Open AccessUltra-low activities of a common radioisotope for permission-free tracking of a drosophilid fly in its natural habitat
Author(s) -
Wolfgang Arthofer,
Clemens Decristoforo,
Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner,
Florian M. Steiner
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep36506
Subject(s) - permission , tracking (education) , drosophila (subgenus) , computer science , labelling , ecology , drosophila melanogaster , environmental science , biology , gene , psychology , pedagogy , biochemistry , political science , law
Knowledge of a species’ ecology, including its movement in time and space, is key for many questions in biology and conservation. While numerous tools for tracking larger animals are available, millimetre-sized insects are averse to standard tracking and labelling procedures. Here, we evaluated the applicability of ultra-low, permission-exempt activities of the metastable isomer of the radionuclide Technetium-99 for labelling and field detection of the mountain fly Drosophila nigrosparsa . We demonstrate that an activity of less than 10 MBq is sufficient to label dozens of flies and detect single individuals using standard radiation protection monitors. The methodology presented here is applicable to many small-sized, low-mobility animals as well as independent from light and weather conditions and visual contact with the target organism.