Movement patterns of the invasive signal crayfish determined by PIT telemetry

In one of the first field studies to utilize passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry to study space use of invertebrates, movement of the introduced signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852)) was examined intensively in a high-density population in an upland river in northern England from 18 August to 6 September 2004. Crayfish (carapace length 21.0–67.3 mm) were tracked with externally attached PIT tags, enabling remote detection of tagged crayfish by the use of a portable detector. Of the 406 crayfish tagged, 356 (87.7%) were subsequently relocated at least once. The majority of crayfish remained close to the release location (median distance between release and final locations 36.3 m; 25th percentile 10.4 m, 75th percentile 91.6 m). However, movements of up to 345 m were recorded. There was no relationship between sex or size and distance moved. A small waterfall, upstream of the release location, appeared to form a barrier preventing movements of tagged crayfish upstream past it during the study period. PIT telemetry can provide an effective method for detailed recording of space use compared with standard mark–recapture or radiotelemetry methods.

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Portable PIT detector as a new tool for non-disruptively locating individually tagged amphibians in the field: a case study with Pyrenean brook salamanders (Calotriton asper)

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr08074 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 35 (8) ◽

pp. 780 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J. Cucherousset ◽

P. Marty ◽

L. Pelozuelo ◽

J.-M. Roussel

Keyword(s):

Shallow Waters ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Capture Method ◽

The Mean ◽

Portable Detector ◽

Pit Telemetry

Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) telemetry has recently been adapted for locating PIT-tagged fish in shallow waters using portable detectors. In the present study, we tested this method for adult amphibians (Pyrenean brook salamanders, Calotriton asper) PIT-tagged with 12-mm transponders in a headwater rocky stream. PIT telemetry performances were compared with a conventional hand-capture method, i.e. visual searching and overturning movable stones in the streambed. The mean efficiency of the portable detector (88.2% ± 5.2, s.e.) was significantly higher than hand-capture (51.1% ± 6.4) and the operator progressed, on average, four times faster. Time efficiencies were, on average, 0.92 (±0.15) and 0.12 (±0.04) adult salamanders per minute with the portable detector and by hand-capture, respectively. The efficiency of the portable detector was negatively correlated with the percentage of large stones on the streambed. The time needed to prospect a section was positively correlated with the abundance of PIT-tagged adult salamanders, spring inlets and undercut banks. Because PIT telemetry is less disruptive than hand-capture for both salamanders and their habitat, it is a promising and non-disruptive method for developing studies on the ecology and management of amphibians in shallow waters.

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Quantifying the interactions between koalas in a high-density population during the breeding period

Australian Mammalogy ◽

10.1071/am18027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 28 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Darcy J. Watchorn ◽

Desley A. Whisson

Keyword(s):

Social Structure ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Space Use ◽

High Density ◽

Breeding Period ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

High Density Population ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Density Population

A species’ social structure influences its patterns of gene flow and disease transmission. Knowledge of social structure therefore is critical for understanding conservation challenges and informing management strategies. We examined the social structure of 33 free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in a high-density population (6.7 koalas per hectare) during the early and peak phase of the breeding period (August–December) at Cape Otway, Victoria. We used GPS and proximity loggers to quantify koala space use and interactions, and direct observations to determine behaviours associated with interactions. Our proximity loggers recorded 661 interactions (64% male–female, 28% male–male and 8% female–female). A peak in male–male interactions at the onset of the breeding period suggested that males may physically compete for mates at this time. Male–female interactions increased from the onset of the breeding period, and were mostly of short duration (median duration 5.5 min). From field observations of interactions, and the absence of pouch young in December, many of these interactions may have been unsuccessful copulation attempts. Space use and social network analyses revealed that most males had strong links (total interaction duration >30 min) with only one or two females, despite their spatial overlap and interactions with multiple females. Body mass did not influence a male’s mating success in terms of number of female mates. Our results contrast with those of a lower-density population in central eastern Queensland, suggesting that some aspects of koala social structure may be plastic relative to population density.

