Implantation of Subcutaneous Radio Transmitters in the Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

Authors

Michelle Lander, Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands
Martin Haulena, Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands
Frances Gulland, Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands
James Harvey, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California

Date of this Version

1-2005

Comments

Published in MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 21(1): 154-161 (January 2005).

Abstract

Radio telemetry has become a standard tool for studying the behavior, physiology, life history traits, and population dynamics of marine mammals. Radio transmitters typically are attached to the hind flippers of pinnipeds or glued to the fur using marine epoxy or other cyanocrylare adhesives (Fedak et al. 1983, Bengtson 1993, Jeffries et al. 1993). Longterm data acquisition is difficult, however, because radio-flipper transmitters commonly tear from the webbing of the flipper and instruments that are glued to the fur are shed during the seasonal molt.