Potential undesired effects associated with biologging.
The process of capturing an animal is always a stressful experience and potentially harmful to the individual’s health (Denis et al. 2012). In addition, the attachment of biologgers forces the animal to carry an artificial device that conditions its physiology, behavior and ecology or even causes injuries (Wilson et al. 1986; Bodey et al. 2018; Fritz et al. 2020; Clewley et al. 2021). Thus, carrying a biologger represents an individual disadvantage that can cause adverse effects in both the short and long term, ultimately affecting both reproductive success and survival (e.g. Bodey et al. 2018; Gillies et al. 2020; Portugal & White 2020; Puehringer-Sturmayr et al. 2020; Homberger et al. 2021). Cannot excluded that the accumulation of these effects may condition population trends and even become a conservation problem in the case of rare or endangered species. But even in the case of non-endangered or abundant species, we must not lose the ethical duty to preserve the welfare of study animals. Therefore, we must ensure that the number of animals marked complies with the ethical pillars of the three Rs of Reduce, Replace and Refine (Russell & Burch 1959).
In addition, biologgers are high-tech devices composed of potentially polluting elements, such as lithium, plastics or carbon fiber (Akram et al. 2019). These materials are often difficult to recover or recycle, so they will most likely be abandoned in the environment. Although despicable in a global context, this is an additional undesirable effect that should be considered when planning a biologging project.
Overall, the sum of the risks to the individuals and species under study and the possibilities of contamination are sufficiently high that we must ensure that the scientific knowledge generated by a biologging project is the maximum possible. Therefore, the trivialization of biologging and its use for anecdotal purposes or for mere personal curiosity is a phenomenon which should be avoided.