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millerandlevine.com : Using Remote Sensing to Study Animal Behavior Research in animal behavior includes studies of migration, social behavior, and the effect of physiology on behavior. Although these studies have been going on for years, recent technological developments have opened new worlds of research possibilities. Miniaturized electronic devices are particularly important, as is satellite tracking technology. Sometimes, a study using these sophisticated gadgets is as "simple" as trying to figure out how animals move around during daily activities. Other times, researchers want to pinpoint more precisely the routes animals take on long-range migrations. Still other studies attempt to correlate changes in physiology – such as heart rate, blood pressure, or breathing rate – with particular behaviors. And sometimes researchers want to study social behavior without disturbing subjects with obvious human presence. The following links introduce you to a few of the fascinating studies being undertaken with various kinds of remote sensing technology. Use the pull-down menu at the right to jump to any of the "Issues" or "Technology & Society" Features in the Dragonfly Book: Feature Conflicts of Interest Ecology from Space Protecting Wolves Creatine & Sports Stem Cells GM Foods Privacy of Your DNA Antibiotics in Feed Finding New Species Protecting Water Smallpox Vaccination Designing Flowers Herbal Drugs? Sunscreen from Sea Zebra Mussels? Keeping Marine Mammals Remote Sensing of Behavior Artificial Skin AIDS Epidemic

. Click for a full size copy of page 877 of the Dragonfly Book, where this work is discussed. . E-mail from Eagles? Click on the Photo to find out more.xx

Web Resources on This Topic: Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology at Texas A&M University, Galveston This excellent site, maintained by the Department of Marine Biology, describes how remote sensing technology (also called biotelemetry) is used to study the biology of wide-ranging endangered or threatened species, and species whose habits make them difficult to study. Don’t let scientific jargon in the titles of some links scare you off. Explore this site and see the fascinating work they are doing. Operation Crane Watch (United States Geological Survey) This great site focuses on studies of sandhill cranes that range across the central US and winter from Texas and eastern New Mexico south to central Mexico. The research is attempting to describe their migration patterns, and to determine where these birds breed in Canada, Alaska, and northeastern Siberia. The Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group: Migration Studies (Long Marine Lab, University of California, Santa Cruz) A fascinating site, focused on studies of migration and foraging habits of Bald Eagles and other predatory birds, with an eye towards conserving habitats essential to safeguard these magnificent animals. Porcupine Caribou Herd Satellite Tracking Project This site is operated by a consortium of wildlife agencies using satellite tracking to study seasonal range use and migration patterns of the Porcupine Caribou herd in northern Yukon, Alaska and NWT. Whale Net (Wheelock College, Boston) This attractive, user-friendly site for teachers and students focuses largely on whale research, including tracking of individuals through vast stretches of ocean. Check it out! H.A.B.I.T. Research: wildlife tracking and telemetry equipment This site is operated by a company that produces several kinds of instruments used in biotelemetry studies. Check out the link labeled "Photo Album" for an idea of how their devices are used in a variety of research projects. (Note: this commercial site is included for informational purposes only; its inclusion does not indicate endorsement of this company, its approach, or its products.) Mini Mitter: Physiological and Behavioral monitoring for Animals and Humans This site is included to emphasize that many areas of biological research, along with technologies they use, are interconnected. Some of the same sorts of devices used in studies of free-ranging animals are also used to gather medically important information from human patients who (because of their own behavioral preferences) prefer to be monitored without being tied to a bed by hard-wired electronic gear! (Note: this commercial site is included for informational purposes only; its inclusion does not indicate endorsement of this company, its approach, or its products.) The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour The spelling of the word "behaviour" tells you that this society is based in Great Britain; its site offers some interesting windows onto the range of studies ongoing in animal behavior.

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(A web site developed by Ken Miller and Joe Levine to provide scientific and education support for teachers and students using our textbooks)