Senior Project Advisor
Nina Whitney
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Spring 2025
Keywords
Literature review, Satellite tracking, Argos, Telemetry, Biologging, AUV, Migration, Space use, Habitat use, Seasonal movement, Foraging, Avoidance behavior, Marine conservation, Fisheries mortality, White shark (Carcharodon carcharias), Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii), Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Orca Whale (Orcinus Orca), West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis)
Abstract
Many marine species spend the majority of their lives far from shore, making it challenging to study them. The advent of satellite tracking tags and subsequent technological improvements in the field has provided a means of gathering high resolution data on the movement, behavior, and environmental conditions of a number of large marine animal species. This literature review analyzes ten marine animal tracking studies. The goal of this review was to answer the following question: “What research questions can tracking studies answer, and how can the data from such studies be applied to marine conservation efforts?” First discussed are an array of tracking methods, the limitations of those methods, and innovations that have resulted from those limits. Next, I share several discoveries made with the data from these studies, including migration routes, seasonal habits, and behavior in response to human presence. Lastly, this review breaks down how data from marine animal tracking studies can shape and inform future research and policy, including its application to a pressing local conservation issue in the Salish Sea. Marine wildlife tracking enables the gathering of diverse data on a large number of species, while reducing the human impact of marine research efforts. As such, it is an incredibly valuable tool to the field of marine biology.
Department
Marine and Coastal Science
Recommended Citation
Brask, Braden, "A review of large marine animal tracking methodologies, discoveries, and applications" (2025). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 1025.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/1025
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf