Terrestrial Passive Integrated Transponder Antennae for Tracking Small Animal Movements |
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Authors: | NOAH D. CHARNEY BENJAMIN H. LETCHER ALEX HARO PAIGE S. WARREN |
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Affiliation: | 1. United States Geological Survey, Biological Research Division, S. O. Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, P.O. Box 796, One Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 01376, USA;2. Department of Natural Resources Conservation, Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT Measuring terrestrial movements of small animals poses a substantial technological challenge. We developed very long (up to 130 m) passive integrated transponder (PIT) detectors with which we tracked salamanders (Caudata) migrating from breeding ponds to their upland habitat >200 m away. In all 60 trials, salamanders were detected when released near the antennae. In a second test, we tracked 7 of 14 tagged marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) migrating >65 m, well beyond the area protected by existing wetland buffer regulations in Massachusetts, USA. The mean rate of movement for these salamanders (x̄ = 0.9 m/min; SE = 0.1 m/min) was substantially higher than rates of movement reported for related salamanders with radio-implants. These PIT antennae offer researchers a means to study small animal movements with less disruption of the animals’ natural movement patterns than is caused by other available techniques. |
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Keywords: | Ambystoma opacum marbled salamander Massachusetts migration movement passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags radio frequency identification (RFID) small animal technology tracking |
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