Tagging aquatic animals can disrupt natural behaviour

摘要

American and Canadian researchers have for the first time quantified the energy cost to aquatic animals when they carry satellite tags, video cameras and other research instruments. Studying fibreglass casts of sea turtles in a wind tunnel, the team found that while most commercially available tags increased drag by less than 5% for large adult animals in the wild, these same devices increased drag by more than 100 % on smaller or juvenile animals.