WildWID: An open‐source active RFID system for wildlife research. Issue 9 (13th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rafiq, Kasim; Appleby, Rob G.; Edgar, Jason P.; Radford, Cameron; Smith, Bradley P.; Jordan, Neil R.; Dexter, Cathryn E.; Jones, Darryl N.; Blacker, Amy R. F.; Cochrane, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Methods in ecology and evolution. Volume 12:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1580
• Page End: 1587
• Publication Date: 2021-06-13
• Subjects: animal behaviour -- animal‐borne sensor -- bio‐logging -- conservation technology -- open‐source hardware -- radiocollar -- RFID tag; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.13651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-210X

Abstract

Abstract: Radio‐frequency identification (RFID) tags represent some of the smallest animal‐borne technologies available. They are frequently used for understanding fine‐scale associations between animals and their environments. However, currently available devices are often prohibitively expensive or difficult to customise. We present 'WildWID', an open‐source radio‐frequency identification system that can be used for detecting encounters between tags and loggers and/or integrated into more advanced experimental set‐ups for triggering audio or visual playbacks following the detection of RFID tag codes. WildWID systems can be made using commercially available components (costing ~$20 USD for tags and ~$60 for loggers) and can be customised to fit project and species‐specific needs. WildWID tags have been deployed on a range of species including koalas Phascolarctos cinereus, lions Panthera leo and shy albatross Thalassarche cauta for a range of research topics, including the assessment of road‐crossing structures and species' responses to intraspecific competitors. WildWID is a cost‐effective RFID system that can increase the accessibility of this technology for a wider range of researchers and study questions. Its use provides researchers with opportunities to mitigate ethical concerns, for example, by customising systems for species‐specific conditions, and its customisability extends the range of applications where RFID systems can be used by field biologists.