Search USGS⌕ Search
Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70021349

Effects of surgically and gastrically implanted radio transmitters on growth and feeding behavior of juvenile chinook salmon

N.S. Adams·D.W. Rondorf·S.D. Evans·J.E. Kelly
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We examined the effects of surgically and gastrically implanted radio transmitters (representing 2.3-5.5% of body weight) on the growth and feeding behavior of 192 juvenile chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (114-159 mm in fork length). Throughout the 54-d study, the 48 fish with transmitters in their stomachs (gastric fish) consistently grew more slowly than fish with surgically implanted transmitters (surgery fish), fish with surgery but no implanted transmitter (sham-surgery fish), or fish exposed only to handling (control fish). Growth rates of surgery fish were also slightly impaired at day 21, but by day 54 they were growing at rates comparable with those of control fish. Despite differences in growth, overall health was similar among all test fish. However, movement of the transmitter antenna caused abrasions at the corner of the mouth in all gastric fish, whereas only 22% of the surgery fish had inflammation around the antenna exit wound. Feeding activity was similar among groups, but gastric fish exhibited a coughing behavior and appeared to have difficulty retaining swallowed food. Because growth and feeding behavior were less affected by the presence of surgically implanted transmitters than by gastric implants, we recommend surgically implanting transmitters for biotelemetry studies of juvenile chinook salmon between 114 and 159 mm fork length.

Explore related subjects

Transactions of the American Fisheries SocietyArticle

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

N.S. Adams, D.W. Rondorf, S.D. Evans, J.E. Kelly. 1997. Effects of surgically and gastrically implanted radio transmitters on growth and feeding behavior of juvenile chinook salmon. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1998)127%3C0128%3Aeosagi%3E2.0.co%3B2

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

Effects of temperature on standard metabolic rate, hypoxia tolerance, and critical thermal maxima in invasive cichlids

Objective Jaguar Guapote Parachromis managuensis and Red Devil/Midas cichlids Amphilophus spp. are highly invasive species in the family Cichlidae native to Central America. These cichlids are popular within the aquarium trade, leading to their broad introduction outside of their native range. Information about potential environmental plasticity of a species can improve predictions of invasion potential. In this respect, measures of environmental influences on metabolic rate and hypoxia tolerance are important for understanding limitations in adaptability and subsequently guiding the management of invasive species. Methods Standard metabolic rate (SMR), hypoxia tolerance, and critical thermal maxima (CT max ) were compared between Jaguar Guapote and Amphilophus spp. For SMR and hypoxia tolerance, a range of temperatures spanning subtropical to tropical environments (i.e., 22, 28, and 34°C) was used, followed by stepwise decreases in oxygen saturation until loss of equilibrium. Results Jaguar Guapote and Amphilophus spp. both had lower SMR at 28°C than at 34°C, SMR at 22°C was not different from either temperature. Both Jaguar Guapote and Amphilophus spp. were the most sensitive to hypoxia at the coolest temperature (22°C) relative to warmer temperatures (28°C and 34°C). Upper thermal tolerance (CT max ) was similar between species (∼42°C), although Jaguar Guapote were more resilient based on a higher agitation temperature and recovery following high temperature exposure. Conclusions These results indicate temperatures that are representative of their natural distribution (i.e., near 28°C) offer energetic savings for Jaguar Guapote and Amphilophus spp. relative to warmer temperatures (34°C), with cooler temperatures (22°C) having higher metabolic costs than expected. Both Jaguar Guapote and Amphilophus spp. are sensitive to hypoxia at cooler temperatures (22°C). Therefore, these species are relatively resilient to high temperatures, but low temperatures may restrict their invasiveness.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS2026

The value of electronic tagging and tracking studies for understanding fish–hypoxia interactions

Objective Hypoxia (i.e., low dissolved oxygen availability) is a natural phenomenon but can also be induced by human activities (e.g., nutrient enrichment from runoff). Given that dissolved oxygen is essential for aquatic life, periods of hypoxia tend to have negative consequences (e.g., sublethal disturbances, mortality) for most fishes. Extensive laboratory research has documented hypoxia thresholds and physiological and behavioral outcomes for a variety of freshwater and marine fishes and there is also an extensive body of fieldwork assessing population-level responses (e.g., survival, distribution). Yet, studying how individual fish respond to hypoxia in the wild has proved challenging; electronic tagging and tracking tools (e.g., biotelemetry, biologging) have made it easier to study individual responses to hypoxia and complement other tools like hydroacoustics that tend to focus on population-level responses. Methods We review what has been learned from contemporary studies that employ electronic tagging and tracking tools to understand how fish respond to hypoxia in the wild. Topics explored include identifying and validating hypoxia thresholds, habitat compression, connectivity, mortality, physiological and bioenergetic consequences, and extreme weather conditions. We also consider what we have learned about evaluating various management plans for hypoxia and reflect on how electronic tags have also been used in aquaculture systems and in hybrid studies that combine laboratory and field research. We highlight fishes in Lake Erie as a research narrative to demonstrate how electronic tagging and tracking have markedly improved our understanding of a longstanding hypoxia issue. Results Our synthesis revealed that electronic tagging and tracking have provided critical information on how fish respond to hypoxia in the field, revealing complex trade-offs and compensatory mechanisms as well as cryptic hypoxia-induced mortality. Beyond just illuminating space use and mortality, tags equipped with various sensors are revealing how fish deal with hypoxia in real time in terms of physiology, bioenergetics, and behavior. Conclusions As electronic tagging and tracking methods experience further innovation and are increasingly applied to understand the effects of hypoxia on fish, we expect more unanticipated findings about the effects of hypoxia on fish in all aquatic ecosystems, which will strengthen our ability to manage and mitigate hypoxia. Combining tools and approaches (e.g., lab and field) is perhaps the best way to generate comprehensive understanding.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS2026

Life history traits and population dynamics of Freshwater Drum across large river gradients

Objective Monitoring and assessment of nongame native fishes is limited, but conservation interest in these species is growing. Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens are a wide-ranging species that serve important functional roles and could serve as an indicator for similar but less common species. Our overall objectives were to quantify and compare population dynamic rates and life history of Freshwater Drum among study reaches in the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers and relate these metrics to hypothesized environmental and anthropogenic factors. Methods We integrated recently collected age data with monitoring data to estimate age and size distributions, growth curves, maturation schedules, mortality rates, and young-to-adult ratios of Freshwater Drum in six study reaches spanning 1,500 km of river. Principal component analyses and linear regression were used to relate environmental and anthropogenic gradients (latitude, commercial harvest, hydrologic dynamics, primary productivity) to life history traits and population dynamic rates. Results We found latitudinal gradients in life history traits and population dynamic rates whereby Freshwater Drum in upstream, higher-latitude study reaches generally exhibited later maturity, slower growth, smaller maximum size, and lower mortality rates compared with those in lower-latitude study reaches. Further, young-to-adult ratios positively corresponded with chlorophyll- a concentration. No clear relationships were apparent between population dynamic rates and hydrologic variation or commercial harvest. Conclusions Latitude is an important structuring component of life history traits and population dynamics of Freshwater Drum in the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers likely due to both temperature seasonality and disturbance regimes. The presence of demographic structure in a widespread, common species such as Freshwater Drum suggests similar patterns likely exist in other long-lived native fishes.

Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin↗