Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans

ABSTRACT Radiotelemetry provides fine‐scale temporal and spatial information about an individual's movements and habitat use; however, its use for monitoring amphibians has been restricted by transmitter mass and lack of suitable attachment techniques. We describe a novel waistband for attachin...

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Main Authors: Luke A. Groff, Amber L. Pitt, Robert F. Baldwin, Aram J. K. Calhoun, Cynthia S. Loftin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-09-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.554
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author Luke A. Groff
Amber L. Pitt
Robert F. Baldwin
Aram J. K. Calhoun
Cynthia S. Loftin
author_facet Luke A. Groff
Amber L. Pitt
Robert F. Baldwin
Aram J. K. Calhoun
Cynthia S. Loftin
author_sort Luke A. Groff
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Radiotelemetry provides fine‐scale temporal and spatial information about an individual's movements and habitat use; however, its use for monitoring amphibians has been restricted by transmitter mass and lack of suitable attachment techniques. We describe a novel waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans and evaluate the percentages of resulting abrasions, lacerations, and shed transmitters. We used radiotelemetry to monitor movements and habitat use of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in 2006 and 2011–2013 in Maine, USA; American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) in 2012 in North Carolina, USA; and, wood frogs, southern leopard frogs (L. sphenocephalus), and green frogs (L. clamitans) in 2012 in South Carolina, USA. We monitored 172 anurans for 1–365 days (56.4 ± 59.4) in a single year and 1–691 days (60.5 ± 94.1) across years. Our waistband resulted in an injury percentage comparable to 7 alternative anuran waistband attachment techniques; however, 12.5% fewer anurans shed their waistband when attached with our technique. Waistband retention facilitates longer monitoring periods and, thus, provides a greater quantity of data per radiotagged individual. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
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issn 2328-5540
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spelling doaj-art-2de99f8197794b30b5eb6bbf1c431a2c2024-12-13T10:00:42ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402015-09-0139361061510.1002/wsb.554Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anuransLuke A. Groff0Amber L. Pitt1Robert F. Baldwin2Aram J. K. Calhoun3Cynthia S. Loftin4Department of WildlifeFisheries, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MaineOronoME04469USADepartment of Biological and Allied Health SciencesBloomsburg UniversityBloomsburgPA17815USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental ConservationClemson UniversityClemsonSC29634USADepartment of WildlifeFisheries, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MaineOronoME04469USAUnited States Geological SurveyMaine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitOronoME04469USAABSTRACT Radiotelemetry provides fine‐scale temporal and spatial information about an individual's movements and habitat use; however, its use for monitoring amphibians has been restricted by transmitter mass and lack of suitable attachment techniques. We describe a novel waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans and evaluate the percentages of resulting abrasions, lacerations, and shed transmitters. We used radiotelemetry to monitor movements and habitat use of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in 2006 and 2011–2013 in Maine, USA; American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) in 2012 in North Carolina, USA; and, wood frogs, southern leopard frogs (L. sphenocephalus), and green frogs (L. clamitans) in 2012 in South Carolina, USA. We monitored 172 anurans for 1–365 days (56.4 ± 59.4) in a single year and 1–691 days (60.5 ± 94.1) across years. Our waistband resulted in an injury percentage comparable to 7 alternative anuran waistband attachment techniques; however, 12.5% fewer anurans shed their waistband when attached with our technique. Waistband retention facilitates longer monitoring periods and, thus, provides a greater quantity of data per radiotagged individual. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.554amphibianbeltfrogtagtelemetrytoad
spellingShingle Luke A. Groff
Amber L. Pitt
Robert F. Baldwin
Aram J. K. Calhoun
Cynthia S. Loftin
Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
Wildlife Society Bulletin
amphibian
belt
frog
tag
telemetry
toad
title Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
title_full Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
title_fullStr Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
title_short Evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
title_sort evaluation of a waistband for attaching external radiotransmitters to anurans
topic amphibian
belt
frog
tag
telemetry
toad
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.554
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AT amberlpitt evaluationofawaistbandforattachingexternalradiotransmitterstoanurans
AT robertfbaldwin evaluationofawaistbandforattachingexternalradiotransmitterstoanurans
AT aramjkcalhoun evaluationofawaistbandforattachingexternalradiotransmitterstoanurans
AT cynthiasloftin evaluationofawaistbandforattachingexternalradiotransmitterstoanurans