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Evaluating Snake Density Using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Telemetry and Spatial Capture–Recapture Analyses for Linear Habitats

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/18-070 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 272

Author(s):

Wendy Leuenberger ◽

Allison G. Davis ◽

Jennifer M. Mckenzie ◽

Andrea N. Drayer ◽

Steven J. Price

Keyword(s):

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Linear Habitats ◽

Capture Recapture ◽

Pit Telemetry

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Utilization of pit telemetry to assess microhabitat affinities of stream-dwelling female crayfish during reproductive seclusion

Freshwater Crayfish ◽

10.5869/fc.2015.v21-1.71 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 71-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tyler R. Black ◽

Hayden T. Mattingly ◽

David D. Smith

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Important Variable ◽

Reproductive Capacity ◽

Substrate Roughness ◽

Pit Tags ◽

Substrate Quality ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Pine Creek ◽

Portable Detector ◽

Pit Telemetry

Abstract Stream habitat-use of female crayfish during brooding of eggs and hatchlings is a poorly studied aspect of crayfish life history and ecology. Our goal was to use passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology to describe diurnal habitat-use patterns of females of two crayfish species during reproductive seclusion. PIT tags were externally attached to female Cambarus friaufi in Pine Creek, Tennessee, USA and Orconectes meeki meeki in Rock Creek, Missouri, USA. Crayfish were tracked with a portable detector and habitatuse was assessed in 2008 for C. friaufi and 2009 for O. m. meeki. PIT tags proved to be a highly effective tool for relocating crayfish, with = 85% of tagged individuals located at least once. Substrate roughness was identified as the most important variable for both species during brooding, followed by additional substrate-related variables, water velocity, and water depth. Cambarus friaufi, however, was more of a generalist and used microhabitat variables in close proportion to availability, whereas O. m. meeki showed more specialized use of brooding habitat variables. Our results suggest that female crayfish reproductive seclusion is closely linked to sufficiently heterogeneous substrate. Reductions in substrate quality could potentially alter crayfish reproductive capacity, thus impacting biodiversity and productivity of streams.

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Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) hibernacula in Waterton Lakes National Park revealed using Passive Integrated Transponder telemetry

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v132i2.2056 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 132 (2) ◽

pp. 168-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew R. Atkinson-Adams ◽

Christopher J. Price ◽

Garry J. Scrimgeour ◽

Cynthia A. Paszkowski

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Root Systems ◽

Ambystoma Macrodactylum ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Waterton Lakes National Park ◽

Pit Telemetry

Long-toed Salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) spend most of their lives on land; however, their fossorial nature makes studying their use of habitat difficult. Using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) telemetry over two years, we found and characterized nine overwintering sites of Long-toed Salamanders in the vicinity of Linnet Lake and Stable Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, excavating five of them. These sites were typically associated with stumps and decaying root systems that gave the salamanders access to deep subterranean hibernacula. Overwintering sites were located up to 168 m from the shores of breeding ponds. Given the importance of such terrestrial sites to these populations of Long-toed Salamanders, it is vital that conservation efforts include the preservation of these features and ensure that a sufficient area surrounding breeding ponds remains undisturbed.

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Occurrence, fate, and confounding influence of ghost passive integrated transponder tags in an intensively monitored watershed

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2017-0409 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 286-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosealea M. Bond ◽

Colin L. Nicol ◽

Joseph D. Kiernan ◽

Brian C. Spence

Keyword(s):

Coho Salmon ◽

Fish Movement ◽

Multistate Model ◽

Pit Tag ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Pit Tags ◽

Median Distance ◽

Live Fish ◽

Biased Estimates ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder Tags

Over the last three decades, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags have been widely used to study fish populations. Interpretation of PIT tag detections, however, can be confounded by the presence of ghost tags, tags liberated when a fish dies. We used a combination of mobile antenna surveys, stationary antenna detections, and multistate mark–recapture modeling to assess the abundance and fate of ghost tags in a coastal California watershed. Accumulation of ghost tags from released hatchery-origin coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) smolts was substantial during California’s recent drought, with 2224 ghost tags identified during mobile reader surveys. Between surveys, PIT tags moved downstream a median distance of 346 m and a maximum distance of 1982 m. Stationary antenna array detections indicated that these movements occurred during high-flow events, concurrent with live fish movement. The multistate model estimated that, during winter, approximately 40% of tags were buried in the substrate beyond the read range of mobile readers. Failure to account for transport and burial dynamics of ghost tags can lead to biased estimates of fish abundance, survival, and movement.

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