Analysis of the behavior of sea turtles by using data loggers

Abstract

Recent telemetric studies on marine animals have given various knowledge about their behavior. Two new devices presented here are under development. One is MR logger which measures magnetic fields and accelerations and the other is CCD logger which records visual data. We conducted field experiments of these new devices using two captive adult hawksbill turtles at the Sea Turtle Conservation Station situated Mannai Island, Thailand. Using MR logger we estimated at-sea activity, which differed between in the daytime and in the nighttime. We also reproduced turtles' swimming track using magnetic field data and acceleration data. The CCD logger recorded the scenes of around turtles, which provide visual information about turtles' surroundings.