Automatic real-time GPS tracking of tagged cetaceans to conduct controlled exposure experimental protocols at sea
Patrick Miller·Philippe de Saint Léger·Cecile van der Stappen·Colin Hunter·Filipa Samarra·Sander van IJsselmuide·Douglas Gillespie·Petter H. Kvadsheim·F-P. Lam·Lars Kleivane·Martijn van Riet·Paul J. Wensveen·Ellen Hayward·K. Alex Shorter
In addition to recording whale behaviour, animal-attached tags enable real-time tracking of a focal experimental subject—required for positioning a sound source to achieve a desired exposure design. Tracking has typically been accomplished with visual observers spotting the tagged whale, aided by radio signals from the tag, and recording its range and bearing. Here we describe an automatic system for near real-time GPS tracking of multiple tagged whales, developed to enable execution of long-dur