Retention of passive integrated transponder tags in hatchery brook trout: Effect of tag size, implantation site, and double tagging

Abstract

AbstractA fundamental assumption of mark‐recapture studies is that individuals do not lose their marks or tags, because tag loss can lead to biased parameter estimates. Retention of 8‐mm full‐duplex and 12‐mm half‐duplex passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags implanted in the abdomen, opercular musculature, and dorsal sinus of age‐0+ hatchery male brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was evaluated in the laboratory. Treatments included single‐ and double‐tagged fish. Survival, growth, and tag retention were monitored for 181–187 days for 640 tagged fish and 80 untagged controls. Survival to 180 days ranged 95%–100% and was not affected by tagging. PIT‐tagging caused a short‐term reduction in growth rates. Tag retention to 180 days was 100% for dorsal implantation, 83.0% with 8‐mm tags in the operculum, 97.5% with 8‐mm tags in the abdomen, and 99.6% with 12‐mm tags in the abdomen. Retention of opercular tags was positively related to size at tagging. Tag loss was independent of whether fish were single‐ or double‐tagged. Double tagging with one full‐ and one half‐duplex PIT tag in different body locations would hedge against data loss relative to single tagging, especially for longer‐lived and iteroparous species where tag loss through time is more likely.