GPS Does its Job Underwater with a Shark
A phenomenal Amount of Data on Migrating Habits is being Gathered
Maritime Wildlife Tracking is Very Telling
We have heard of tracking wildlife in the wilderness and the interesting things being discovered there, but now, going submersible on the back of a great white shark is proving to be just as exciting.
In New Zealand, a great white shark named Grim, has been tagged with a GPS Tracking device that follows his every move. The dorsal fin holds the device which provides the data updates every time the shark breaks the surface of the water.
What GPS Reveals
What researchers are watching is how far Grim roams and the locations to which he visits and even his feeding habits.
Surprising to those monitoring Grims’ adventures is the distances that he covers. In just 11 days, he had traversed more than 1,100 kilometers through the ocean.
Other important data from other devices that are attached to similar marine wildlife in the program include depth, temperature, and even light levels which are useful for long distance mapping of the ocean floor.
Much like mapping that is done on dry ground; GPS Tracking of the ocean floor is helping maritime scientists study locations of sea-going creatures and underwater plant life.
Curiosity Persists
It all goes back to assisting in our understanding of how things work in our world. And GPS Tracking is one of the best methods of satisfying our curiosities.
Some of the goals that are met with these kinds of programs include:
Wildlife Safety and Preservation. While we cannot pay attention to each and every species on earth, we can help improve the safety and well being of some types of animals that might be in jeopardy of becoming extinct. A big part of these programs includes careful study of the living habits and arrangements of wildlife.
Discovering New Information about Habitats and Migration Patterns. Being able to track animals on a day-to-day basis helps to understand what drives them to live and move about in their environment. Finding food, a place to bed down, take a mate and other choices make for interesting study.
Helping to Learn about Man-Made Intervention. What ill effects does the existence of humans have on wildlife habitats? Are there any outside influences that produce serious risks to their lives? We can discover these pieces of information by watching closely.
GPS Tracking is used in high-profile programs like this all over the world, and it is worth every minute of it.
Tags: Active GPS Tracking, Curiosity, GPS Tracking, Maritime, ocean floor, shark, Underwater, wildlife
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