Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl
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 als...
Published in: | Animal Biotelemetry |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
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2018
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Online Access: | https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-3 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://pure.knaw.nl/ws/files/6805408/6528_Lameris.pdf |
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ftknawnlpublic:oai:pure.knaw.nl:publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f 2024-09-15T18:00:23+00:00 Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl Lameris, T.K. Müskens, G.J.D.M. Kölzsch, A. Dokter, A.M. van der Jeugd, H.P. Nolet, B.A. 2018 application/pdf https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-3 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://pure.knaw.nl/ws/files/6805408/6528_Lameris.pdf eng eng https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Lameris , T K , Müskens , G J D M , Kölzsch , A , Dokter , A M , van der Jeugd , H P & Nolet , B A 2018 , ' Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl ' , Animal Biotelemetry , vol. 6 , 7 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-3 national article 2018 ftknawnlpublic https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-320.500.11755/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f 2024-07-22T23:43:54Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper brent geese Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Research Portal (KNAW) Animal Biotelemetry 6 1 |
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Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Research Portal (KNAW) |
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English |
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national Lameris, T.K. Müskens, G.J.D.M. Kölzsch, A. Dokter, A.M. van der Jeugd, H.P. Nolet, B.A. Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
topic_facet |
national |
description |
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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lameris, T.K. Müskens, G.J.D.M. Kölzsch, A. Dokter, A.M. van der Jeugd, H.P. Nolet, B.A. |
author_facet |
Lameris, T.K. Müskens, G.J.D.M. Kölzsch, A. Dokter, A.M. van der Jeugd, H.P. Nolet, B.A. |
author_sort |
Lameris, T.K. |
title |
Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
title_short |
Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
title_full |
Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
title_fullStr |
Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
title_sort |
effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-3 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f https://pure.knaw.nl/ws/files/6805408/6528_Lameris.pdf |
genre |
brent geese |
genre_facet |
brent geese |
op_source |
Lameris , T K , Müskens , G J D M , Kölzsch , A , Dokter , A M , van der Jeugd , H P & Nolet , B A 2018 , ' Effects of harness-attached tracking devices on survival, migration, and reproduction in three species of migratory waterfowl ' , Animal Biotelemetry , vol. 6 , 7 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-3 |
op_relation |
https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-018-0153-320.500.11755/04a4604e-28c6-410a-81ba-93a2c185a42f |
container_title |
Animal Biotelemetry |
container_volume |
6 |
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1 |
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1810437549728989184 |