Biologging for marine megafauna conservation: animal tracking, environmental monitoring, and modelling approaches.

Marine megafauna face ongoing threats from human activities, including fishing pressure, habitat destruction, and climate change. Biologging—the use of electronic tags to study animal movement, behaviour, physiology—has emerged as a critical tool for understanding animal ecology and informing conservation strategies. This thesis explores the application of state-of-the-art biologging technologies to address major conservation challenges facing sharks and sea turtles, two groups that have experienced severe population declines driven by human activities. Through five case studies, this research demonstrates the versatility of biologging in tackling diverse conservation questions. Satellite tracking of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Equatorial Guinea revealed spatial mismatches between existing marine protected areas and critical nesting habitat, supporting recommendations for MPA expansion. Novel sound-recording tags deployed on leatherback turtles in Gabon quantified pervasive anthropogenic noise pollution in important nesting areas, highlighting an emerging threat requiring management attention. Post-release survival analysis of three shark species in UK recreational fisheries revealed high (>95%) survival rates, providing the first European assessment of catch-and-release impacts and supporting current best- practice guidelines. An agent-based model parameterized with pan-Atlantic leatherback tracking data enabled simulation of complete remigration cycles, extending insights beyond typical tag deployment periods and identifying previously overlooked bycatch risk areas. Finally, computational fluid dynamics modelling of tag drag on pelagic sharks revealed that tag placement significantly outweighs tag mass in determining energetic costs, providing data-driven guidelines for ethical tagging practices. This research contributes to the growing integration of biologging and conservation science, demonstrating how advances in animal tracking can directly inform management decisions. The studies highlight persistent challenges in the field, including the need for standardized analytical approaches, improved data sharing protocols, and evidence-based tagging guidelines. As marine ecosystems face increasing anthropogenic pressures, biologging will remain essential for developing adaptive, data-driven conservation strategies for marine megafauna.<p></p>

Author dc:creator

• Francesco Garzon (21061667)

• Uncategorised value

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved
• Open Access after 2027-01-19

Identifier

10779/exe.31078915.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31078915