A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research

ABSTRACT Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly visible and persistent is a valuable methodology, but practical techniques and permanent safe dyes are lacking. Here we describe a novel, remotely controlled dye machine to rapidly mark stationar...

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Main Authors: Patricia Baird, Dan Robinette, Scot A. Hink
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-12-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.832
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author Patricia Baird
Dan Robinette
Scot A. Hink
author_facet Patricia Baird
Dan Robinette
Scot A. Hink
author_sort Patricia Baird
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly visible and persistent is a valuable methodology, but practical techniques and permanent safe dyes are lacking. Here we describe a novel, remotely controlled dye machine to rapidly mark stationary animals in predictable locations, such as birds sitting on nests on the ground or mammals at a den or burrow site. From the month of June when birds were on eggs, using the machine, we spot‐dyed 77 California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) at a colony in California, USA, in 4 days without handling them. Concomitantly, we developed a suite of permanent (until molt or shedding), mainly phthalocyanine dyes that are incorporated chemically into feathers or fur of animals and cannot be preened or rubbed off, which have never been used before to dye animals. We found no toxicity of the dyes during in vivo testing over 1 month. This method of remote marking with permanent dyes should prove to be a useful method in animal ecology for distinguishing among individuals with minimal disturbance. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-384ae50749114e5cbf97b7403d760d312025-08-20T02:49:20ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402017-12-0141478579510.1002/wsb.832A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife researchPatricia Baird0Dan Robinette1Scot A. Hink2Kahiltna Research Group, Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State University Long BeachLong BeachCA90840USAKahiltna Research Group, Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State University Long BeachLong BeachCA90840USAKahiltna Research Group, Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State University Long BeachLong BeachCA90840USAABSTRACT Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly visible and persistent is a valuable methodology, but practical techniques and permanent safe dyes are lacking. Here we describe a novel, remotely controlled dye machine to rapidly mark stationary animals in predictable locations, such as birds sitting on nests on the ground or mammals at a den or burrow site. From the month of June when birds were on eggs, using the machine, we spot‐dyed 77 California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) at a colony in California, USA, in 4 days without handling them. Concomitantly, we developed a suite of permanent (until molt or shedding), mainly phthalocyanine dyes that are incorporated chemically into feathers or fur of animals and cannot be preened or rubbed off, which have never been used before to dye animals. We found no toxicity of the dyes during in vivo testing over 1 month. This method of remote marking with permanent dyes should prove to be a useful method in animal ecology for distinguishing among individuals with minimal disturbance. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.832California least terncolonial waterbirdscolor‐markingmarking remotelypermanent dyesSternula antillarum browni
spellingShingle Patricia Baird
Dan Robinette
Scot A. Hink
A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
Wildlife Society Bulletin
California least tern
colonial waterbirds
color‐marking
marking remotely
permanent dyes
Sternula antillarum browni
title A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
title_full A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
title_fullStr A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
title_full_unstemmed A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
title_short A remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for Wildlife research
title_sort remote marking device and newly developed permanent dyes for wildlife research
topic California least tern
colonial waterbirds
color‐marking
marking remotely
permanent dyes
Sternula antillarum browni
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.832
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