CN112075377B

CN112075377B - Wearable carrier that can be used to finless porpoise

Info

Publication number: CN112075377B
Application number: CN202010842642.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 梅志刚; 王克雄; 陈思甜; 陈懋; 黄杰; 王丁
Original assignee: Institute of Hydrobiology of CAS
Current assignee: Institute of Hydrobiology of CAS
Priority date: 2020-08-20
Filing date: 2020-08-20
Publication date: 2022-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2040-08-20
Also published as: CN112075377A

Abstract

The invention relates to a wearable carrier for a finless porpoise, which comprises a body and a buoyancy component, wherein the body is in a cylindrical shape with two open ends, and two fin holes are arranged on the side surface of the body; the back of the body is provided with a buoyancy component fixing part, and the buoyancy component is fixed in the buoyancy component fixing part; the back of the body is provided with a communication component fixing part; the wearable carrier is sewed through the water soluble thread, so that the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise body after the water soluble thread is dissolved. The buoyancy component is fixed on the back instead of the abdomen, so that the influence on the movement of the finless porpoise is small. The size of the fin hole is attached to the ventral fin of the finless porpoise as much as possible, so that the carrier is prevented from being curled, the carrier is close-fitting, soft and good in water permeability, and discomfort of the finless porpoise cannot be caused. The water soluble wire is selected from wires which are completely dissolved in the field water body for about 3 months, so that after the monitoring is finished, the wires are dissolved, the carrier body falls off from the finless porpoise body after being unfolded, and the carrier body floats to the surface of the river due to the buoyancy of the buoyancy assembly to be beneficial to recovery.

Description

Wearable carrier that can be used to finless porpoise

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of environment and animal protection, in particular to a wearable carrier suitable for finless porpoise.

Background

Aquatic animal protection is one of the key and difficult problems in water environment protection. Yangtze river finless porpoise is a small freshwater whale, and an adult individual is about 1.5 meters long and has no dorsal fins. The finless porpoise is a unique fresh water whale population in the middle and lower water systems of the Yangtze river, is one of important components of the Yangtze river, and belongs to the national secondary protection animal. In recent years, with the destruction of habitats, the deterioration of water environment and the interference of human activities, the number of finless porpoises is sharply reduced, and the protection status of finless porpoises can be upgraded from secondary protection animals to primary protection animals. Therefore, the protection of finless porpoise is already imminent. In order to reasonably define a protection area and a navigation channel and further perfect the protection of the finless porpoise, it is very important to monitor the behavior pattern, the movement law and the position of the habitat.

Previously, it has been common to use invasive means for attaching monitoring devices to cetaceans, such as punch-fixing on dolphins' fins or direct implantation into the body. This approach is susceptible to infection, resulting in injury or death of the animal. There is therefore a need for a wearable carrier for finless porpoise or other whales or large fish, which on the one hand can be stably mounted on the whale or fish and on the other hand can be mounted with means for monitoring.

Patent ZL2018212959338 applied by the team in 2018 and granted in 2019 discloses a wearable vest for monitoring finless porpoise tracks, which can be worn by finless porpoises and is provided with smaller electronic components. However, this vest presents some drawbacks. First, when an electronic component (e.g., a positioner) is mounted, the electronic component is likely to slide in the placement chamber, and skin damage is likely to occur due to friction with the skin. Secondly, the cylindrical buoyancy barrel is arranged on the abdomen of the finless porpoise, so that the finless porpoise is easy to move inconveniently. Thirdly, the buoyancy barrel is easy to interfere the judgment of the finless porpoise on the buoyancy.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the problems, the invention provides a wearable carrier for a finless porpoise, which comprises a body and a buoyancy assembly, wherein the body is in a cylindrical shape with two open ends, and two fin holes are arranged on the side surface;

the back of the body is provided with a buoyancy component fixing part, and the buoyancy component is fixed in the buoyancy component fixing part;

the back of the body is provided with a communication component fixing part;

the wearable carrier is sewed through the water soluble thread, so that the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise body after the water soluble thread is dissolved.

The buoyancy component is fixed on the back instead of the abdomen, so that the influence on the movement of the finless porpoise is small. The main part of the carrier body can be made of elastic hydrophilic gauze fabric, and the size of the fin hole is attached to the ventral fin of the finless porpoise as much as possible, so that the carrier is prevented from being curled, the carrier is close-fitting, soft and good in water permeability, and the finless porpoise cannot feel uncomfortable. The water soluble wire is selected from wires which are completely dissolved in the field water body for about 3 months, so that after the monitoring is finished, the wires are dissolved, the carrier body falls off from the finless porpoise body after being unfolded, and the carrier body floats to the surface of the river due to the buoyancy of the buoyancy assembly to be beneficial to recovery.

