Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use
Abstract Crocodylians are top predators that play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems. As in other groups of large predators, crocodylian populations are often impacted by habitat loss, habitat degradation or direct exploitation for commercial purposes or subsistence. Hence, understanding the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Animal Biotelemetry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00333-2 |
| _version_ | 1797822923806867456 |
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| author | Paulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia Pedro Ivo Simões |
| author_facet | Paulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia Pedro Ivo Simões |
| author_sort | Paulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Crocodylians are top predators that play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems. As in other groups of large predators, crocodylian populations are often impacted by habitat loss, habitat degradation or direct exploitation for commercial purposes or subsistence. Hence, understanding their spatiotemporal ecology can provide valuable information for conservation planning. We reviewed the published scientific literature on telemetry-tracking in crocodylians, combining the terms “telemetry”, “track” or “tag” and variations; “VHF”, “UHF”, “satellite”, “GPS”, “radio”, “acoustic” or “transmitters”; and “caiman”, “alligator”, “crocodile”, “gharial” or “Crocodylia”. Publications retrieved by our search were carefully reviewed for information on study length, geographic location, sample size, taxonomy, and telemetry technology used. We identified 72 research articles in indexed journals and 110 reports available from the IUCN’s Crocodile Specialist Group, published between 1970 and 2022. Publications included 23 of the 27-living described crocodylian species. We identified strong geographic and taxonomic biases, with most articles proceeding from the USA (21.2%) and Australia (14%), with Alligator mississipiensis and Crocodylus porosus as the main target species in studies conducted in these countries, respectively. Despite representing 22% of IUCN’s reports, Gavialis gangeticus was referred in a single indexed research article. VHF telemetry was the prevalent tracking method, followed by GPS and acoustic transmitters. Studies using VHF devices had generally shorter in length when compared to alternative technologies. Transmitter weight represented less than 2% of the body mass of the carrying individual in all studies. Although attachment site of transmitters was notified in all research papers, few described anaesthetic or clinical procedures during attachment (33%). Our review highlights the need to encourage publication of crocodylian telemetry studies in non-English speaking countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where many endemic species are threatened. We also highlight the need of detailed information on methods and results to facilitate the choice and implementation of appropriate protocols in future telemetry-tracking studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f404c131e89488a8e6b50f6aa8aff02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3385 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Biotelemetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f404c131e89488a8e6b50f6aa8aff022023-05-21T11:11:42ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852023-05-0111111310.1186/s40317-023-00333-2Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial usePaulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior0Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia1Pedro Ivo Simões2Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes RegoLaboratório Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, R. Dom Manuel MedeirosPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes RegoAbstract Crocodylians are top predators that play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems. As in other groups of large predators, crocodylian populations are often impacted by habitat loss, habitat degradation or direct exploitation for commercial purposes or subsistence. Hence, understanding their spatiotemporal ecology can provide valuable information for conservation planning. We reviewed the published scientific literature on telemetry-tracking in crocodylians, combining the terms “telemetry”, “track” or “tag” and variations; “VHF”, “UHF”, “satellite”, “GPS”, “radio”, “acoustic” or “transmitters”; and “caiman”, “alligator”, “crocodile”, “gharial” or “Crocodylia”. Publications retrieved by our search were carefully reviewed for information on study length, geographic location, sample size, taxonomy, and telemetry technology used. We identified 72 research articles in indexed journals and 110 reports available from the IUCN’s Crocodile Specialist Group, published between 1970 and 2022. Publications included 23 of the 27-living described crocodylian species. We identified strong geographic and taxonomic biases, with most articles proceeding from the USA (21.2%) and Australia (14%), with Alligator mississipiensis and Crocodylus porosus as the main target species in studies conducted in these countries, respectively. Despite representing 22% of IUCN’s reports, Gavialis gangeticus was referred in a single indexed research article. VHF telemetry was the prevalent tracking method, followed by GPS and acoustic transmitters. Studies using VHF devices had generally shorter in length when compared to alternative technologies. Transmitter weight represented less than 2% of the body mass of the carrying individual in all studies. Although attachment site of transmitters was notified in all research papers, few described anaesthetic or clinical procedures during attachment (33%). Our review highlights the need to encourage publication of crocodylian telemetry studies in non-English speaking countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where many endemic species are threatened. We also highlight the need of detailed information on methods and results to facilitate the choice and implementation of appropriate protocols in future telemetry-tracking studies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00333-2CrocodyliansElectronic taggingRemote monitoringReptilesSpatial ecologyTransmitters |
| spellingShingle | Paulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia Pedro Ivo Simões Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use Animal Biotelemetry Crocodylians Electronic tagging Remote monitoring Reptiles Spatial ecology Transmitters |
| title | Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| title_full | Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| title_fullStr | Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| title_short | Tracking crocodylia: a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| title_sort | tracking crocodylia a review of telemetry studies on movements and spatial use |
| topic | Crocodylians Electronic tagging Remote monitoring Reptiles Spatial ecology Transmitters |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00333-2 |
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