Acoustic Telemetry
Acoustic Telemetry for Animal Movement Tracking · Also known as: acoustic tracking, telemetry monitoring, underwater tracking
Acoustic telemetry is a remote tracking method in which small electronic transmitters attached to or implanted in animals emit unique acoustic signals detectable by underwater or terrestrial receiver networks, enabling real-time monitoring of animal movements, positions, and behavior over extended distances and times. Pioneered in fisheries research in the 1960s, acoustic telemetry is now standard for studying movement ecology, migration timing, and habitat use in aquatic and increasingly terrestrial systems.
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When to use it
Acoustic telemetry is applied to study migration patterns, area fidelity, habitat preferences, and movement responses to environmental change or disturbance in aquatic animals (fish, aquatic mammals, turtles) and increasingly in terrestrial species (birds, small mammals in suitable receiver deployment contexts). It is valuable for long-term population monitoring, assessing environmental impacts on movement, and understanding fine-scale habitat use in complex environments.
Strengths & limitations
- Works in complete darkness and turbid water; functions underwater, in dense forests, or other visually opaque environments
- Enables long-term tracking (months to years) with minimal animal handling after transmitter deployment
- Provides continuous high-resolution movement data enabling detailed path reconstruction and time-series analysis
- Flexible receiver networks: can expand coverage by adding receivers or can use mobile receivers for targeted tracking
- Simultaneous tracking of many animals; a single receiver network can monitor hundreds of tagged individuals
- Requires animal capture for tagging; some species cannot be safely tagged without causing injury or reducing survival
- High equipment cost: transmitters ($500-5000+), receivers ($5000-20000+), and infrastructure (mooring, cables) are expensive
- Limited spatial resolution: triangulation accuracy depends on receiver density and geometry; sparse arrays yield coarse positions
- Environmental noise and multipath propagation (in water with reflective surfaces) degrade signal reception and position estimates
- Battery-powered transmitters have limited lifespans (weeks to 2+ years depending on size and power); transmitter battery failure ends tracking
Frequently asked
How accurate are acoustic telemetry positions?
Accuracy depends on receiver density and geometry. With high-density receiver arrays (close spacing), position estimates can be within 1-10 meters. With sparse arrays, accuracy may be 50-100+ meters. Environmental factors (multipath reflection, suspended particles) degrade accuracy. Researchers must validate accuracy in their specific system before drawing conclusions.
Do transmitters harm the tagged animal?
Implanted transmitters can affect metabolism and swimming behavior in small fish, though larger animals (>30 cm) typically show minimal impacts if transmitter size is <2% of body weight. External tags pose predation risk from increased visibility or drag. Surgeon-implanted tags can cause temporary stress and infection risk. Careful surgical technique and post-operative monitoring minimize harm.
How long do acoustic transmitters last?
Transmitter battery life depends on size, signal strength, and transmission frequency. Small transmitters (< 8 mm) may last 2-8 weeks; larger ones last 6-24+ months. Researchers must balance study duration needs against transmitter cost and tag burden on the animal.
Can one receiver network track animals from multiple studies?
Yes. Large-scale collaborative receiver networks (e.g., IMBR, OTN) are shared among researchers, with hundreds of animals from different studies simultaneously tracked. This provides economies of scale and enables cross-study analyses, though data sharing agreements and protocols must be established.
Sources
- Eiler, J. H. (2013). Acoustic telemetry. In C. R. Cooke & D. W. Philipp (Eds.), Telemetry Techniques and Technology (pp. 1-45). Springer. link ↗
- Jepsen, N., Schreck, C., Clements, S., & Thorstad, E. B. (2005). Fish telemetry: tools and techniques. In D. B. Carlson & C. J. Bronte (Eds.), Fish Telemetry (pp. 3-28). American Fisheries Society. link ↗
- Thorstad, E. B., Rikardsen, A. H., Alp, A., & Davidsen, J. G. (2013). The use of fish and other animal acoustic telemetry in European rivers: current status and future prospects. In A. R. Rikardsen & B. B. Dempson (Eds.), Atlantic Salmon Ecology (pp. 235-258). Wiley-Blackwell. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Acoustic Telemetry for Animal Movement Tracking. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/veterinary-science/acoustic-telemetry
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
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