In a preferred embodiment, the communication assembly fixing portion includes a spacer fixedly connected to the body, a fixing mechanism, and a communication device container mounted on the spacer by the fixing mechanism.

Preferably, the spacer is made of a flexible material having a thickness. The communicator receptacle may be made of a water-impermeable flexible material (e.g., plastic) that encases the communicator and exposes its antenna to facilitate the capture of signals from the communicator by the base station. The gasket has certain thickness and rough surface, prevents that communication setting from producing the scratch to the finless porpoise to prevent to take place to slide.

In a preferred embodiment, the buoyancy module fixing portions are disposed at both sides of the gasket or below the gasket.

In a preferred embodiment, the buoyancy module is an expandable module, the buoyancy module fixing portion includes a receiving frame having an opening and a detachable stopper, and encloses a space for receiving the buoyancy module and limiting expansion of the buoyancy module, and after the stopper is detached, expansion of the buoyancy module is not limited by the stopper. In the initial state, the buoyancy assembly is arranged in the space and is in a non-expansion state due to the action of the limiting piece, the size of the buoyancy assembly is small, the buoyancy effect is not generated, and the obstruction to the motion of the finless porpoise can be reduced to the maximum extent. When the limiting piece is detached, the internal pressure of the buoyancy assembly makes the buoyancy assembly expand, so that buoyancy is generated. In this embodiment, the containment frame is fixedly attached to the buoyancy module. When the stopper 123 is removed, the buoyancy module still remains connected to the receiving frame.

Preferably, the limiting part is sewn at the opening of the containing frame through the hydrosol line to block the opening of the containing frame. When the water soluble line is dissolved, the buoyancy assembly is not pressed by the limiting piece and begins to expand, so that buoyancy is generated.

In a preferred embodiment, the buoyancy module fixing portion further comprises an expansion member, which may be made of an elastic material or an inelastic material but may have a certain expansion space, and is connected to the outside of the limiting member, wherein in an initial state of a region covering the limiting member, the buoyancy module is fixed in a space surrounded by the accommodating frame and the limiting member, and after the limiting member is detached, the buoyancy module fixing portion starts to expand until being limited by the expansion member. The space enclosed by the expansion piece and the containing frame is larger than the space, so that buoyancy is formed. Preferably, the material of the extension piece is a water permeable material. The expansion piece can keep the buoyancy assembly not to be separated from the carrier, an additional connecting mechanism is not needed, and the arrangement of the carrier is simplified. Meanwhile, the expansion of the buoyancy assembly can be limited, so that the buoyancy assembly can generate enough buoyancy for the wearable carrier to float on the water surface, and excessive buoyancy can not be generated, and the situation that the motion of the finless porpoise is influenced in case that the limit part is disassembled before the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise is prevented.

In a preferred embodiment, the buoyancy module comprises an airtight elastomeric container and a gas releasing matrix contained within the elastomeric container. Preferably, the gas releasing matrix has the property of releasing gas and absorbing the released gas. Preferably, the density of the gas-releasing matrix is 0.9 to 1.1 times the density of water. For example, the gas release matrix may be soda water, which has a density similar to that of river water, and is packed in an elastic latex bag to form a buoyancy module, which is installed in the buoyancy module fixing part. The initial state, buoyancy module's density is about the same with water, does not produce the buoyancy effect, and when the locating part is dismantled because of water-soluble line dissolves the back, the inside pressure of plastic bag reduces, and soda begins to release carbon dioxide gas, makes the plastic bag inflation, and buoyancy module produces the buoyancy effect, takes wearable carrier to the surface of water on.

Drawings

Fig. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a finless porpoise wearing the carrier of embodiment 1 after deployment;

fig. 3 is a schematic view of the carrier of example 1 after deployment;

fig. 4 is a schematic view of the buoyancy module and the buoyancy module fixing portion of the vehicle of embodiment 2;

fig. 5 is a schematic view of the buoyancy module and the buoyancy module fixing portion of the vehicle according to embodiment 3;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of the buoyancy assembly of the vehicle of embodiment 4.

