Tracking Turtles With GPS

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/gRAWl)
Article Written by Greg Bartlett

Global positioning systems were first used by the U.S. military to help navigate military maneuvers.  Now GPS systems are used to track vehicles, pets, and even people.  GPS tracking is used in many industries - by law enforcement officers to track stolen possessions or keep track of parolees, by the retail industry that uses theft prevention devices, and by private individuals for safety during recreational activities. GPS technology has also been used to track small children, cellphones, and now turtles!

In Queensland, Australia, the government has sponsored a study on loggerhead turtles, the largest hard-shelled turtles in the world. These turtles can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.  The number of loggerhead turtles has declined over the years, and they are now an endangered species.  One of the reasons these reptiles are in danger is because of the lack of nesting beaches. The loggerhead study, conducted on Australia’s southern coast, used GPS tracking devices to follow three turtles for almost two thousand miles.



Scientists conducting the study hoped it would help the loggerhead population by defining their migration route. One of the reasons loggerheads are in danger is because so many of them have been accidentally killed by fishing boats. By warning fishing boats of the loggerhead’s path, Australian researchers hope to decrease the number of turtles caught by fishing gear.  Researchers were also able to discover one loggerhead nesting ground from the data gathered by a GPS tracking system.

GPS devices have successfully been used to track other endangered species, enabling scientists to gather information about unusual species. Usually, a tiny tracking device is attached to an animal for a certain length of time, often a few months or even years. Some devices send regular signals to a receiver, which allows the researchers to see regular reports on the location of the animal. Other tracking devices function by collecting and storing all of the data. The GPS devices are then collected at the end of the study, and researchers examine the information collected. The information gathered about an animal’s habits and behaviors often prove useful in finding ways to protect endangered populations.