Department Systems Analysis, Integrated Assessment and Modelling

We are interested in the analysis of animal movements in passive acoustic telemetry (PAT) systems. PAT systems comprise networks of static acoustic receivers that ‘listen’ for acoustic transmissions from acoustic pingers attached to tagged animals. The technology is widely deployed in coastal and freshwater ecosystems as part of research into the ecology and conservation of mobile aquatic species. In Switzerland, the first large-scale riverine network of acoustic receivers is being established by Eawag’s River Fish Ecology group. In the Ecological Modelling group, we are developing state-of-the-art particle-filtering algorithms for data analysis that enable the reconstruction of fine-scale movement paths and emergent patterns of space use from detections at receivers. Alongside method development, we are writing efficient, open-source implementation routines, conducting massive simulation studies and analysing real-world data from selected species, including the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). We built the patter R package to support this work. Please get in touch if you are interested in supporting beta-testing or potential applications. The research has spawned several student projects in collaboration with Dr. Stanisław Biber at the University of Bristol and has important ramifications for the conservation of mobile species.