Sea Turtle Tagging & Tracking
Flipper Tagging
This form of tagging has been used by researchers since 1955
Placed on the anterior or posterior flippers
Most common form of tagging
PIT - Passive Integrated Transponder
A capsule the size of a rice grain is inserted with a needle under the skin, usually in a flipper or shoulder area
It is a tiny radio that emits ID-coded signals to a scanner (we scan our nesters for these!)
We use these for most of our patients (we do not use this form of tagging for post hatchlings or smaller patients) and all night-time tagging efforts during nesting season
Satellite Tagging
Wildlife Computers/SPOT Tags (Smart Position & Temperature Tag): Send information about the position, temperature, motion, and/or dive patterns to orbiting satellites in real time
These are very expensive but have the most variety in shape and size making it much easier to tag our turtles. These tags also offer the most flexibility regarding customizable data, ensuring our research team gets what they want from the tag
Acoustic Tagging
Acoustic tags are a passive tracking method
Receivers are anchored to the sea floor, and as animals with tags swim by, the receiver captures the location of the animal
Data from the receivers is downloaded on a scheduled basis (around every three months for our team) - the information is stored on the receiver, and results in bulk upload data