The burden of a failed error culture in biologging

Brendan James Barrett , Wolfgang Fielder, Francesca Frisoni, Zoë Goldsborough, Inge Müller, Kamran Safi, Martin Wikelski, Daniel Zuñiga

Driven by technological advancements and reduced costs, biologging has seen a rapid growth transforming the study of animal behaviour and ecology. This ``golden era'' of animal tracking provides unprecedented insights into wildlife, aiding conservation efforts and ecological research. However, in the wake of the rapid growth loom pressing ethical and methodological challenges, including a lack of error reporting, inconsistent standards, and insufficient consideration of animal welfare. Here we highlight the urgent need for a robust error culture in biologging to address these issues. We propose four key directions for action: (1) establishing a biologging expert registry to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing; (2) implementing pre-registration as well as post-reporting 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 programs and ethical guidelines tailored to the unique challenges of biologging research. By continuing a more rigorous implementation of a 5R principle —Replace, Reduce, Refine, Responsibility, and Reuse (data)— alongside these initiatives, 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.