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oai:figshare.com:article/32826065 2026-10-01T16:11:03Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

Tracking the energetics of wild animals Sinéad Smith (19756034) PUREID: 647627861 European badger dead reckoning animal behaviour animal movement biologging parasites bovine tuberculosis Interpreting the fine-scale movements and behaviours of wild animals can greatly enhance our understanding of both animal ecology and the mechanisms of disease transmission. In Britain and Ireland, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) poses significant risks to animal health and farm productivity yet, despite significant eradication efforts, the disease remains endemic in many areas. As the European badger (Meles meles) is believed to be the main wildlife reservoir for bTB, efforts to reduce disease transmission to livestock have included the vaccination and culling of badgers. Badger culling is a contentious issue, not only due to public opinion regarding ethics, but also because the outcomes of such intervention often appear to be complex and contradictory. For example, culling badgers can increase bTB in badgers and cattle in surrounding areas. Studies of badger movement have traditionally relied upon Global Position System (GPS) data. However, because of logger size and battery life, GPS data are normally collected at a frequency (e.g. hourly) that does not provide much information on an animal’s behaviour or indeed its precise movement path. This thesis aims to use tri-axial accelerometry and magnetometry in conjunction with GPS data to examine fine-scale badger movement and behaviour to not only enhance our understanding of badger ecology, but also to examine the potential impacts of a vaccination and removal protocol. Additionally, as the links between bTB and parasitism are relatively understudied in badgers, this thesis aims to examine these in relation to life-history traits and potential physiological trade-offs. <br><br><i>Thesis is embargoed until 31st December 2027.</i> 2026-10-01T16:11:03Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32826065.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Tracking_the_energetics_of_wild_animals/32826065 All Rights Reserved Open Access after 2027-12-31