Recapture Period Research Articles

Movement and surrounding community of the understudied and endangered Ligumia recta (Mollusca, Unionidae)

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10750-023-05145-2.

Quantifying Aedes aegypti dispersal in space and time: a modeling approach

AbstractThe dispersal of the invasive mosquito Aedes aegypti in urbanized areas has received attention due to the hazard that this species poses to human health. However, we know little about this process at temperate latitudes, especially in recently colonized semi‐arid regions of the southwestern United States that differ ecologically from more typical habitats in the tropics. We collected data on Ae. aegypti dispersal through a mark–release–recapture (MRR) study in Central California. We employed stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to mark released mosquitoes. We characterized Ae. aegypti dispersal capacity using both traditional measures of central tendency and dispersal kernel theory coupled with space–time models, allowing for effects of environmental factors to provide more reliable dispersal estimates. Dispersal of Ae. aegypti was similar between females and males, and we found the mean distances traveled to be 224–240 m from the release location when estimated by conventional methods. Model‐based inference allowed for a more nuanced interpretation, with even greater dispersal distances possible depending on direction and environmental context. Our results showed that experimental conditions, such as spatial arrangement of traps and duration of the recapture period, as well as environmental conditions, such as wind speed and direction, altered the probability of recapturing marked mosquitoes, and therefore the observed dispersal pattern. This represents the first assessment of Ae. aegypti dispersal in the semi‐arid southwestern United States, which is unique among published studies in that the period of peak annual Ae. aegypti abundance coincides with cumulative precipitation close to zero. Results show that this species dispersed on average farther than commonly documented for other areas of the world. Our findings provide information for defining spatial control strategies, such as incompatible insect technique, which rely on a clear understanding of dispersal rates among neighboring areas.

Behavior of gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around baited fish traps determined from fine-scale acoustic tracking

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 606:133-150 (2018) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12780 Behavior of gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around baited fish traps determined from fine-scale acoustic tracking Nathan M. Bacheler1,*, Kyle W. Shertzer1, Jeffrey A. Buckel2, Paul J. Rudershausen2, Brendan J. Runde2 1Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA 2Department of Applied Ecology, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, USA *Corresponding author: nate.bacheler@noaa.gov ABSTRACT: Most reef fish surveys use bait to attract individuals to bite hooks, enter traps, or be counted on underwater video. The behavior of fish around baited gears, however, is poorly understood despite its importance for estimating catchability. We used a fine-scale acoustic positioning system to elucidate the movement behaviors of 11 telemetered gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around 54 baited fish traps deployed at a 37 m deep site in Raleigh Bay, North Carolina, USA. Median positional error rates from a reference transmitter were 1-2 m, suggesting fish positions were accurate and precise. Overall, 104170 spatial positions were determined for gray triggerfish over the 42 d study. There were 27 instances of telemetered gray triggerfish responding to baited fish traps. These fish responded from initial distances up to 312 m (mean = 68 m) from traps and spent 4-95% (mean = 35%) of their time within 20 m of traps. Using generalized additive models, we determined that telemetered gray triggerfish were most likely to respond to baited traps when they were initially located close to (<100 m), and down-current from, baited traps. There were substantial differences in gray triggerfish responses and water clarity across the 3 recapture periods, suggesting gray triggerfish use vision, olfaction, and perhaps sound to locate bait. Our modeling approach is general, and could be used to quantify the behavior of myriad organisms around sampling gears in various types of aquatic systems. KEY WORDS: Animal behavior · Bait · Telemetry · Vemco positioning system · Movement · Baited remote underwater video station · BRUVS · Trap · Reef Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Bacheler NM, Shertzer KW, Buckel JA, Rudershausen PJ, Runde BJ (2018) Behavior of gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around baited fish traps determined from fine-scale acoustic tracking. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 606:133-150. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12780 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 606. Online publication date: November 15, 2018 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2018 Inter-Research.

Entanglement of grey seals Halichoerus grypus at a haul out site in Cornwall, UK

Entanglement in marine debris has been internationally recognised as a potential threat to marine species. Sightings records and a photo identification catalogue from a haul out site in southwest England were used to establish entanglement records for grey seals Halichoerus grypus. Between 2004 and 2008 the annual mean entanglement rates varied from 3.6% to 5%. The maximum recapture period for entangled seals compared to paired control seals was significantly less (p=0.045) suggesting an increased mortality rate for affected seals. Of the 58 entangled cases in the catalogue, 64% had injuries that were deemed serious. Of the 15 cases where the entangling debris was visible, 14 were entangled in fisheries materials. The entanglement reported at this site could indicate a high rate of mortality and should be monitored carefully. On a more immediate level, entanglement represents a welfare issue for the affected animals.

