Burden of a failed error culture in biologging

Abstract

Driven by technological advancement and low cost, biologging has rapidly transformed the study of animal behaviour and ecology, providing unprecedented insights into wildlife and aiding conservation efforts and ecological research. However, despite its development, biologging still faces ethical and methodological challenges, including the lack of error reporting, inconsistent standards and insufficient consideration of animal welfare. In this study, the importance of a robust error culture in biologging to address these issues was highlighted. In addition, four key directions for action were proposed: (1) establishing a biologging expert registry to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing, (2) implementing preregistration and postreporting of studies and devices to reduce publication bias and improve transparency, (3) demanding industry standards for biologging devices to ensure reliability and minimize harm and (4) developing educational programmes and ethical guidelines tailored to the unique challenges of biologging research. By continuously implementing the 5R principle (replace, reduce, refine, responsibility and reuse), the biologging community can balance technological progress with ethical responsibility. These measures aim to improve research quality, safeguard animal welfare and foster a sustainable future for this critical field.