New steps in bio-logging science

• Main Author: Yasuhiko Naito
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2004
• Subjects: Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; National Institute of Polar Research; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=2479; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00002479/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=2479&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Among a variety of remote observation systems for the study of marine creatures, data loggers emerged in the 1990's, following mechanical depth recorders (TDRs). Digital data loggers have played a critical role in studies on marine animal behaviour, ecology and physiology. Today, this field is called bio-logging science. Digitalization has allowed further miniaturization of logger systems, which is particularly important to this science so that the effect of device attachment to animals is minimized. At the same time digital techniques have enabled us to develop multi-sensor loggers, which has enhanced integration of information on many aspects of marine animal lives. Using advanced systems we are now able to determine when feeding occurs during dives, elucidate stroking patterns, 3-dimensional dive paths and even prey distribution along the dive path. This article traces the history of development of both mechanical and digital loggers developed at and used by the researchers of the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan.