Premium
Coded Wire Tag Loss from Paddlefish: A Function of Study Location
Author(s) -
Guy Christopher S.,
Schultz Randall D.,
Clouse Christopher P.
Publication year - 1996
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(1996)016<0931:cwtlfp>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - rostrum , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , biology , significant difference , zoology , mathematics , statistics , genus
Paddlefish Polyodon spathula were tagged with 1.25‐mm‐long coded wire tags (CWTs) to determine rate of tag loss and identify a suitable tagging location. Tag loss was 77% for paddlefish held 51 d in rectangular fiberglass tanks (tank study), and 3% for fish held 96 d in ponds (pond study). We believe the difference in tag loss between the two studies was related to fish behavior. In intensive culture operations, a paddlefish tends to injure the tip of its rostrum by striking i1 against the walls of the tank; thus, it is likely that high tag loss is a result of rostra being continually scraped. Mortality rate of tagged fish in tanks was 4% and not influenced by tagging procedures. In the pond study, paddlefish with tags implanted 5 mm into the distal end of the rostrum, slightly off the center axis, had significantly lower tag loss (0%) than those implanted 2 mm into the center of the ventral side (3%) or 2 mm into the distal end, slightly off the central axis, (3%). However, we recommend implanting CWTs 2 mm deep into the tip of the rostrum, slightly off the central axis, to allow biologists and anglers to remove a small portion of the rostrum containing the tag and return the fish to the water relatively unharmed.