Tagging data

Monitoring projects involving deploying a variety of tag types on marine species are a common part of the Navy's marine species monitoring program to address questions such as habitat use, diving and feeding ecology, and behavioral response.  Some of the these tags such as the SPOT and SPLASH (Wildlife Computers), and SRDL (Sea Mammal Research Unit) allow animal movements to be monitored remotely over weeks to months using GPS and/or ARGOS technologies linked through satellites or even GSM cellular phone networks.  In addition, some types of tags are able to log, store, and transmit additional data such as dive depth and water temperature.  Other tags like the DTAG, CATS tag, and Acousonde record fine-scale movements and sounds (and even HD video in the case of CATS tags) from the animal as well as other sounds from various sources in the area. These tags store the data onboard and must be retrieved in order to download and analyze the data and are typically attached with suction cups for less than 24 hours, although newer tags such as SMRT are attached with darts and can collect data for days to weeks. Each of these tag types has particular benefits and are used for addressing specific objectives. More information on current tagging projects and links to online tracking data can be accessed below when available.