Proposal

Name:

Bio-telemetry for Terrapin Research, Wildlife Teaching and Institutional Collaboration

FiscalYear:

2016

Audience:

Honors College

Submitter:

Jones, Richard

Budget Manager:

Atkinson, Crystal A.

Project Manager:

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Goldey, Ellen

Local IT:

N/A

Dean:

Goldey, Ellen

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Bagdonas, Joseph A.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 25,347.00

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 25,347.00

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative
The diamondback terrapin represents the United States’ sole estuarine species of turtle and is a unique and important aspect of intertidal ecosystems from Massachusetts to Texas. There are seven subspecies and each has an important niche in their environment as a mesoscale predator. The Eastern Florida Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin tequesta) is the native subspecies of south Florida and the subject of interest for this project. Before its over-harvest and the destruction of its habitat as a result of human population growth, its range extended along most of the Atlantic coast of Florida. Little is currently known about the extent to which these negative pressures have affected the Eastern Florida Terrapin, with the greater part of evidence available coming from anecdotal sightings. With populations dwindling to the point of near localized extinction and regulations still allowing for commercial capture of those remaining it has become imperative that Florida Atlantic University take the lead in the conservation of this under studied organism. Through the collaboration of Drs. Matthew Ajemian of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Jon Moore of the FAU Honors College, a project is underway to help shed light on the population dynamics and habitat utilization of the remaining Eastern Florida Terrapins within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Dr. Ajemian has already procured some acoustic telemetry equipment for his research on sharks and rays in the IRL and has agreed that cooperation between these two research agendas would enhance the effectiveness of both. Together, these two projects will allow FAU wildlife researchers access to a regional network of acoustic telemetry receivers known as the Florida Acoustic Cooperative Telemetry network (FACT). The FACT Network is a series of acoustic telemetry receivers that facilitates collaborative work in bio-telemetry by way of standardized data formatting and sharing. These receivers are installed and maintained by various organizations and admission to the network is predicated on the installation new receivers. Once FAU researchers have installed a small number of receivers they will have access to data from all receivers in this network. Becoming a part of this network will enhance the overall area that these animals can be tracked and will grant future researchers an unprecedented level of potential range in telemetry projects. The equipment requested to conduct this study effectively and gain entry into the FACT Network are as follows: two F3G Data Loggers, two F3B Base Stations, five MM-MR-X-XX-XX dual mode transmitters, five WHS3250L data logging acoustic receivers, and one Fyke Net. This equipment equates to $25,347. The MM-MR-X-XX-XX dual mode transmitters and the WHS3250L data logging acoustic receivers are acoustic telemetry equipment used to track animals through marine environments. The inclusion of a GPS telemetry system, the F3G Data loggers and the F3B Base stations, allows for some investigation into the potential precision of the acoustic based technology and facilitates tracking during crucial points of life history out of the water, such as nesting. Dr. Ajemian has already ordered the Lotek Acoustic System itemized here and plans to employ it in the same study area as our proposed project looking at sharks. Both projects will be able to utilize receivers from the other. His willingness to collaborate has reduced the number of receiver units we require to study terrapins and will increase the level of efficacy for both research efforts. The Fyke net that has been requested will allow us to capture Eastern Florida Terrapins effectively and without harm. The need for similar, future research on habitat use by threatened species is great and the applications for improved management are promising. One such project that has already gained interest involves tracking the movements and habitat use of manatees in the IRL to help optimize current management practices. This overlap in research interests makes investing in passive acoustic telemetry a compelling option to initiate this project with diamondback terrapins. Given the goals of the FAU 2015-2025 Strategic Plan for Excellence, this proposed project will contribute to the university's boldness, synergy, place, quality and brand. The potential synergy between students and researchers within FAU given the context of this proposed project is clear. Place and boldness will be addressed in that opportunities for discovery based learning by FAU students are encouraged by increasing research capacity of the IRL. The university's quality and brand are enhanced by this research as labs at FAU are being brought into a regional context of research that furthers collaborative efforts among students and researchers across institutions and organizations by utilizing state of the art technologies.
Facilities
Hardware Requirements
Two F3G Data Loggers, two F3B Base Stations, five MM-MR-X-XX-XX dual mode transmitters, five WHS3250L data logging acoustic receivers, and one Fyke Net
Software Requirements
Necessary software included with data logging and receiver hardware package
Personnel Costs
None
Other Costs
None
Timeline
Y1: $25347 Y2: $0 Y3: $0
Sustainability
The acceptance of Florida Atlantic University to the FACT Network will continue as long as two acoustic receivers purchased by this grant are continuously maintained (this includes only minor, occasional maintenance such as changing the batteries). This maintenance will be the responsibility of the labs of Drs. Matt Ajemian and Jon Moore at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute based on their research and that of their graduate and undergraduate students. Considering the long lifespan of the receiver equipment, we expect a long-term and fruitful relationship between the FACT Network and future students and researchers at FAU as new bio-telemetry projects in the Indian River Lagoon arise.
Resource Matching
Dr. Matthew Ajemian of FAU Harbor Branch has already purchased several receivers and transmitters identical to the requested acoustic items here with other funds. This grant will increase the level of efficacy for both research efforts.
Implementing Organization
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 25,347.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 25,347.00
Hardware Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 25,347.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 25,347.00

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
F3 (1).pdf 523,723b
F3B.pdf 511,670b
FAU Tech Budget terrapins.xlsx 10,205b
MM-series.pdf 662,783b
WHS3250.pdf 618,154b