Classifying Hawaiian Monk Seal Foraging Behaviors Using Metrics Based on Triaxial Accelerometry: Pilot Data, Evaluation, and Future Research Recommendations

Animal-borne instruments are an important tool in studying the underwater behavior and ecology of marine mammals, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi). As technology has improved, instruments have become smaller enabling less impactful data collection from smaller/younger animals. Multiple sensors have become miniaturized, allowing a single instrument to collect numerous metrics to help assess animal movement and infer behavior. Additionally, analytical algorithms have become more computationally efficient, offering the promise of onboard calculation so that high-resolution data can be summarized and effectively transmitted over satellite uplinks, avoiding the need for repeat animal handling for retrieval of archival instruments. All of these advancements stand to improve the safety and data quality of foraging research conducted on Hawaiian monk seals. 2021 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) PIFSC (Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/fadf-cx48 Public Domain 1907