Instrumentation for the remote monitoring of physiological and behavioral variables

1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1974-1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Physiology ◽  
Dive Depth ◽  
Data Logging ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Northern Elephant Seals ◽  
Behavioral Variables ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Term Monitoring

Few commercial products are available for investigators who wish to monitor multiple physiological and behavioral variables in unrestrained subjects. When telemetry is not practical, e.g., in studies of at-sea diving physiology, one of the only options is to design and build a custom data-logging instrument. This paper describes how a data logger was developed for the successful long-term monitoring of dive depth, swim speed, heart rate, water temperature, and multiple body temperatures from free-ranging northern elephant seals. The task was facilitated by using a commercially available single-board computer designed specifically for portable multichannel data acquisition and, where possible, off-the-shelf sensors/transducers available with integrated signal-conditioning circuits. A smaller data logger for monitoring the electrocardiogram, body temperature, and dive behavior of double-crested cormorants is also described to illustrate the flexibility and simplicity of this approach. Although it is customized for diving animals, with incorporation of the appropriate sensors the basic design should be applicable to studies of comparative, environmental, or exercise physiology involving most medium-to-large animals, including humans.

scholarly journals Cave Pearl Data Logger – A flexible Arduino-based Logging Platform for Long-Term Monitoring in Harsh Environments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Beddows ◽  
Edward K. Mallon
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Data Logging ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Cave System ◽  
Ready Availability ◽  
Term Monitoring

A low-cost data logging platform is presented for environmental monitoring projects that provides long-term operation in remote or submerged environments. Three premade “breakout boards” from the open-source Arduino ecosystem are assembled into the core of the platform. The components are selected based on low-cost and ready availability, making the loggers easy to build and modify without specialized tools, or a significant background in electronics. Power optimization techniques are explained. The platform has proven to be highly reliable, and capable of operating for more than a year on standard AA batteries. The flexibility of the system is illustrated with two ongoing field studies recording drip rates in a cave, and water flow in a flooded cave system.

scholarly journals Heart rates and abdominal temperatures of free-ranging South Georgian shags, Phalacrocorax georgianus

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
R M Bevan ◽  
I L Boyd ◽  
P J Butler ◽  
K Reid ◽  
A J Woakes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Dive Depth ◽  
Dive Duration ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
The South ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Mean Heart Rate

The South Georgian shag (Phalacrocorax georgianus) shows a remarkable diving ability comparable to that of penguins, yet nothing is known of the physiology of these birds. In this study, heart rates and abdominal temperatures were recorded continuously in four free-ranging South Georgian shags using an implanted data-logger. A time­depth recorder was also attached to the back of the implanted birds to record their diving behaviour. The diving behaviour of the birds was essentially similar to that reported in other studies, with maximum dive durations for individual birds ranging between 140 and 287 s, and maximum depths between 35 and 101 m. The birds, while at the nest, had a heart rate of 104.0±13.1 beats min-1 (mean ± s.e.m.) and an abdominal temperature of 39.1±0.2 °C. During flights of 221±29 s, heart rate and abdominal temperature rose to 309.5±18.0 beats min-1 and 40.1±0.3 °C, respectively. The mean heart rate during diving, at 103.7±13.7 beats min-1, was not significantly different from the resting values, but the minimum heart rate during a dive was significantly lower at 64.8±5.8 beats min-1. The minimum heart rate during a dive was negatively correlated with both dive duration and dive depth. Abdominal temperature fell progressively during a diving bout, with a mean temperature at the end of a bout of 35.1±1.7 °C. The minimum heart rate during diving is at a sub-resting level, which suggests that the South Georgian shag responds to submersion with the 'classic' dive response of bradycardia and the associated peripheral vasoconstriction and utilisation of anaerobic metabolism. However, the reduction in abdominal temperature may reflect a reduction in the overall metabolic rate of the animal such that the bird can remain aerobic while submerged.

Blood rheology of captive and free-ranging northern elephant seals and sea otters

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Wickham ◽  
D. P. Costa ◽  
R. Elsner
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Capillary Viscometer ◽  
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽  
Sea Otters ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Blood Cell Counts ◽  
Northern Elephant Seals ◽  
Free Ranging

Hematologic and rheologie characteristics of blood from captive and free-ranging sea otters, Enhydra lutris, and northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, were studied to evaluate short- and long-term responses to captivity. Red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrits, total plasma proteins, and mean corpuscular volume measurements were made on anticoagulated venous blood samples. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were calculated. Viscosity measurements were made at shear rates from 11.5 to 230.4 s−1 on a Wells–Brookfield cone-plate viscometer. A capillary viscometer (radius, 500 μm) provided additional viscometric measurements. Comparisons of hematologic and rheologic data revealed only minor differences between captive and free-ranging seals and sea otters. Although hematologic variables were within the ranges reported in earlier wild vs. captive studies of these species, no evidence of short- (3 weeks) or long-term (> 6 months) acclimatization to captive exposure was found in the hemorheology of these marine mammals.

