Jannis Gottwald holds a tracker (IMAGE)
Caption
Jannis Gottwald shows the size of the tiny lightweight VHF transmitter with a thin, long antenna used to track the bats: the tags each weigh about 0.4 grams and are smaller than an adult human’s pinky fingernail, and emit a signal every second, indicating the bat’s position. The tracker is glued to the bat’s back, in the space between its wings shoulder blades, using a harmless soluble glue—similar to a tissue adhesive used for sealing skin wounds—that dissolves around ten to fifteen days later. Gottwald and trackIT Systems created a radio-tracking telemetry system, which uses portable tower antennas that can be installed or uninstalled in less than twenty minutes, making them easy to move as needed.
Credit
Ana Endara, STRI
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY