Royal Society funding for innovative marine tracking system

A collaboration between the Coastal Resources Management Group (CRMG) at the University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI) and Dr Pauline Goulet of Wild Tag Solutions has been awarded a grant from the Royal Society Paul Instrument Fund to develop a pioneering high-resolution monitoring system for coastal and seabed ecosystems.

Merra-tag is an animal-borne scientific instrument for collecting high-resolution environmental and movement data in benthic habitats. Temporarily attached to an animal, it functions as a mobile sensor platform, recording temperature, depth, salinity, light levels and fine-scale movement as the animal moves naturally through its habitat. This delivers continuous, ecologically relevant measurements that fixed instruments or vehicle-based surveys rarely provide.

The project, led by Dr Mark James from SOI and Dr Rene Swift from CRMG, aims to develop a non-invasive tag attachment method using a bioadhesive interface that will enable temporary attachment to the surface of the animal without having any impact on its welfare. The use of bioadhesives in human medicine has advanced rapidly in recent years. By adapting this technology, the research team at St Andrews could open up the potential to attach sensors to a wide range of marine and aquatic organisms.

Dr James said: “The funding will support both the tag design and laboratory testing at St Andrews as well as real world tag deployments by partners at Edinburgh Napier University, Scottish Shark Research Group led by Professor James Thorburn.”

Many of the most important processes shaping marine ecosystems occur close to the seabed and along coastlines, yet these environments remain among the least measured. Conventional tools such as research vessels, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are costly, limited in endurance, and often restricted to short surveys or predefined routes. They therefore struggle to capture the fine-scale, long-duration conditions experienced by marine animals living in these environments.

One application of the technology will enable sampling of flapper skate habitats on the west coast of Scotland and in Orkney and Shetland. A critically endangered species, flapper skate has recently begun to show signs of recovery but restoring it to its former range remains challenging. Flapper skate occupy deep benthic environments and studying the way this species uses its environment isparticularly difficult using conventional technologies. The Merra-tag will provide high resolution data on skate movement and the environmental conditions this species experiences, helping to inform conservation efforts.

By developing a compact, low-power animal-borne instrument, this project will deliver a step change in our ability to measure ocean conditions in under-sampled environments.

Professor Miles Padgett OBE FRS, Chair of the Paul Instrument Fund committee, said: “The development of novel scientific instruments is crucial when we are attempting to push the boundaries of science and technology.

“These innovative scientists are paving the way for new discoveries and for the researchers coming after them. The wide range and applicability of their instruments are sure to have an impact both within and outside of the scientific community.”

The Paul Instrument Fund exists to enable scientists to develop innovative instruments and equipment to measure physical sciences phenomena, allowing them to push discovery and research in areas where current methods and equipment fall short.

Researchers receive up to £200,000 over 1-3 years for the design and construction a new instrument, which can be used to cover staff costs, consumables, and small items of equipment.

The fund was established through the will of the late Robert W. Paul, British film and scientific instrument maker.