Nesting Effort by Wild Mallards with 3 Types of Radio Transmitters

Rotella, Jay J.; Howerter, David W.; Sankowski, Tomasz P.; Devries, James H.

doi:10.2307/3809067

Cited by 87 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This is ascribed to a higher cost of migration, which is also suggested by models from Pennycuick et al [32]. Also, we found a 2-3-day delay in laying date for barnacle geese with harness attachments, which is minor in comparison with earlier studies on mallards Anas platyrhynchos with harness attachments, which were delayed between 8 and 14 days [33,35]. We did not find effects on clutch size or on nest success, while these aspects of reproduction are susceptible to negative effects of harnesses attachment [16,33,35].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

“…While we find a delay in timing of reproduction and possibly timing of migration for birds with harness-attached transmitters, the delay is only minor, and other aspects of migration or reproduction are not affected. In contrast with earlier studies, which have shown strong negative effects on migration timing and reproduction for birds equipped with tracking devices [20,33,35], we find that tracking devices are reliable tools to study timing of migration and reproduction, and the modified harness which we have developed appears to be a reliable method to attach tracking devices on geese. Given our different results for different sexes, we stress that researchers make a careful consideration which birds they equip with tracking devices.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 48%

“…Also, we found a 2-3-day delay in laying date for barnacle geese with harness attachments, which is minor in comparison with earlier studies on mallards Anas platyrhynchos with harness attachments, which were delayed between 8 and 14 days [33,35]. We did not find effects on clutch size or on nest success, while these aspects of reproduction are susceptible to negative effects of harnesses attachment [16,33,35]. Although we were not able to measure differences in body stores of birds on arrival, any potential differences had disappeared after the nesting period, because we did not find a difference in body mass of female barnacle geese with harness attachment and females in control groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 39%

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Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl

et al. 2018

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Background: Tracking devices have enabled researchers to study unique aspects of behavior in birds. However, it has become clear that attaching these devices to birds often affects their survival and behavior. While most studies only focus on negative effects on return rates, tracking devices can also affect the behavior under study, and it is therefore important to measure potential negative effects of tracking device attachment on the full range of behavioral aspects of birds. At the same time, we should aim to improve our current attachment methods to reduce these effects. Results:We used a modified harness to attach tracking devices to a total of 111 individuals of three goose species (Greater White-fronted Geese, Brent Geese, and Barnacle Geese) to study their migratory behavior. By creating control groups of birds marked with colored leg bands, geolocators, and/or neck collars, we were able to compare return rates, body condition, and migratory and reproductive behavior, thus allowing a much broader comparison than return rates alone. Birds with harness-attached tracking devices had lower return rates, which could partly be explained by increased rates of divorce, but is likely also the result of reduced survival induced by the harness and device. A comparison between Barnacle Geese equipped with harness-attached tracking devices and individuals fitted with geolocators attached to leg bands showed that birds equipped with tracking devices were only slightly delayed in timing of migration and reproduction and otherwise were not affected in reproductive output. Conclusions:We argue that tracking devices can be used for studies on migration timing. Nevertheless, given the effect of tracking devices on survival and divorce rate, which may differ between sexes and species, we stress that researchers should carefully consider which birds to tag in order to reduce potential negative effects.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 48%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 39%

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Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl

et al. 2018

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“…[12]). An important drawback of this attachment method is the high loss of subcutaneously attached transmitters, as was found in studies on Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (31 out of 49 transmitters lost, [73]), Northern Pintail Anas acuta (37 out of 82 lost, [26]) and Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata (20 out of 42 lost, Zimmer [88]). Neck collars with inscriptions are a common method to mark waterfowl, especially longer-necked species, for easy recognition in the field (e.g.…”

Section: Waterfowl Tracking: a Brief Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pietz et al [65] suggest that the significantly later onset of breeding and smaller clutches in radio-tagged Mallards compared to ringed individuals may have been related to the energetic consequences of a shifted time budget, with less feeding and more preening and maintenance behaviour due to the radio-tag. Accordingly, Rotella et al [73] report that Mallards with harness transmitters nested 2 weeks later than birds with sutured-and-glued or implanted transmitters, although both groups could have been affected by the transmitter attachment. Barnacle Geese with GPS-loggers bred some days later than a control group carrying lightweight geolocators (Lamsiers et al unpublished data).…”

