDX, FDX), and the length of time PIT tags are in the detection field during swallowing will be tested. This information will be used to determine the necessary RFID sampling rate/power consumption and guide the development of a field-ready instrument. The final prototype will be capable of logging the time and identification numbers of seal-ingested PIT tags, with the ability to transit that information via the AROGS satellite network. From those data, researchers will be able to accurately estimate smolt predation rates, and identify which individual stock is impacted by seal predation based on ingested PIT tag IDs.
Session Title
Session S-07D: Marine Survival of Salmon and Steelhead: the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 3:30 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
Location
Room 611-612
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Harbor seal--Radio tracking--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Sea lions--Radio tracking--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Harbor seal--Feeding and feeds--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Sea lions--Feeding and feeds--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Fish tagging--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Predation (Biology); Chinook salmon--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Coho salmon--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Development of a head-mounted satellite-linked PIT tag reader for seals and sea lions
Room 611-612
Biologists speculate that an increased population of harbor seals feeding on salmon smolts may have caused the observed decline in Chinook and Coho abundance in the Salish Sea. However, no method currently exists to accurately and effectively quantify seal predation rates of salmon smolts at the population scale. Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) are often implanted in juvenile salmonids and used for population tracking and the determination of survival rates. Such PIT tagging efforts also provide a unique opportunity to assess the level of smolt predation by seals and sea lions. We have designed and built a prototype that contains electronics capable of identifying and logging PIT tags ingested by seals, and transmitting this information to a satellite. This prototype is battery powered and designed to be suitable for head-mounting to a harbor seal. Phase 1 feasibility testing aims to determine the capabilities of the prototype on captive harbor seals. Specifically, the detection rates for alternative PIT tag types (12mm, 23mm, HDX, FDX), and the length of time PIT tags are in the detection field during swallowing will be tested. This information will be used to determine the necessary RFID sampling rate/power consumption and guide the development of a field-ready instrument. The final prototype will be capable of logging the time and identification numbers of seal-ingested PIT tags, with the ability to transit that information via the AROGS satellite network. From those data, researchers will be able to accurately estimate smolt predation rates, and identify which individual stock is impacted by seal predation based on ingested PIT tag IDs.
