Bio-logging 2

Submission of Abstracts

Symposium Ethos

The aim of Bio-logging 2005 is to provide a stimulating forum for the exchange of ideas and information about all aspects of bio-logging. Bio-logging lies at the interface between scientific enquiry and technological feasibility. It may be defined as the theory and practice of logging and relaying of physical and biological data using animal-attached archival units. Equally important is the subsequent interpretation and analysis of data obtained. While we welcome the presentation of novel biological insights obtained using bio-logging techniques, we also want to emphasise novel methodological developments.

We have identified four key areas of interest (examples in parenthesis are very much illustrative rather than comprehensive):

o Behaviour (feeding, diving, migration …)
o Ecology (interaction with environment, prey, predators and conspecifics, population ecology…)
o Physiology (respiratory, biochemical, hormonal, …)
o Technology and Analysis (attachment, sensors, data relay, energy sources, track smoothing, …)

Clearly, much of the current work in bio-logging science relates to the intersection of these scientific areas, and we are particularly interested in highlighting such multidisciplinary and cross-cutting research. However, in order to organize the meeting roughly around topics, we aim to devote sessions where each of these overlapping topics is particularly highlighted. Therefore, please indicate all of the relevant key areas of your abstract in order of priority. We will determine the final session schedule to fit the spectrum of interests in accepted abstracts.

Abstract Submission

All abstract submissions should be based on the template. (click here for Abstract template) Authors should email completed submissions as an attachment file (in MS Word or rtf format) to biologging2@st-and.ac.uk. The deadline for abstract submission is 20 February 2005. The authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by the end of March. Accepted abstracts will be collated and made available before the meeting in electronic form and at the meeting in booklet form.

The symposium will be in the English language. An author may be the first author on only one abstract submission. There will be two types of presentation, poster and oral. Since it is likely that both media will be oversubscribed all abstracts will be reviewed.

The abstract should clearly state the objectives and the challenges of the study. It should then outline the approach taken, and a summary and interpretation of the results obtained. While preference will be given to completed studies, we also wish to encourage communication of current and proposed approaches to bio-logging.

Submitted abstracts will be reviewed using the following criteria:

o Scientific method: The abstract should demonstrate good scientific method.

o Originality: The study should provide a new biological insight or should demonstrate the development of a novel bio-logging system or analysis.

o General interest: The study should be of interest to a varied audience

An example of a completed abstract is shown below:

Contact surname:	Bloggs, G.
Contact e-mail:	bloggs@seacreatures.ac.uk
Web address (optional)	http://www.seacreatures.com
Authors’ names:	Bloggs, G. (1), Fooey, J. (1) & Hiccup, K. (2)
Authors’ addresses:	(1) Sea Creatures Institute, University of St Magnus, Scotland. (2) Sea Monster Institute, University of St Aidan, Scotland.
Abstract title:	THE USE OF A MONSTER TAG SYSTEM TO REDUCE PREDATION ON SHIPPING
Abstract:	Over the last decade over 100 ships have reported being attacked by sea monsters (Belua marina). There is thus a need to document the geographical extent and behaviour of this species in order to redirect shipping routes and reduce attacks. Using decoy ships, three sea monsters were netted and drugged. Monster Tags (Monster Tag Company, St Andrews) were then glued to the dorsal scales. Special chemo-sensors on the tags detected the exhaust emission from ships and Hall effect transducers monitored jaw activity. This information, and precise location data obtained from the Fooey satellite system were relayed by UHF Hiccup network. The three monsters were each tracked for six months. Throughout this period they all remained within the continental shelf break zone, resting at night near the seabed. Exhaust emission signals were observed to increase over a period of one hour at sunrise. In 60% of these cases this signal was followed by an average of 10 minutes jaw activity. The average daily successful attack rate was 1.6. The data suggest that many attacks are not reported and that passage over the continental shelf zone is best carried out at night.
Word count:	190
Presentation type:	POSTER PREFERRED
Key Areas:	BEHAVIOUR, TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYSIS
File name:	bloggs.doc

Notes

Please use Times New Roman 12 font throughout.

Web address (optional): This is optional, but may be useful for following up contacts from the published Abstract Booklet.

Abstract Title: In upper case.

Abstract: Maximum of 300 words.

Word count: The number of words in the Abstract section.

Presentation type: Choose one from the list (ORAL PREFERRED, POSTER PREFERRED, EITHER)

Key Areas: Choose those relevant areas from the list (BEHAVIOUR, PHYSIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYSIS) and order them in order of importance.

File name: Use the first author's surname as the filename of the file you are attaching in your email. Use either MS Word (*.doc) or Rich Text (*.rtf) format.