Boldness and behavioral syndromes in the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus

In recent years, evidence for interindividual variation in within animal populations has been accumulating. Personality is defined as consistency in an individual's behavioral responses over time and/or across situations. One personality trait that has potentially far-reaching implications for behavioral ecology, and may provide insight into the mechanisms by which consistent behavioral correlations arise, is that of boldness. Boldness is defined as the tendency of an individual to take risks and be exploratory in novel contexts. Using the framework of behavioral syndromes, we tested for individual differences in boldness in the laboratory among field-caught juvenile bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) within and across the contexts of exploratory behavior, activity, and risk taking (e.g., antipredator) behavior. After such testing, individuals were tagged and returned to their lake of origin as part of a mark--recapture study testing for the repeatability of individual differences in boldness. Here, we report strong and consistent individual differences in boldness within and across all 3 behavioral contexts. Additionally, we observed that at least some boldness behaviors were repeatable after a 1--3 month recapture period. This study provides novel evidence for a boldness syndrome in sunfish, as well as insight into how behavioral types (e.g., shy/bold) may evolve and be maintained in natural populations. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.

Noninvasive Hair Sampling and Genetic Tagging of Co‐Distributed Fishers and American Martens

ABSTRACT Estimation of abundance is important for assessing population responses to management actions. Accurate abundance estimates are particularly critical for monitoring temporal variation following reintroductions when the management goal is to attain population sizes capable of sustaining harvest. Numerous reintroductions have taken place in the Great Lakes region of North America, including efforts to restore extirpated fishers (Martes pennanti) and American martens (M. americana). We used a DNA‐based noninvasive hair‐snaring method based on one trap design and trapping ‐grid configuration, and evaluated capture—mark—recapture (CMR) analytical approaches to simultaneously estimate population size for co‐distributed fishers and American martens in a 671‐km2 area of the Ottawa National Forest in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We included harvest as a final recapture period to increase probability of recapture and to evaluate potential violations of geographic closure assumptions. We used microsatellite markers to identify target species, eliminate congener species, and provide individual identity for estimation of abundance. Population estimates for fishers and martens on the study area ranged from 35 to 60 and 8 to 28, respectively. Estimators incorporating harvest data resulted in up to a 40% increase in abundance estimates relative to estimators without harvest. We considered population estimates not including harvest data the most appropriate for the study due to timing of sampling and environmental factors, but inclusion of harvested individuals was shown to be useful as a means to detect violations of the assumption of geographic closure. We suggest improvements on future CMR sampling designs for larger landscape scales of relevance to management through incorporation of habitat or historical harvest data. Noninvasive genetic methods that simultaneously estimate the numerical abundance of co‐distributed species can greatly decrease assessment costs relative to traditional methods, and increase resulting demographic and ecological information.

Adult movements of newly introduced alien Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from non-host habitats

Mark-release-recapture experiments were undertaken in order to investigate the movement of adult Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte from accidental introduction points towards suitable habitats, such as its host plant, Zea mays L. In Hungary in 2003 and 2004, nine mark-release-recapture experiments were carried out in a grass steppe area and lucerne field, in which two small maize fields (10x10 m) had been planted 300 m distant from the central release point. After each release of 5500 to 6000 marked D. v. virgifera, beetle recaptures were recorded three times using non-baited yellow sticky traps placed on 30, 105, 205 and 305 m radii around the release point. In seven out of 15 recapture periods (47%), beetle populations showed no directional movements, and their movements towards any particular habitat cannot be predicted. During five recapture periods (33%), beetle populations showed a uni-directional movement, and in three cases (20%) a bi-directional movement was observed. In 10 out of 15 recapture periods (67%), the released populations moved in a direction that was comparable with the mean wind direction during these periods; thus, beetle movements were slightly correlated with wind direction. On average over sites and years, beetles were not preferentially moving towards the two small maize fields (located 300 m from the release point) compared to other directions. However, beetles moved significantly more frequently in the direction of naturally-occurring maize fields within a radius of 1500 m than towards other habitats. Beetles stayed more frequently within flowering lucerne fields out to a radius of 300 and 600 m than in non-flowering lucerne or other habitats. On average, 2.8% (SD 3.2) of all recaptured beetles arrived in one of the two small maize fields located 300 m from their release point indicating that there is a high risk of a founder population establishing. Habitat management cannot be suggested as a means of preventing the beetle's initial dispersal because movement was usually non-directional, and alternative food plants were used prior to reaching maize.

