| abstract |
Acoustic tags have been used for years in fisheries research to study survival and behavior of fish in various aquatic environments. The described techniques, devices and systems enhance the ability of researchers to understand the effect on fish (or other animal's) mortality by predators through an acoustic tag that includes a digestible fuse. When the implanted acoustic tag comes in contact with the digestive fluids in a predator's stomach, the fuse coating is dissolved causing the fuse to disintegrate and result in an open circuit. The open circuit in turn signals the electronics in the acoustic tag that the tagged animal has been consumed. In response, the electronics alter the tag transmit signal to indicate that predation has occurred. |