Refining the tagging of wild fish and sharks

该项目将研究如何在标记期间改善鱼类和鲨鱼的福利。在野生鱼类和鲨鱼身上安装电子标签已成为养护、管理和科学学习的重要研究工具。这些标签的发展受到了广泛的关注，包括传感器，数据压缩，功率预算，数据中继和材料。因此，生物记录标签经历了几十年的技术改进。然而，在野外进行科学研究的成本和后勤复杂性导致开发最精细的部署标签的方法以确保它们是微创的机会有限。此外，在侵入性生物记录标签附着程序期间对动物的生命支持系统的管理研究不足，并且存在程序改进的范围。改进将：i）促进改善程序期间和之后的福利，以及ii）增加野生动物一旦释放的恢复时间，这将共同转化为减少收集数据的偏差，并导致更高质量的scienjavascript：WebForm_DoPostBackWithOptions（new WebForm_PostBackOptions（“ctl00$oSaveBar$btnSave”，“"，true，““，"，false，true））ce，减少不确定性。因此，使用水族馆和实地研究，这位博士将调查和实施以证据为基础的改进（i）野生鱼类和鲨鱼标记和（ii）标记过程中使用的生命支持管理技术，包括麻醉，鳃冲洗和侵入性标记程序中的滋补不动的使用和功效。该项目将最适合具有在水族馆和/或野生环境中与鱼类和鲨鱼一起工作的经验的候选人。在海上实地考察，特别是在船上的技能，也将是可取的。学生将接受内政部许可的工作培训，涉及在水族馆和野外环境中标记鱼类和鲨鱼。该学生将加入一个研究生团队，从事一系列海洋生物分类群的生物记录项目。学生还将获得支持，在国家和国际会议上介绍工作。

This project will investigate how to improve the welfare of fishes and sharks during tagging. The deployment of electronic tags on wild fish and sharks has become an important research tool for conservation, management and scientific learning. Much attention has been paid to the development of these tags, including sensors, data compression, power budgeting, data relay, and materials. Biologging tags have therefore been subject to several decades of technological refinement. Cost and logistical complexity of conducting science in the wild, has however resulted in limited opportunity to develop the most refined ways of deploying tags to ensure they are minimally invasive. Further, management of the life support systems of animals during invasive biologging tag attachment procedures is under-researched and there is scope for procedure refinement. Refinements would:i) promote improved welfare during and following procedures, and ii) increase recovery times of wild animals once released, which together would translate to reduced bias in gathered data and lead to higher quality scienjavascript:WebForm_DoPostBackWithOptions(new WebForm_PostBackOptions("ctl00$oSaveBar$btnSave", "", true, "", "", false, true))ce with reduced uncertainty. As such, using aquaria and field-based studies, this PhD will investigate and operationalise evidence-based refinements in (i) wild fish and shark tagging and (ii) life-support management techniques used during tagging procedures, including anaesthesia, gill irrigation and the use and efficacy of tonic immobility in invasive tagging procedures. The project would best suit a candidate with demonstrated experience of working with fish and sharks in aquaria and/or wild settings. Skills in marine fieldwork, particularly on boats, will also be desirable. The student will receive training in Home Office licensed work involving tagging of fish and sharks in aquaria and field settings. The student will join a team of graduate students working on biologging projects on a range of marine taxa. The student will also be supported to present work at national and international conferences.