A call for minimum standards in methodological reporting for studies using animal-borne accelerometers

Animal-borne tri-axial accelerometers are increasingly used to investigate animal behaviour and energetics. Critical methodological details, such as device placement and dynamic range, are frequently underreported. This lack of reporting hampers study replicability and interpretation of results. It also complicates comparisons between studies. In addition, as device placement and attachment method can impact animal welfare and survival, transparent reporting should be considered vital for ethical publication. In this comment, we highlight these issues through a review of methodological reporting in studies involving attaching accelerometers to sea turtles. To address these challenges, we propose a framework for minimum standardised reporting that outlines key metadata which researchers should include when publishing studies utilizing animal-borne accelerometers. We also recommend thorough testing of devices and attachment methods prior to their use in the field. Adoption of this framework will enhance transparency, reproducibility, and comparability across studies, while promoting best practices in animal welfare.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-026-00506-9.