Effects of radio transmitter weight on a small nocturnal primate

Abstract

An increasing number of primatologists have begun using radio telemetry to study the behavioral ecology of nocturnal prosimian primates. Radio telemetry has enabled the collection of data on these nocturnal and cryptic prosimians that was previously difficult or impossible to otherwise obtain. A critical assumption of studies employing radio telemetry is that the radio transmitters have no appreciable negative effects on the study animals and the data being collected are not being biased by the presence of radio transmitters. This assumption is made because comparable data from a non‐radio‐collared control group are impossible to obtain. In an attempt to determine the tolerable weight limit for radio collars for a small nocturnal primate, the spectral tarsier, Tarsius spectrum, a comparison of the behavior and body weight of individuals wearing collars of two different weights was conducted. This study was conducted in Tangkoko Dua Saudara Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia. A total of 16 individuals from seven groups were trapped in mist nets, radio‐collared, and observed using focal follow sampling between April 1994 and June 1995. Each individual was observed for 4–6 months depending on the life span of the radio‐collar battery. The two radio‐collar weights appeared not to affect spectral tarsiers differentially. Average body masses in neither set of subjects differed between the days collars were attached and 6 months later, when they were removed. No differences in activity patterns, home range size, or prey capture rate were detectable between subjects wearing the different transmitters. These results suggest that the heavier radio collars used in this study did not have any appreciable effects on the behavioral patterns of this primate. Am. J. Primatol. 46:145–155, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Costs and Benefits of Radio-collaring on the Behavior, Demography, and Conservation of Owl Monkeys (Aotus azarai) in Formosa, Argentina

“…However, the 5% rule ignores the fact that tolerance to a weight does not correlate linearly with body mass. Gursky (1998) evaluated the possible effects of radio-collars on tarsiers and did not find any significant differences for collars weighing between 3.1% and 7.6% of body mass. It is also necessary to evaluate carefully how tight the collar is fitted.…”

“…Attempts to capture and collar primates in the 1980s and 1990s (Bearder and Martin 1980;Brett et al 1982;Campbell and Sussman 1994;Charles-Dominique 1977;de Ruiter 1992;Dietz et al 1994;Fedigan et al 1988;Glander et al 1991;Gursky 1998;Jones and Bush 1988;Karesh et al 1998;Müller and Schildger 1994;Savage et al 1993) have been followed by an increase in the use of these procedures during the last decade (Honess and Macdonald 2003;Müller 1999), including the incorporation of new technologies like satellite tracking and biotelemetry (Markham and Altmann 2008). In most instances, the primary reason for radio-collaring primates has been the need to locate and follow elusive individuals; but there are many other reasons that have not been thoroughly considered.…”

Pathologic and Hematologic Responses to Surgically Implanted Transmitters in Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus Catenatus Catenatus)

“…However, it is possible to find and observe these secretive reptiles at virtually any time with the use of radiotelemetry (Karesh, 1999). The principal assumption made in any telemetry study is that the transmitter has no significant effect on the study animal (Gursky, 1998;Millspaugh and Marzluff, 2001). Some studies in other taxa suggest that carrying a transmitter may indeed have adverse effects, including energy costs (Pennycuick et al, 1990;Gessamen et al, 1991;Godfrey et al, 2003), increased stress (Creel et al, 1997;Suedkamp Wells et al, 2003), impaired mobility (Olsen et al, 1992;Putaala et al, 1997), changes in behavior, nutrition, and reproductive success (Livezey, 1990;Hubbard et al, 1998;Reed et al, 2005), and even mortality (Burger et al, 1991).…”

Telemetry System for Assessing Jaw-Muscle Function in Free-ranging Primates

“…Considering that females carry their infants for ≤4-5 mo, at which time they can weigh 600-850 g (Glander et al 1991), or ≤18% of their body mass, the added weight of the telemetry unit is negligible. Gursky (1998) provided empirical evidence showing that tarsiers can carry radiocollars weighing as much as 7.6% of their body mass with no apparent negative effects on their behavior. Thus, the added mass of the telemetry system we used probably would be negligible for primates weighing ≤1150 g and likely interfere little with their behavior or physiology.…”