ProxLogs: Miniaturised proximity loggers for monitoring association behaviour in small mammals
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy
Abstract
The ability to monitor associations between wild animals is essential
for understanding the processes governing gene transfer, information
transfer, competition, predation and disease transmission.
Until recently, such insights have been confined to large, visible or
captive animals. However, the rapid development of miniature sensors
for consumer electronics is allowing ecologists to monitor the natural
world in ways previously considered impossible.
Here we describe miniature (<1g) proximity loggers we have
developed that use Bluetooth Low Energy transmission to register
contacts between individuals. Our loggers are open source, low cost,
rechargeable, able to store up to 2000 contacts, can be programmed in
situ and can download data remotely or through a mobile phone
application, increasing their utility in remote areas or with species
which are challenging to recapture.
We successfully trialled our loggers in a range of field realistic
conditions, demonstrating that Bluetooth Low Energy is capable of
logging associations in structurally complex habitats, and that
changes in received signal strength can be equated to short range
changes in distance between loggers. Furthermore, we tested the
system on starlings (Sturnidae vulgaris).
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Small animals, Open source, Contact network, Proximity loggers, Disease transmission, Association behaviour, Biologging, Bluetooth Low Energy