Abstract. The design and utilization ofa small (16 g in
air, 6 g in water) ultrasonic transmitter for animal track
ing and bio-telemetry of muscle activity are described.
To our knowledge this is the first use of such devices to
telemetera specific behavior(ingestion) from a free-rang
ing marine predator. The transmitter produces regularly
recurring short tracking pulses, and bong pulses triggered
by the action potentials ofa muscle. Pulses are transmit
ted through conductive estuarine water by a piezoelectric
ring transducer at a frequency of about 75 KHz. The
preparation of a subject animal, insertion of electrodes,
and attachment of the transmitter are described for the
telemetry of mandibular muscle contraction in the blue
crab. The transmitter provides a signal that corresponds
unequivocally with feeding activity and allows enumera
tion of bites required to consume a food item. Number
of bites, and feeding time, are both positively correlated
with the size of the prey specimen. As a test of the tech
nique's feasibility, a blue crab was equipped with one of
the transmitters and released in a subestuary of Chesa
peake Bay. The crab was tracked continuously for 96
hours while every contraction ofthe mandibular muscle
was recorded. The crab traveled 4000 m along the subes
tuary at an average speed of 12 rn/h, but showed periods
of rapid movement of up to 325 m/h. The crab fed 2—7
times per day, with a feeding bout comprising 15—2750
bites. The limited data did not indicate that either move
ment or feeding exhibit a die! or tidal cycle.
Abstract. The design and utilization ofa small (16 g in
air, 6 g in water) ultrasonic transmitter for animal track
ing and bio-telemetry of muscle activity are described.
To our knowledge this is the first use of such devices to
telemetera specific behavior(ingestion) from a free-rang
ing marine predator. The transmitter produces regularly
recurring short tracking pulses, and bong pulses triggered
by the action potentials ofa muscle. Pulses are transmit
ted through conductive estuarine water by a piezoelectric
ring transducer at a frequency of about 75 KHz. The
preparation of a subject animal, insertion of electrodes,
and attachment of the transmitter are described for the
telemetry of mandibular muscle contraction in the blue
crab. The transmitter provides a signal that corresponds
unequivocally with feeding activity and allows enumera
tion of bites required to consume a food item. Number
of bites, and feeding time, are both positively correlated
with the size of the prey specimen. As a test of the tech
nique's feasibility, a blue crab was equipped with one of
the transmitters and released in a subestuary of Chesa
peake Bay. The crab was tracked continuously for 96
hours while every contraction ofthe mandibular muscle
was recorded. The crab traveled 4000 m along the subes
tuary at an average speed of 12 rn/h, but showed periods
of rapid movement of up to 325 m/h. The crab fed 2—7
times per day, with a feeding bout comprising 15—2750
bites. The limited data did not indicate that either move
ment or feeding exhibit a die! or tidal cycle.
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