Abstract
AbstractWe conducted three laboratory studies to determine the effects of surgically implanted, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags on survival, tag retention, and growth in two abundant estuarine fishes. The effects of the 12.5‐mm PIT tags were examined in Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, and the effects of the 12.5‐mm and 8.4‐mm tags were examined in Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus. For each experiment, Spot and Mummichogs were divided into three size‐groups: small, medium, and large. Tagged Spot had lower survival rates than the untagged conspecifics with the exception of the larger Spot, where there was no difference in survival rates. Large Spot also had the highest tag retention (86%) and tagging “success” (i.e., 80% survived and retained their tag). There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the 12.5‐mm tagged and untagged Mummichogs; there was no significant effect of Mummichog size on survival, tag retention, or success; and success for all 12.5‐mm tagged Mummichogs was 87%. Survival estimates were 90%, 95%, and 100% for the small, medium, and large 8.4‐mm tagged Mummichogs; and tag retention was 100% for the survivors. Within the medium and large sized Spot and Mummichogs (for both 8.4‐mm and 12.5‐mm tags), there was no effect of PIT tag presence on growth (length or weight). Spot should be >68 mm TL to obtain a tag success of >90% using 12.5‐mm PIT tags. Tagging was successful for Mummichogs in the smallest sized groups examined but there was also an indication of lower growth rates for Mummichogs <50 mm marked with 12.5‐mm PIT tags. Mummichogs should thereby be >50 mm when initially tagged with 12.5‐mm PIT tags and more than ~36 mm TL when tagged with 8.4‐mm PIT tags. PIT tags can be used to successfully mark relatively small Spot and Mummichogs, potentially allowing for robust estimates of their demographic rates.Received April 2, 2015; accepted December 16, 2015 Published online May 31, 2016
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