Overall Aims of Crocodile Research Acoustic Tracking of Crocodiles • Obtain an understanding of their behaviours Craig E. Franklin and movement patterns above and below the School of Integrative Biology water surface • To examine their ecological role in wetland, river and marine ecosystems • Promote conservation and protection of wild crocodile populations through effective management and education Research Partnership HOW DO CROCS UTILISE SPACE THROUGH TIME? Tracking the movements of crocodiles - large spatial & temporal scales - behaviours and movements (3-dimensions) - interactions (biological, environmental, human) Craig Franklin, Mark Read and Steve Irwin. Tracking crocodiles in 3-dimensions: A remote monitoring study of movement patterns and diving behaviour (2006-2008) 1 Study site Acoustic Tracking study Lakefield August 2007-2008 Aims Weipa To investigate movement and body temperatures patterns of estuarine crocodiles Lakefield National Park site fidelity home ranges Cooktown diving Focus on a single river system Male & female crocodiles across wide size range Google Earth N Acoustic Tracking study Lakefield August 2007-2008 20 monitoring stations 18 along Nth Kennedy River Nth Kennedy R. 2 in isolated waterholes 27 crocodiles implanted with V16 coded transmitters (Lifespan 1 year) V16P-6H (17 m) pressure sensitive (delay 12-16 s) 14 implanted V16T-3L temperature sensitive JamJam TinTin R.R. (delay 60-180s) 13 implanted 42 km River monitored 2 Implanted crocodiles Results Male th Female Trial download Aug 28 2007 6000 98,000 detections after 2 weeks deployment 20 of 27 animals detected 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Total Body Total Length (mm) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718192021222324252627 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Funding & Support People Australia Zoo QPWS • Australian Research Council Terri Irwin Dr Mark Read • Australia Zoo Bob Irwin + wildlife rangers • Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Nicole Byrne • Discovery Channel Shelley & Barry Lyon “The Croc Team” UQ • Andrew Scifleet Dr Peter Kraft Dr Hamish Campbell 3.