Ultra-Small, Implantable Activity and Temperature Bio-logger

Fish or aquatic animal activity and temperature measured and recorded as time-series in the tag’s memory. Biocompatible housing and simple to implant, explant or externally attach.

Quantify short- and long-term swimming behaviour, swimming patterns, burst and coast swimming in various fish species. Establish baseline, stress response, thermal tolerance, and swim speed tests.

Key features

  • Ultra-small activity logger, weighs only 3.3g, 25 mm x 10 mm.
  • Pressure tolerance to 800 m.
  • Statistical and raw 3-axis accelerometer data.
  • Stress-free long-term studies.
  • Assess swimming patterns.
  • Description

    Statistical and raw 3-axis accelerometer data

    The DST micro-ACT simultaneously measures long term activity and body and/or environmental temperature. Each activity measurement is comprised of an acceleration-based activity measurement over one minute with a user programmable sampling frequency of 0.03Hz-10Hz. Statistical parameters are calculated on-board, based on the dynamic body acceleration of the animal. Raw accelerometer measurements can optionally be stored in the logger’s memory for further processing data such as tailbeat frequency.

    Application

    This data storage tag is ideal for a variety of studies including those looking at behaviour, swimming, stress response or other physiology. It is suitable for use in both wild and captive fish, and other aquatic animals.

    Minimally Invasive

    Due to the very small size the tag is simple to implant in fish. The biocompatible housing has an attachment hole, used for fastening.
    For advice on implantation, please contact us.

    Overview of Changes in Aquatic Animals Activity Over Time

    Measuring acceleration derived activity gives researchers the chance to get an overall view of changes in the study animals’ activity over time. The DST activity archival tag measures acceleration in three dimensions, in relation to earth’s gravity field. Each activity measurement is composed of a burst activity measurement over one minute with a chosen sampling frequency of 0.03Hz-10Hz.

    Stress-Free Long-Term Studies

    The activity tag has a battery life of over 13 months, when sampling every 15 minutes at a 1Hz sampling frequency. The logger is especially useful when a comprehensive data set throughout the research period is needed with no disturbance to the animal.

    Single or multiple intervals

    Optionally, the loggers can be programmed with multiple different intervals within a study. This can, for example, be useful when different intervals are preferred during the day or night and can optimize battery life and save memory at the same time.

    Guaranteed accuracy and performance

    Every logger is individually calibrated for temperature and comes with a calibration certificate. In addition, a static calibration is performed on the acceleration values eliminating the need for the user to normalize the data. We guarantee the loggers’ accuracy and performance for one year after purchase.