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The latest technologies associated with implantable physiological monitoring devices can record multiple channels of data (including: heart rates and rhythms, activity, temperature, impedance and posture), and coupled with powerful software applications, have provided novel insights into the physiology of animals in the wild. This perspective details past challenges and lessons learned from the uses and developments of implanted biologgers designed for human clinical application in our research on free-ranging American black bears (Ursus americanus). In addition, we reference other research by colleagues and collaborators who have leveraged these devices in their work, including: brown bears (Ursus arctos), grey wolves (Canis lupus), moose (Alces alces), maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). We also discuss the potentials for applications of such devices across a range of other species. To date, the devices described have been used in fifteen different wild species, with publications pending in many instances. We have focused our physiological research on the analyses of heart rates and rhythms and thus special attention will be paid to this topic. We then discuss some major expected step changes such as improvements in sensing algorithms, data storage, and the incorporation of next-generation short-range wireless telemetry. The latter provides new avenues for data transfer, and when combined with cloud-based computing, it not only provides means for big data storage but also the ability to readily leverage high-performance computing platforms using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. These advances will dramatically increase both data quantity and quality and will facilitate the development of automated recognition of extreme physiological events or key behaviours of interest in a broad array of environments, thus further aiding wildlife monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remarkably, American black bears (Ursus americanus) are capable of varying their heart rates to coincidewith their breathing, creating pauses of 30 s or more, yet they do not appear to suffer from embolic events. We evaluated some features of the clotting cascade of black bears, providing novel insights into the underlying mechanisms they evoke for embolic protection during hibernation. We measured activated clotting time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time during early denning (December), late denning (March) and summer (August). Activated clotting time during early hibernation was ~3 times longer than that observed among non-hibernating animals. Clotting time was reduced later in hibernation, when bears were within ~1 month of emerging from dens. Prothrombin time was similar for each seasonal time point, whereas activated partial thromboplastin time was highest during early denning and decreased during late denning and summer. We also examined D-dimer concentration to assess whether the bears were likely to have experienced embolic events. None of the nonparturient bears exceeded a D-dimer concentration of 250 ng ml-1 (considered the clinical threshold for embolism in mammals). Our findings suggest there is unique expression of the clotting cascade in American black bears during hibernation, in which extrinsic pathways are maintained but intrinsic pathways are suppressed. This was evaluated by a significant difference between the activated clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin time during the denning and non-denning periods. These changes are likely adaptive, to avoid clotting events during states of immobilization and/or periods of asystole. However, an intact extrinsic pathway allows for healing of external injuries and/or foreign body responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]