Re‐weighing the 5% tagging recommendation: assessing the potential impacts of tags on the behaviour and body condition of bats

Author:

Meierhofer Melissa B.1ORCID,Tena Elena2ORCID,Lilley Thomas M.1ORCID,Dechmann Dina K. N.3456ORCID,Voigt Christian C.7ORCID,Troitsky Tanya S.1ORCID,De Bruyn Luc89ORCID,Braun de Torrez Elizabeth10ORCID,Eldegard Katrine11ORCID,Elmeros Morten12ORCID,Gyselings Ralf8ORCID,Hoyt Dillan1013ORCID,Janssen René14ORCID,Jonasson Kristin A.15ORCID,López‐Baucells Adrià16ORCID,Matlova Mariia1ORCID,Melber Markus17ORCID,Perea Santiago18ORCID,Stidsholt Laura719ORCID,Valanne Valeria1ORCID,Varghese Mebin George20ORCID,Zavattoni Giorgio21ORCID,Weller Theodore J.22ORCID

Affiliation:

1. BatLab Finland, Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus (LUOMUS) University of Helsinki Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13 00100 Helsinki Finland

2. Department of Ecology and Evolution Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Seville Spain

3. Department of Migration Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Am Obstberg 1 78315 Radolfzell Germany

4. Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz Universitätsstraße 10 78464 Constance Germany

5. Department of Biology University of Konstanz Universitätsstraße 10 78464 Constance Germany

6. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Apartado 0843‐03092 Balboa Ancón Panama

7. Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Alfred‐Kowalke‐Straße 17 10315 Berlin Germany

8. Research Institute for Nature and Forest Herman Teirlinckgebouw Havenlaan 88 B‐1000 Brussels Belgium

9. University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrijk Belgium

10. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 S Meridian St Tallahassee FL 32399 USA

11. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Postboks 5003 1432 Ås Norway

12. Department of Ecoscience Aarhus University C.F. Møllers Allé 8 Aarhus Denmark

13. Department of Biology University of Oxford 11a Mansfield Road OX1 3SZ Oxford UK

14. Bionet Natuuronderzoek Valderstraat 39 6171EL Stein The Netherlands

15. Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Northern British Columbia 3333 University Way Prince George BC V2N 4Z9 Canada

16. BiBio Research Group Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers Av/Francesc Macià 51 Granollers 08402 Spain

17. Bundesverband für Fledermauskunde Deutschland e.V. (BVF) Schmidtstedter Str. 30a 99084 Erfurt Germany

18. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA

19. Zoophysiology, Department of Biology Aarhus University C.F. Møllers Allé 3 Aarhus Denmark

20. Institute of Biotechnology University of Helsinki Yliopistonkatu 3 Helsinki FI‐00014 Finland

21. Department of Biology University of Turku 20014 Turku Finland

22. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station 800 Buchanan Street Arcata CA 95521 USA

Abstract

Abstract Considerable advances and breakthroughs in wildlife tracking technology have occurred in recent years, allowing researchers to gain insights into the movements and behaviours of a broad range of animals. Considering the accessibility and increase in use of tracking devices in wildlife studies, it is important to better understand the effects on these on animals. Our endeavour revisits a guideline established in 1988, which proposes that bats may encounter body condition or health problems and alter their behaviour when carrying tags weighing more than 5% of their body mass. Through a systematic literature review, we conducted a meta‐analysis to identify the impacts of tags on bats, including 367 papers from 1976 to 2023 that discussed, mentioned, employed, or quantified tagging of bats. We noted that the proportion of studies exceeding the 5% rule has not changed in recent years. However, the impact of tags was quantified in few studies for behaviour (n = 7) and body condition (n = 10) of bats. We were unable to assess whether tags weighing less or more than 5% of the bat's body mass impacted bats, but our meta‐analysis did identify that tags, irrespective of mass, affect the behaviour and body condition of bats. Although the overall magnitude of measured effects of tags on bats was small, progress has been made to advance our understanding of tag mass on bats. Naturally, there is a bias in reporting of significant results, illustrating the need of reporting results when there is no apparent effect of tags on bats. Our findings highlight the need for rigorous reporting of behaviour and body condition data associated with tagging of animals and illustrate the importance for studies comparing how tracking devices of different dimensions and masses may impact bat species to ensure research meets rigorous ethical standards.

Funder

Academy of Finland

Koneen Säätiö

European Regional Development Fund

Villum Fonden

Publisher

Wiley

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