Consequences of violating the recapture duration assumption of mark–recapture models: a test using simulated and empirical data from an endangered tortoise population

Summary Mark–recapture methods are frequently used to estimate survival rates, which inform wildlife management policies. Mark–recapture models assume zero mortality of marked animals during the period of recapture and therefore that this period is of negligible duration relative to the interval between recapture events. This ‘recapture duration assumption’ is frequently violated yet is rarely tested for its potential to bias survival estimates. We investigated whether violating the recapture duration assumption increased precision at the cost of increased bias in estimates of survival. Using both simulation and empirical approaches, annual survival and recapture rates were estimated under recapture period durations that either conformed to, or violated, the recapture duration assumption. Empirical data were derived from a population of endangered Madagascar ploughshare tortoises Geochelone yniphora. Estimates of ploughshare tortoise survival were higher and had smaller standard errors when the recapture duration assumption was violated. As the ‘true’ ploughshare tortoise survivorship was unknown, a simulation approach was used to assess whether short or long recapture periods gave the most reliable estimates. The simulation study showed that violating the recapture duration assumption increased precision but did not increase bias in parameter estimates, even if up to 50% of the annual mortality occurred during the recapture period. The most precise and least biased survival estimates were obtained when sample size (number of marked individuals) was greatest, i.e. when both survival and recapture rates were high. Bias in survival estimates was negligible unless the recapture rate during the recapture period was &lt; 0·2. We conclude that the most precise ploughshare tortoise parameter estimates were generated by using lengthy recapture occasions that violated the recapture duration assumption. Synthesis and applications. To achieve the most precise and least biased survival estimates we recommend violating the recapture duration assumption and using a recapture period that maximizes sample size and achieves a recapture rate of &gt; 0·2 during the recapture period. If both survival and recapture rates are relatively constant during the recapture period, survival estimates will then have negligible bias. If a recapture rate of &gt; 0·2 during the recapture period cannot be achieved, methods other than mark–recapture should be used to quantify demographics. These recommendations apply to any species with an annual survival rate &gt; 0·05.

Development of Tagging Techniques for Monitoring Fish Populations at Texas Artificial Reefs

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has used a broad range of methodologies to monitor the social, economic, and biological impacts of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Social and economic issues have been addressed through charter boat and diver mail-in questionnaire surveys and on-site creel surveys. Biological issues have been investigated through hook and line tagging, diver-based visual transects, and video traps. Assessments of hydroacoustic and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) biological survey techniques are also planned for deepwater reef sites. There is also a need to develop inexpensive biological monitoring methods to track target fish populations such as red snapper over time at specific reef sites. The Department has been investigating the use of collapsible traps to tag fish underwater as a potential long-term monitoring tool for assessing reef fish populations. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of this gear type was compared to hook and line capture techniques. During the initial effort, 223 red snapper were tagged underwater by divers after capture by three collapsible traps, and 291 red snapper were tagged on the surface by anglers after capture by hook and line techniques. The collapsible traps appeared to be more size selective for smaller sized red snapper than hook and line techniques. Fish tagged underwater had a higher recapture rate of 25.45 percent compared to the 11.89 percent recapture rate for fish caught and tagged on the surface. Although three recapture periods were used to evaluate tag return data, our findings suggest that future efforts directed at monitoring artificial reef fish populations should use multiple gear types with equal effort applied to account for size-selective capture patterns and logistical constraints.

Atypical Reproduction and Sexual Dimorphism of the Tropical Bonaire Island Whiptail Lizard, Cnemidophorus murinus

We investigated reproduction, sexual dimorphism in color, and sexual dimorphism in body size of Cnemidophorus murinus, the endemic whiptail lizard of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, during a year-long study and two later recapture periods. Growth rate declines as C. murinus increases in size. Males reach reproductive maturity at smaller snout-vent lengths (SVL) than do females (73 vs 85 mm) but continue to grow to larger final SVL (151 vs 116 mm maximum SVL). Bonaire whiptails can live at least four years. Reproduction was aseasonal; enlarged ovarian follicles and/or oviductal eggs in females and enlarged testes in males were observed in every month with no peak period of reproduction. Fat body growth, however, was strongly seasonal, and fat body mass was greatest in the months immediately after the rainy season. Amount of fat stored differed among three sites, and females stored more fat than males. Clutch size is typically one very large egg, but some females may produce two eggs. Although clutch mass/body mass ratio is typical for the genus, egg mass/body mass is greatest for any Cnemidophorus or Ameiva known and among the highest for any lizard (x = 0.126). Dorsal color is sexually dimorphic; females are brown, and juvenile males are also brown, changing to bright blue as they grow. However, many males never reach the brightest color morph and may retain the juvenile color form for years. Several features of the biology of C. murinus are unusual for the genus and for lizards in general (size at reproductive maturity, small clutch size, large relative egg mass, color variation in males).

