In situ tagging technique for fishes provides insight into growth and movement of invasive lionfish.

ABSTRACT: Information on fish movement and growth is primarily obtained through the marking and tracking of individuals with external tags, which are usually affixed to anesthetized individuals at the surface. However, the quantity and quality of data obtained by this method is often limited by small sample sizes owing to the time associated with the tagging process, high rates of tagging-related mortality, and displacement of tagged individuals from the initial capture location. To address these issues, we describe a technique for applying external streamer and dart tags in situ, which uses SCUBA divers to capture and tag individual fish on the sea floor without the use of anesthetic. We demonstrate this method for Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/P. miles), species which are particularly vu

SUBMITTER: Akins JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4301043 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature