Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters
Abstract Background The lack of compatibility between acoustic telemetry equipment from different manufacturers has been a major obstacle to consolidating large collaborative tracking networks. Undisclosed encrypted signal coding protocols limit the use of acoustic telemetry to study animal movement...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Animal Biotelemetry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00396-9 |
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| author | Eneko Aspillaga Stijn Bruneel Josep Alós Pieterjan Verhelst David Abecasis Kim Aarestrup Kim Birnie-Gauvin Pedro Afonso Miquel Palmer Jan Reubens |
| author_facet | Eneko Aspillaga Stijn Bruneel Josep Alós Pieterjan Verhelst David Abecasis Kim Aarestrup Kim Birnie-Gauvin Pedro Afonso Miquel Palmer Jan Reubens |
| author_sort | Eneko Aspillaga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The lack of compatibility between acoustic telemetry equipment from different manufacturers has been a major obstacle to consolidating large collaborative tracking networks. Undisclosed encrypted signal coding protocols limit the use of acoustic telemetry to study animal movements over large spatial scales, reduce competition between manufacturers, and stifle innovation. The European Tracking Network, in collaboration with several acoustic telemetry manufacturers, has worked to develop new transparent protocols for acoustic tracking. The results are energy-efficient transmission protocols accessible to all researchers and manufacturers. Today, the Open Protocols (OP) are already available to manufacturers and developers, and the first transmitters and receivers to implement them are already in the water. Results The main objective of this study was to confirm the compatibility between devices from different manufacturers using OP, characterise the acoustic range of each transmitter–receiver manufacturer combination, compare the detection efficiency to the standard protocols used at present (R64K and encrypted protocols), and assess its robustness against spurious detections. An international collaborative effort was made to conduct acoustic range tests in four main aquatic habitats: a river, a coastal lagoon, a coastal habitat, and the open sea. Receivers and transmitters from different manufacturers were deployed at increasing distances from each other using the same experimental design at each location. The decay of detection probability with distance was modelled for each transmitter–receiver manufacturer combination by applying logistic regression using a Bayesian approach. Furthermore, to thoroughly assess performance differences in an applied research context, we conducted a direct field comparison between groups of smolts tagged with OP and R64K tags, tracking their migration to the sea. Conclusions Our results confirm full compatibility between the tested devices, with negligible differences in the measured acoustic ranges between OP manufacturers and when compared to encrypted protocols. The OP was also robust against spurious detections, and the field comparison between OP and R64K showed equal performance. We hope these novel insights will encourage international research groups to promote OP-based studies to ensure compatibility and maximise the benefits of acoustic telemetry networks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1a62f7064fc24330b16fe9a7c3254f6e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-3385 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Biotelemetry |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a62f7064fc24330b16fe9a7c3254f6e2024-12-29T12:14:04ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852024-12-0112111710.1186/s40317-024-00396-9Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European watersEneko Aspillaga0Stijn Bruneel1Josep Alós2Pieterjan Verhelst3David Abecasis4Kim Aarestrup5Kim Birnie-Gauvin6Pedro Afonso7Miquel Palmer8Jan Reubens9Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB)Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent UniversityInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB)Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do AlgarveSection for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of DenmarkSection for Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of DenmarkInstitute of Marine Sciences-Okeanos, University of the AzoresInstitut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB)Flanders Marine InstituteAbstract Background The lack of compatibility between acoustic telemetry equipment from different manufacturers has been a major obstacle to consolidating large collaborative tracking networks. Undisclosed encrypted signal coding protocols limit the use of acoustic telemetry to study animal movements over large spatial scales, reduce competition between manufacturers, and stifle innovation. The European Tracking Network, in collaboration with several acoustic telemetry manufacturers, has worked to develop new transparent protocols for acoustic tracking. The results are energy-efficient transmission protocols accessible to all researchers and manufacturers. Today, the Open Protocols (OP) are already available to manufacturers and developers, and the first transmitters and receivers to implement them are already in the water. Results The main objective of this study was to confirm the compatibility between devices from different manufacturers using OP, characterise the acoustic range of each transmitter–receiver manufacturer combination, compare the detection efficiency to the standard protocols used at present (R64K and encrypted protocols), and assess its robustness against spurious detections. An international collaborative effort was made to conduct acoustic range tests in four main aquatic habitats: a river, a coastal lagoon, a coastal habitat, and the open sea. Receivers and transmitters from different manufacturers were deployed at increasing distances from each other using the same experimental design at each location. The decay of detection probability with distance was modelled for each transmitter–receiver manufacturer combination by applying logistic regression using a Bayesian approach. Furthermore, to thoroughly assess performance differences in an applied research context, we conducted a direct field comparison between groups of smolts tagged with OP and R64K tags, tracking their migration to the sea. Conclusions Our results confirm full compatibility between the tested devices, with negligible differences in the measured acoustic ranges between OP manufacturers and when compared to encrypted protocols. The OP was also robust against spurious detections, and the field comparison between OP and R64K showed equal performance. We hope these novel insights will encourage international research groups to promote OP-based studies to ensure compatibility and maximise the benefits of acoustic telemetry networks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00396-9Acoustic rangeAcoustic telemetryBio-logging, coding systemsCompatibilityEuropean tracking network |
| spellingShingle | Eneko Aspillaga Stijn Bruneel Josep Alós Pieterjan Verhelst David Abecasis Kim Aarestrup Kim Birnie-Gauvin Pedro Afonso Miquel Palmer Jan Reubens Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters Animal Biotelemetry Acoustic range Acoustic telemetry Bio-logging, coding systems Compatibility European tracking network |
| title | Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters |
| title_full | Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters |
| title_fullStr | Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters |
| title_short | Open Protocols, the new standard for acoustic tracking: results from interoperability and performance tests in European waters |
| title_sort | open protocols the new standard for acoustic tracking results from interoperability and performance tests in european waters |
| topic | Acoustic range Acoustic telemetry Bio-logging, coding systems Compatibility European tracking network |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00396-9 |
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