Estimation of Native Screwworm (Calliphoridae: Diptera) Reproductive Activity by Release and Recapture of Sterile Females

Reproductive capacity and activity patterns of native screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel)) males were evaluated by release and recapture of sterile females in central Belize. On six occasions 4,000 virgin, 1-d-old sterile females were released at a central location. A total of 382 sterile females and 66 native females were recaptured on sentinel sheep at four locations. Ratios of virgin to mated recaptured females were used to calculate an estimated number of matings per release. During the 65-d period of the test, numbers of recaptured females and mating percentages increased, then decreased for the last release. Location of sentinel animals, day after release, and individual releases were significant factors explaining capture rates for mated and nonmated released females and captures of native females. Mating capacity for the native population of screwworm males over the 10-d recapture period was estimated to range from 70 to 1,735 matings for the dispersal area of these females. These data and estimates suggest that although screwworm males have relatively low population densities, they have significant excess mating capacity, and that production and release of competitive sterile males is important for the success of the screwworm eradication program.

Log-Linear Models for Capture-Recapture

SUMMARY Log-linear models are developed for capture-recapture experiments, and their advantages and disadvantages discussed. Ways in which they can be extended, sometimes with only partial success, to open populations, subpopulations, trap dependence, and long chains of recapture periods are presented. The use of residual patterns, and analysis of subsets of data, to identify behavioural patterns and acceptable models is emphasised and illustrated with two examples. 1. Capture-Recapture The biological problem with which we are concerned is that of estimating the parameters of a free-living population of unknown size, from a sequence of s samples, in each of which any individual either is or is not observed. The models in this paper require that each animal be marked, naturally or artificially, in such a way that we can observe the numbers of animals which have any particular pattern of being or not being observed through the sequence of samples. There are t = (2s - 1) different observable patterns, which we shall refer to as capture histories, although there is no requirement for physical capture, and denote each pattern by a sequence of l's and 2's representing, respectively, seen or not seen in a particular sample. A general pattern of capture history will be denoted a, with ra, the number of individuals observed to have this pattern. Thus, for example, with s = 3 samples and a = 121, r,2, is the number of animals seen in the first and third samples but not in the second. The pattern with all 2's is by definition unobservable. In general, the population will be subject to demographic change by birth or immigration and by death or emigration. The simplest assumption for the response of an animal to the observer, one which underlies the classical Petersen, Schnabel, or Jolly-Seber estimators, is that every animal alive in the population at a sampling time has the same probability of being observed. This probability may vary from one sample to another or be constant over all, or a number of, samples. If this assumption fails it may do so for either or both of two reasons. The first is that of trap dependence, the probability of an individual being observed in a sample depending on its past history of capture. The second is that of heterogeneity between individuals who, because of differences in their behaviour or in where they live, inherently have different probabilities of being observed in any sample. The basic idea of heterogeneity refers to properties of individuals which remain constant over time, but individual animals may also have time-varying behaviour, the aspect most commonly considered being temporary departure of an individual from the population. Various excellent texts describe theoretical and practical aspects of capture-recapture, notably the comprehensive one by Seber (1982), the introduction by Begon (1979), the

Comparison of Floy Anchor Tags and Fingerling Tags for Tagging White Suckers

Abstract The loss rates of Floy FD-67 anchor tags and FTF-69 fingerling tags were compared in a double-tag experiment on adult white suckers Catostomus commersoni in a small northwestern Ontario lake. Twenty-seven out of 100 white suckers tagged in September 1978 were recaptured over a period of 7 years ending in 1985. Losses of fingerling tags were in excess of 70% after less than 1 year whereas losses of anchor tags averaged about 10% at each recapture period up to the seventh year.

Dispersal patterns of Aedes sollicitans (Diptera: Culicidae) at the east end of Fire Island National Seashore, New York, USA.

Dispersal patterns of Aedes sollicitans were studied by releasing females marked with UV fluorescent powders and recapturing them over the following 6–8 days. Mosquitoes were marked with yellow powder on a marsh and with orange in the adjacent woods on Fire Island; other colors were used at sites across Bellport Bay on the south shore of Long Island (1–5 km from the marsh). Of ca. 90,000 females marked in August 1983, a total of 667 was recaptured. An estimated 41% of the females flew from the marsh to the woods in the first 1–3 days after the mark—release. Marsh—woods flight continued in both directions for the rest of the recapture period. A small percentage (estimates were <0.15%) of the females dispersed to the sample area on the south shore of Long Island. Although some of these females may have migrated directly over the bay, the data suggest that some cross-bay dispersal resulted from appetential movements from the marsh eastward along Fire Island to an area where the bay narrowed (ca. 0.3 km wide) and where some females crossed to the south shore. Dispersal patterns apparently resulted primarily from appetential flights in marshes and woods, with relatively little movement directly across large water barriers.