Short‐term evaluation of visible implant alpha tags in juveniles of three fish species under laboratory conditions |
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| Authors: | K C Turek M A Pegg K L Pope |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, , Lincoln, NE, 68583 U.S.A.;2. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, , Lincoln, NE, 68583 U.S.A.;3. U.S. Geological Survey–Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, , Lincoln, NE, 68583 U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Visible implant alpha (VI alpha) tag‐induced changes in mortality and condition, as well as tag retention and readability, were examined during a 4‐week period for juveniles of three fish species: tiger muskellunge Esox masquinongy × Esox lucius (91 ± 7 mm total length, LT, mean ± s.d.), Snake River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki behnkei (84 ± 8 mm) and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (85 ± 5 mm). Mortality and condition did not differ between tagged fish and control fish for any species and overall tag retention rates were high (92% for E. masquinongy × E. lucius, 91% for O. c. behnkei and 100% for O. mykiss). Short‐term readability of VI alpha tags was low in juvenile E. masquinongy × E. lucius and juvenile O. c. behnkei. Therefore, it is not recommend to use VI alpha tags in juvenile E. masquinongy × E. lucius or juvenile O. c. behnkei for periods >2 weeks, but VI alpha tags seem to be suitable for juvenile O. mykiss for a period of at least 4 weeks. |
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| Keywords: | condition mortality readability retention tagging |
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