Globally coordinated acoustic aquatic animal tracking reveals unexpected, ecologically important movements across oceans, lakes and rivers

Abstract

Acoustic telemetry is a popular approach used to track many different aquatic animal taxa in marine and freshwater systems. However, information derived from focal studies is typically resource‐ and geography‐limited by the extent and placement of acoustic receivers. Even so, animals tagged and tracked in one region or study may be detected unexpectedly at distant locations by other researchers using compatible equipment, who ideally share that information. Synergies through national and global acoustic tracking networks are facilitating significant discoveries and unexpected observations that yield novel insight into the movement ecology and habitat use of wild animals. Here, we present a selection of case studies that highlight unexpected tracking observations or absence of observations where we expected to find animals in aquatic systems around the globe. These examples span freshwater and marine systems across spatiotemporal scales ranging from adjacent watersheds to distant ocean regions. These unexpected movements showcase the power of collaborative telemetry networks and serendipitous observations. Unique and unexpected observations such as those presented here can capture the imagination of both researchers and members of the public, and improve understanding of movement and connectivity within aquatic ecosystems.

People behind the “pings”; limiting authorship threatens collaboration in telemetry

“…In this case, data repatriation from tags is through receivers, which are owned by individual research projects, across sectors including government, academia, non-government organizations (NGOs), and maintained at their own, often considerable, cost. Tagged animals can be detected on receivers not owned or managed by the tag owner, and these detections often provide important insights into the movements of wide-ranging or migratory species (Lennox et al, 2024). Absence of detection of animals can also inform research questions; for example, receiver "curtains" set across the exit point of a landscape feature can help show that an animal remains in an area.…”