In the drawings, the components represented by the respective reference numerals are listed below:

1. the device comprises a body, 11, a fin hole, 12, a buoyancy component fixing part, 121, an accommodating frame, 122, a space, 123, a limiting part, 124, an expansion part, 125, a first connecting head, 13, a communication component fixing part, 131, a gasket, 132, a buckle, 133, a binding band, 14, a detachable connecting part, 15, a water-soluble thread sewing connection, 2, a buoyancy component, 21, an elastic container, 22, a gas release substrate, 23, gas, 24, a second connecting head, 3 and a communication component.

Detailed Description

The principles and features of this invention are described below in conjunction with the following drawings, which are set forth by way of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

The carrier of the embodiment is shown in fig. 1-3, and comprises a body 1 and a buoyancy assembly 2, wherein the body 1 is in a cylindrical shape with two open ends, and two fin holes 11 are arranged on the side surface; the back of the body 1 is provided with a communication component fixing part 13.

The communication component fixing part 13 includes a spacer 131, a fixing mechanism, and a communication device container. The spacer 131 is sewn to the body 1, preferably of a flexible material having a thickness. The fixing mechanism may be a clasp 132 disposed at the periphery of the gasket 131, and a strap 133 passing through the clasp 132. The gasket has certain thickness and rough surface, prevents that communication setting from producing the scratch to the finless porpoise to prevent to take place to slide.

The communication device 3 is mounted on the pad 131 by a fixing mechanism after being wrapped by a communication device container (with its antenna exposed to facilitate the signal from the communication device to be captured by a base station). For example, may be secured to the spacer 131 by a clasp 132 and strap 133. The communicator receptacle may be made of a water-impermeable flexible material, such as plastic. After wearing, the communication device 3 is close to the air hole of the finless porpoise.

The back of the body 1 is provided with a buoyancy assembly fixing part 12, and the buoyancy assembly 2 is fixed in the buoyancy assembly fixing part 12. In the present embodiment, the buoyancy module 2 is a flexible buoyancy sheet, and the buoyancy module fixing portions 12 are provided at both sides of the communication device, and are sewn pockets for fixing the buoyancy sheet therein. In another embodiment, a buoyancy sheet and a buoyancy module may be provided to be fixed below the communication module fixing portion 13, and the number of buoyancy modules should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

The wearable carrier is sewed through the water soluble thread, so that the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise body after the water soluble thread is dissolved. For example, the fin holes may be joined by water-soluble thread seams 15 on both sides of one fin hole, by water-soluble thread seams 15 on one side of the other fin hole, and by a common thread or integrated into one piece. After about three months, the water soluble line dissolves, the connection positions of the three water soluble lines at the fin holes are disconnected, and the connection positions of the common wires are still connected, so that the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise body, but still floats on the water surface as a whole.

In one embodiment, the wearable carrier further comprises a detachable connection 14 to facilitate donning the carrier on a finless porpoise. For example, the detachable connection portion 14 may be a hook and loop fastener. Before wearing, the wearable carrier is the slice of expansion, during the wearing, puts the finless porpoise on the wearable carrier, makes finless porpoise's abdominal fin pass the fin hole, then links together through pasting the magic, makes wearable carrier form the tube-shape of laminating finless porpoise health curved surface to make communication assembly fixed part 13 be located the back of finless porpoise, and be close to finless porpoise's gas pocket.

Example 2

On the basis of example 1, we have improved the buoyancy module 2 and buoyancy module securing portion 12. As shown in fig. 4, the buoyancy module 2 is configured as an expandable module, the buoyancy module fixing portion 12 includes an accommodating frame 121 having an opening and a detachable stopper 123, and encloses a space for accommodating the buoyancy module 2 and limiting expansion of the buoyancy module 2, and after the stopper 123 is detached, expansion of the buoyancy module 2 is not limited by the stopper 123. In the embodiment, the buoyancy module 2 and the accommodating frame 121 are provided with a connecting mechanism, for example, a first connecting head 125 is provided in the accommodating frame 121, a second connecting head 24 is provided on the buoyancy module 2, and the first connecting head 125 and the second connecting head 24 can be fixedly connected. When the stopper 123 is removed, the buoyancy module 2 still maintains the connection with the receiving frame 121.

In the initial state, the buoyancy assembly is arranged in the compression area and is in a non-expansion state due to the action of the limiting piece, the size of the buoyancy assembly is small, the buoyancy effect is not generated, and the obstruction to the motion of the finless porpoise can be reduced to the maximum extent. When the limiting piece is detached, the internal pressure of the buoyancy assembly makes the buoyancy assembly expand, so that buoyancy is generated.

