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Comparison of Survival, Gonad Development, and Growth between Rainbow Trout with and without Surgically Implanted Dummy Radio Transmitters
Author(s) -
Martin Steven W.,
Long John A.,
Pearsons Todd N.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1995)015<0494:cosgda>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - rainbow trout , gonad , biology , development of the gonads , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , fish measurement , zoology , telemetry , trout , anatomy , engineering , aerospace engineering
The use of radio telemetry to determine fish movement patterns associated with spawning has proliferated in recent years. However, little is known about the effect of surgically implanted radio transmitters on spawning behavior or gonad development of fish collected near the time of spawning. We compared survival, gonad development, and growth between wild rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss with and without dummy radio transmitters that were surgically implanted prior to the fish's spawning period. Wild rainbow trout (mean fork length, 351 mm) were collected from the Yakima River, Washington, on February 5, 1993, with a drift boat electrofisher. Ten fish that met selection criteria had dummy radio transmitters surgically implanted into the intraperitoneal cavity, and ten other fish were retained as controls. All 20 fish were released into a nearby pond and fed daily. After 47 d all fish were measured and weighed, and gonad development and general health were assessed. All fish survived, and there were no transmitter expulsions by treatment fish. There were no significant differences in weight, condition factor, or gonad development between treatment fish and control fish. These results suggest that wild rainbow trout may be used for telemetry studies, even when the collection of fish and transmitter implantation occurs close to the time of spawning.