Section: Harness-attached Backpackmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction in adverse effects of tracking devices on waterfowl requires better measuring and reporting

Lameris

Kleyheeg

2017

Anim Biotelemetry

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Since the first studies in the mid-twentieth century, lightweight electronic tracking devices have been increasingly used to study waterfowl movements. With half a century of experience and growing sample sizes, it has become clear that the attachment of a tracking device can affect a bird's behaviour and fitness. This becomes problematic when it introduces uncertainty about whether the recorded data represent natural behaviour. Waterfowl may be particularly prone to tag effects, since many species are migratory and tracking devices can disrupt their waterproof plumage. The primary aim of this paper is to identify how tracking devices may affect waterfowl survival, migration and reproduction, and how better measuring and reporting of such effects can improve our understanding of the risks, providing a first step towards reducing their impact in future studies. We reviewed literature on electronic tracking of waterfowl to create an overview of currently recognized effects of harness-attached backpacks, implants, subcutaneous attachments and neck collars. Additionally, we analysed developments in the use of attachment methods, the weight of tracking devices relative to bird body mass, and the reporting rate of effects of tracking devices in 202 original tracking studies. We found that although the number of waterfowl tracking studies described in peer-reviewed literature has steeply increased over the past decades, reporting rates of potential effects have decreased from 65.0 to 26.5%. Meanwhile, the mean weight of the tracking devices relative to the bird's body mass remained stable around 2.0%. Major negative effects were reported in 17% of all studies and were found for all attachment methods. Overall, large differences exist in the occurrence and type of negative effects between species and studies, even if the same tracking methods were used. Inconsistent reporting of effects, lack of control groups to measure effects and incomplete descriptions of the methodology hamper the identification of factors contributing to these effects. To accomplish a reduction in adverse effects of tracking, it is necessary to improve the measuring and reporting of effects. We propose a framework for standardized reporting of methods in primary tracking studies and standardized protocols to measure effects of tracking devices on waterfowl.

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Backpack satellite transmitters reduce survival but not nesting propensity or success of greater sage‐grouse

Stevens,

Conway,

Tisdale

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Telemetry technology is ubiquitous for studying the behavior and demography of wildlife, including the use of traditional very high frequency (VHF) radio telemetry and more recent methods that record animal locations using global positioning systems (GPS). Satellite‐based GPS telemetry allows researchers to collect high spatial–temporal resolution data remotely but may also come with additional costs. For example, recent studies from the southern Great Basin suggested GPS transmitters attached via backpacks may reduce the survival of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) relative to VHF transmitters attached via collars that have been in use for decades. While some evidence suggests GPS backpacks reduce survival, no studies have examined the effects of GPS backpacks on breeding behavior and success. Therefore, we compared survival, breeding behavior, and nest success of sage‐grouse hens marked with both VHF collars and GPS backpack transmitter over a 7‐year period in central Idaho, USA. GPS backpacks reduced spring–summer survival of sage‐grouse hens relative to hens with VHF collars, where daily mortality probability was 68%–82% higher from March 1 to August 1. Yet satellite GPS backpacks did not consistently affect nest success or the likelihood or timing of nest initiation relative to VHF collars. Daily nest survival varied annually and with timing of nest initiation and nest age, but marginal effects of transmitter type were statistically insignificant and interactions between transmitter type and study year produced no meaningful patterns. Our results corroborate recent studies for the effect of satellite GPS backpacks on sage‐grouse survival, but also suggest that these transmitters do not appear to affect components of fecundity. Our results therefore add important context to recent debate surrounding the effects of GPS backpacks on sage‐grouse, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of different transmitter types for understanding behavior and population dynamics.

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Nesting Effort by Wild Mallards with 3 Types of Radio Transmitters

Cited by 87 publications

References 21 publications

Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl

Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl

Reduction in adverse effects of tracking devices on waterfowl requires better measuring and reporting

Backpack satellite transmitters reduce survival but not nesting propensity or success of greater sage‐grouse

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