In a specific embodiment, the stopper 123 is sewn to the opening of the receiving frame 121 using a water soluble thread, and the opening of the receiving frame 121 is blocked, so that the buoyancy module 2 is in a non-expanded state. After the water soluble line is dissolved, the connection between the limiting member 123 and the accommodating frame 121 is released, the limiting effect on the buoyancy assembly 2 is lost, the buoyancy assembly 2 begins to expand, buoyancy is generated, and the carrier is brought to the water surface.

Example 3

The present embodiment is an improvement made on the basis of embodiment 2, and other features are similar. As shown in fig. 5, the difference is that the buoyancy module fixing portion 12 further includes an expansion member 124, the expansion member 124 may be made of an elastic material, or may be made of a non-elastic material but may have a certain expansion space, and is connected to the outside of the limiting member 123 to cover the area of the limiting member 123, and after the limiting member 123 is detached, the expansion member 124 and the receiving frame 121 may enclose a space larger than the space 122.

In the initial state, the buoyancy module 2 is fixed in the space 122 defined by the accommodating frame 121 and the stopper 123. After the stopper 123 is removed, it starts to expand until it is restricted by the expanding member 124. The space enclosed by the expansion member 124 and the receiving frame 121 is larger than the space 122, thereby creating buoyancy. The expansion member 124 can keep the buoyancy module 2 from being separated from the vehicle, and an additional connecting mechanism is not needed, so that the vehicle is simplified. Meanwhile, the expansion of the buoyancy component 2 can be limited, so that the buoyancy component can generate enough buoyancy for the wearable carrier to float on the water surface, and excessive buoyancy can not be generated, and the situation that the motion of the finless porpoise is influenced in case that the limit part is disassembled before the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise is prevented.

Example 4

The present embodiment is designed for the buoyancy module 2, as shown in fig. 6, the buoyancy module 2 includes an airtight elastic container 21 and a gas releasing matrix 22 contained in the elastic container 21. Preferably, the gas releasing matrix 22 has the property of releasing gas 23 and absorbing the released gas. Preferably, the density of the gas-releasing matrix is 0.9 to 1.1 times the density of water.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Although the present invention is applied to finless porpoise, the scope of protection is not limited thereto, and the present invention can be applied to aquatic mammals and fishes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wearable carrier for aquatic mammals or fish, comprising a body (1) and a buoyancy module (2), wherein the body (1) is in a cylindrical shape with two open ends;

the back of the body (1) is provided with a buoyancy component fixing part (12), and the buoyancy component is fixed in the buoyancy component fixing part (12);

the back of the body (1) is provided with a communication component fixing part (13);

the wearable carrier is sewed by a water soluble thread so that the wearable carrier falls off from the finless porpoise after the water soluble thread is dissolved,

the buoyancy component (2) is an expandable component, the buoyancy component fixing part (12) comprises an accommodating frame (121) and a detachable limiting part (123), the accommodating frame (121) and the limiting part (123) are made of non-elastic materials and enclose a space (122) for accommodating the buoyancy component (2) and limiting expansion of the buoyancy component (2), after the limiting part (123) is detached, expansion of the buoyancy component (2) is not limited by the limiting part (123), the limiting part (123) is sewn at an opening of the accommodating frame (121) through a hydrosol line to block the opening of the accommodating frame (121),

the buoyancy module fixing portion (12) further comprises an expansion member (124), wherein the expansion member (124) is connected to the outside of the stopper (123), and a space larger than the space (122) can be formed between the expansion member (124) and the accommodating frame (121).

2. The wearable carrier of claim 1, wherein the communication component fixing part (13) comprises a pad (131), a fixing mechanism, and a communication device container, wherein the pad (131) is fixedly connected with the body (1), and the communication device container is mounted on the pad (131) through the fixing mechanism.

3. The wearable carrier of claim 2, wherein the spacer (131) is made of a flexible material having a thickness.

4. The wearable carrier of claim 2, wherein the buoyancy element fixation (12) is provided on both sides of the gasket (131) or below the gasket (131).

5. The wearable carrier of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy module (2) comprises an air-tight elastic container (21) and a gas release matrix (22) housed in the elastic container (21).

6. The wearable carrier of claim 5, wherein the gas releasing matrix (22) has properties of releasing gas and absorbing the released gas.

7. The wearable carrier of claim 6, wherein the gas releasing matrix has a density of 0.9-1.1 times the density of water.

8. Wearable carrier according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that a fin hole (11) is provided on the body (1) for letting a fin pass through.