Mobile phones may provide a more affordable and reliable method for tracking animals in ecology and conservation studies, as suggested by a recent study from The Australian National University (ANU).
Mobile phones may provide a more affordable and reliable method for tracking animals in ecology and conservation studies, according to a recent study from The Australian National University (ANU).
Conventional animal tracking techniques tend to be costly and demand that the tagged animals stay in close proximity to the tracking equipment.
Researchers at ANU have introduced an economical, lightweight Bluetooth beacon that can continuously send updates through a network of mobile devices in populated areas where people carry phones or smartwatches.
The lead author of the study, Associate Professor Damien Farine, an ecologist at ANU, noted that this new Bluetooth technology addresses current challenges in animal tracking.
“By utilizing the widespread network of personal mobile phones, we’re employing Bluetooth beacons as a means to track animals, and we’ve shown its capacity to monitor the movements, home ranges, and social behaviors of animals living in urban areas,” he explained.
“Previously, animal tracking endeavors were hindered by technological constraints such as high expenses or the necessity for tags to be near detection devices, and this new tool resolves those issues.
“The device functions via mobile phones, enabling people walking near the tagged animals to catch the beacon’s signal, which their phones then upload to the cloud automatically. No data related to the phones themselves is collected, only the tag’s identity and location.
“Animals exhibit interesting reactions to city environments, and the capacity to track them affordably and effectively will reveal numerous mysteries about our urban wildlife.”
As per the researchers at ANU, these straightforward and cost-effective beacons can offer consistent position updates in areas with a moderate to high population density and have a battery lifespan of one to two years.
“We still have much to discover regarding how animals adjust to and thrive in city environments, but the tags we’ve designed are affordable, lightweight, and have no associated download fees,” added Associate Professor Farine.