Buoyancy and maximal diving depth in penguins

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (9) ◽  
pp. 1189-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsufumi Sato ◽  
Y. Naito ◽  
A. Kato ◽  
Y. Niizuma ◽  
Y. Watanuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory System ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Decompression Sickness ◽  
Dive Depth ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Diving Depth ◽  
Air Volume ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Free Ranging

SUMMARYUsing a newly developed data logger to measure acceleration, we demonstrate that free-ranging king and Adélie penguins only beat their flippers substantially during the first part of descent or when they were presumed to be chasing prey at the bottom of dives. Flipper beating stopped during the latter part of ascent: at 29±9 % (mean ± S.D.) of dive depth(mean dive depth=136.8±145.1 m, N=425 dives) in king penguins,and at 52±20 % of dive depth (mean dive depth=72.9±70.5 m, N=664 dives) in Adélie penguins. Propulsive swim speeds of both species were approximately 2 m s-1 during dives; however, a marked increase in speed, up to approximately 2.9 m s-1, sometimes occurred in king penguins during the passive ascending periods. During the prolonged ascending, oblique ascent angle and slowdown near the surface may represent one way to avoid the potential risk of decompression sickness. Biomechanical calculations for data from free-ranging king and Adélie penguins indicate that the air volume of the birds (respiratory system and plumage) can provide enough buoyancy for the passive ascent. When comparing the passive ascents for shallow and deep dives, there is a positive correlation between air volume and the depth of the dive. This suggests that penguins regulate their air volume to optimize the costs and benefits of buoyancy.

scholarly journals The Development of a Sub-Surface Monitoring System for Organic Contamination in Soils and Groundwater

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 1101-1107
Author(s):  
Sharon L. Huntley ◽  
Lawrence J. Ritchie ◽  
Steven J. Setford ◽  
Selwayan Saini
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Data Logging ◽  
Organic Contamination ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Term Monitoring

A major problem when dealing with environmental contamination is the early detection and subsequent surveillance of the contamination. This paper describes the potential of sub-surface sensor technology for the early detection of organic contaminants in contaminated soils, sediments, and landfill sites. Rugged, low-power hydrocarbon sensors have been developed, along with a data-logging system, for the early detection of phase hydrocarbons in soil. Through laboratory-based evaluation, the ability of this system to monitor organic contamination in water-based systems is being evaluated. When used in conjunction with specific immunoassays, this can provide a sensitive and low-cost solution for long-term monitoring and analysis, applicable to a wide range of field applications.

Continuous, deep diving in female northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 446-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burney J. Le Boeuf ◽  
Daniel P. Costa ◽  
Anthony C. Huntley ◽  
Steven D. Feldkamp
Keyword(s):  
Mass Gain ◽  
Dive Depth ◽  
Dive Duration ◽  
Mirounga Angustirostris ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Deep Diving ◽  
Northern Elephant Seals ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Nearly Continuous

The free-ranging dive pattern of seven adult female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) was obtained with time–depth recorders during the first 14 – 27 days at sea following lactation. The instruments were recovered and mass gain at sea determined when the animals returned to the rookery at Año Nuevo, California, to molt. The seals gained a mean of 76.5 ± 13.9 kg during a mean of 72.6 ± 5.0 days at sea. The mean dive rate was 2.7 ± 0.2 dives/h and diving was virtually continuous during the entire period at sea. Mean dive duration was 19.2 ± 4.3 min with the longest submersion lasting 48 min. Mean surface interval between dives was 2.8 ± 0.5 min, so that only 14.4% of the recorded time at sea was spent on the surface. Surface intervals did not vary with the duration of preceding or succeeding dives. Modal dive depth for each female was between 350 and 650 m. The maximum dive depth was estimated at 894 m, a depth record for pinnipeds. The deep, nearly continuous dive pattern of female northern elephant seals differs from the dive pattern of other pinnipeds and appears to serve in foraging, energy conservation, and predator avoidance.

The Mini Buoy: a novel hydrodynamics sensor for long-term deployments in coastal wetlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cai Ladd ◽  
Alejandra Vovides ◽  
Christian Schwarz ◽  
Gail Chmura ◽  
Mohammad Basyuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
High Spatial Resolution ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Mangrove Restoration ◽  
The Past ◽  
Centrifuge Tube ◽  
Waves And Currents ◽  
Hydrological Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

<p>Hydrological monitoring is crucial for management and research in coastal wetlands. However, long-term monitoring is scarce due to the high cost of conventional hydrological equipment. The development of open-source and low-power sensors over the past decade presents an opportunity for enabling long-term, high spatial resolution monitoring of hydrodynamics in the intertidal zone. Here, we present the design, calibration, and application of one such sensor: the Mini Buoy. The Mini Buoy is a battery-powered accelerometer and data logger, contained in a standard centrifuge tube. The Mini Buoy floats upright when inundated, and moves freely about a tether anchored to the substrate. Acceleration is measured along a single axis of the buoy, and motion along the axis is used to measure inundation, currents, and waves. Deployments of up to 6 months are possible, and the buoy can measure current and wave orbital velocities as low as 0.05 m/s. Mini Buoys cost less than €350 to assemble, and the materials are globally available. We present the successful application of Mini Buoys in four contrasting scenarios: (1) characterising waves under calm and stormy conditions; (2) linking saltmarsh erosion-expansion patterns with hydrological exposure; (3) identifying high-resolution spatial variability of waves and currents along a saltmarsh edge; and (4) assessing the suitability of former aquaculture ponds for mangrove restoration. Mini Buoys are also being deployed along mangrove fringes across Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh, in order to detect thresholds in hydrodynamic forcing responsible for triggering erosion or progradation events. Mini Buoys offer an exciting and novel tool for coastal management worldwide.</p>

The performance and validation of a data logger for long-term determination of activity in free-ranging reindeer, Rangifer tarandus L.

2004 ◽  
Vol 89 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob E.H. Van Oort ◽  
Nicholas J.C. Tyler ◽  
Pål Vegar Storeheier ◽  
Karl-Arne Stokkan
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Determination Of Activity
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