Evaluation of Implanted Radio Transmitters in Ducks

Korschgen, Carl E.; Maxson, Stephen J.; Kuechle, V. B.

doi:10.2307/3801452

Cited by 64 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…We chose intra‐abdominal transmitters (approx. 50 g; model PTT‐100 Implantable Satellite Transmitters [Microwave Telemetry, Columbia, MD]; see Mosbech et al 2006 for more details) with percutaneous antennae because harness‐mounted backpack transmitters may be unsuitable for use on diving ducks (see Korschgen et al 1984). In addition, these transmitters have been used in other studies of common (Petersen and Flint 2002), king ( S. spectabilis ; Mosbech et al 2007), spectacled ( S. fischeri ; Petersen et al 1995), and Steller's eiders ( Polysticta stelleri ; Petersen et al 2006).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of implanted satellite transmitters on behavior and survival of female common eiders

Fast

Mosbech

et al. 2011

J Wildl Manag

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Surgically implanted satellite transmitters have been widely used in studies of avian ecology, yet little is known about their potential impacts on birds. We implanted satellite transmitters with percutaneous antennae (approx. 50 g) in 17 female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) at a breeding colony in Arctic Canada. Among females implanted during incubation, 11 of 12 nests were abandoned within 1 week of being radioed. We observed no differences in the proportion of time that implanted female eiders allocated to basic behaviors. Radioed birds were more likely to pick or preen their abdominal (site of surgical incision) and posterior–dorsal (site of antenna exit) regions than unmarked females, although these behaviors were rare (approx. 0.3% of total time budget). Three of 10 females re‐observed had a pronounced limp following surgery, but we observed no walking difficulties among these females in subsequent seasons, and we observed some implanted eiders nesting in subsequent years. Mark–resighting models suggest eiders with transmitters had lower apparent survival the year after implantation (67.0%; 85% CI: 47.8–81.9%) than did color‐banded eiders (87.5%, 85% CI: 82.5–91.2%), but there was no model support for a survival difference in subsequent years. We conclude that transmitter implantation in common eiders leads to short‐term changes in behavior and a decline in first year survival. We encourage researchers to collect similar data on their study subjects where possible and use it to determine the degree to which data are representative of the greater population. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of implanted satellite transmitters on behavior and survival of female common eiders

Fast

Mosbech

et al. 2011

J Wildl Manag

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“…In an attempt to reduce the effects of external mounts, Korschgen et al (1984Korschgen et al ( , 1996 developed a technique to implant the transmitter into the abdominal cavity of waterfowl. This technique has since been used with most sea duck species (e.g., Petersen et al 1995, Phillips et al 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…because the etiology of this condition was uncertain and we could not rule out a surgical link, we included this bird in our primary tests but also performed separate analyses excluding it. SATELLITE TRANSmITTERS birds were implanted when they were 29 months old with either a PTT 100 (microwave Telemetry, Columbia, mD) or a 5130 PTT (hAbIT Research, Victoria, british Columbia, Canada) by procedures similar to those of Korschgen et al (1984Korschgen et al ( , 1996. The transmitters were approximately 38-47 g, 70 × 35 × 15 mm, and 22.5 mL in volume with an antenna 200 mm long and 1.7 mm in diameter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abdominally Implanted Transmitters with Percutaneous Antennas Affect the Dive Performance of Common Eiders

Latty¹,

Hollmén²,

Petersen³

et al. 2010

Condor

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Resumen. Los transmisores implantados se han tornado una herramienta importante para el estudio de la ecología de aves marinas, sin embargo sus efectos permanecen escasamente documentados. Con el fin de abordar este problema, determinamos como los transmisores implantados en la región abdominal con antenas percutáneas afectan la velocidad de buceo vertical, la frecuencia de impulsos de nado, el tiempo de permanencia en el fondo y la duración del buceo en individuos de Somateria mollissima en cautiverio. Antes de la cirugía, grabamos videos de seis aves que se encontraban buceando a 4.9 m para establecer una línea base. Luego, implantamos en las aves los transmisores que pesaron de 38 a 47 g, y grabamos el buceo por 3.5 meses posteriores a la cirugía para determinar sus efectos. Las velocidades de descenso fueron un 16 a 25 % más lentas y las velocidades de ascensión fueron un 17 a 44% más lentas después de la cirugía, y ambas permanecieron por debajo de la línea base hasta el final del estudio. Los buceos fueron más largos hasta el día 22. En la mayoría de los días, de 15 a 107 días después de la cirugía, la frecuencia de los impulsos con las patas de las aves que se encontraban forrajeando en el fondo fue menor. Las frecuencias de los impulsos de nado con las patas y las alas durante los descensos y el tiempo de permanencia en el fondo no cambiaron con el tiempo. Si las aves que dependen de invertebrados bentónicos para subsistir bucean a una velocidad más lenta y permanecen inmersas por más tiempo después de ser implantadas con un transmisor satelital, entonces sus energéticas de forrajeo podrían verse afectadas. Las investigaciones con transmisores implantados con antenas percutáneas deberían considerar estos efectos y la posibilidad de alteraciones concomitantes en el comportamiento de buceo, el éxito de forrajeo y el comportamiento migratorio. AbDOmINALLy ImPLANTED TRANSmITTERS wITh PERCUTANEOUS ANTENNAS AffECT ThE DIVE PERfORmANCE Of COmmON EIDERSTransmisores Implantados en el Abdomen con Antenas Percutáneas Afectan el Desempeño de buceo en Somateria mollissima Abstract. Implanted transmitters have become an important tool for studying the ecology of sea ducks, but their effects remain largely undocumented. To address this, we assessed how abdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the vertical dive speeds, stroke frequencies, bottom time, and dive duration of captive Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima). To establish baselines, we recorded video of six birds diving 4.9 m prior to surgery, implanted them with 38-to 47-g platform transmitter terminals, and then recorded their diving for 3.5 months after surgery to determine effects. Descent speeds were 16-25% slower and ascent speeds were 17-44% slower after surgery, and both remained below baseline at the end of the study. Dive durations were longer than baseline until day 22. On most days between 15 and 107 days after surgery, foot-stroke frequencies of birds foraging on the bottom were slower. foot-and wing-stroke frequencies dur...

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“…51(3):605-606 Implantation of transmitters for biotelemetry is a relatively new advancement in the study of wild, free-ranging animals (Smith and Whitney 1977). Implantable transmitters circumvent attachment problems associated with collars or harnesses on animals with streamlined body form or aquatic habits Hornocker 1979, Davis 1984) and prevent behavioral modification due to the presence of an external radio pack (Korschgen et al 1984). Despite the effects of anesthesia and surgery and the stress of handling and recovery, little information has been reported on the potential pathological effects of transmitter implants (Guynn et al 1986).…”

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confidence: 96%