Tracking Our Progress: Success and Failure of Biologging in Influencing Global Change

Satellite telemetry is a prominent technology in marine science that can serve as a powerful conservation tool given the spatial nature of many management strategies. Despite widespread use of this innovative yet costly technology, telemetry data sets have only recently been used synthetically on a scale large enough to drive effective conservation and management decision-making. In our ongoing review of up to 500 peer-reviewed articles focused on satellite tracking of marine mega-fauna in major conservation and ecological journals, we determined:  (1) how the rate and focus of conservation telemetry studies have changed over time; (2) the global distribution of studies; (3) the focus of conservation telemetry studies; (4) the level quantification of findings and resulting translation into conservation strategies. The majority of studies thus far reviewed (~250) focused on bycatch or protected areas, though only 40% of studies presented quantifiable results that informed spatial management. We found a significant increase in the number of conservation studies through time, and an increase in studies focused specifically on bycatch. Over 56% of studies were conducted in North America, Europe and Australia, with a lower percentage (34%) in South America, Africa and Asia; Antarctic sites accounted for the  remaining 10% of studies. Sea turtles were the most common focus of studies (56%), followed by seabirds (36%) and marine mammals (8%). Very few studies focused on quantifying impacts of climate change or tourism on focal species.  Many studies lacked solid recommendations resulting from telemetry outputs and some studies (25%) did not quantify telemetry results to any degree. Based on our review, we detail an empirically based framework that will (1) emphasize how resource managers can use telemetry as a powerful management tool, and (2) guide researchers who employ telemetry in conducting studies in a cost-effective way that maximizes aid to management decisions.