Classifying and inferring behaviors using real‐time acceleration biotelemetry in reproductive steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract

Movement behaviors are central to ecology and conservation. Movement sensing technologies can monitor behaviors that are otherwise difficult to observe under field conditions and may enhance the ability to quantify behaviors at the population scale. We monitored steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spawning behaviors in a seminatural enclosure using accelerometer telemetry tags while simultaneously observing behaviors with underwater cameras. Behavioral assignments from visual observations were compared to acceleration histories to develop assignment criteria for acceleration data, including for a key behavior (oviposition). Behavioral events independently classified using acceleration data prior to reviewing video were compared to video scoring and 97% of holding behaviors, 93% of digging behaviors, and 86% of oviposition/covering behaviors were correctly assigned using acceleration data alone. We applied the method to at‐liberty steelhead in spawning tributaries. Acceleration records revealed putative spawning and oviposition in at‐liberty female steelhead, and time budgets for at‐liberty steelhead were similar to those monitored within enclosures. The use of similar movement sensing tags and classification approaches offers a method for monitoring movement behavior, activity budgets, and habitat use in a broad array of aquatic and terrestrial taxa, and may be especially useful when behaviors are cryptic.

Technical fishway passage structures provide high passage efficiency and effective passage for adult Pacific salmonids at eight large dams

“…For example, genetic stock identification and identification via parentage-based tagging [e.g., 46 , 68 ] of future telemetered fish would dramatically reduce the uncertainties associated with fish origin. Collection of additional fish trait and risk data, including physiological or transcriptomic measures of energetic status [e.g., 117 , 118 ], pathogen burden [e.g., 119 , 120 ], or stress indicators [e.g., 103 , 121 , 122 ], and quantification of individual thermal experience [e.g., 41 , 46 , 122 ] or activity budgets [ 123 ], would likely yield important insights on fish behaviors at the dams and on passage failure mechanisms. Tagging and monitoring individual fish has proven effective for assessing migration survival questions over large geographic areas [e.g., 124 – 126 ], but passive monitoring methods can also provide insight on failure mechanisms.…”

Using acoustic telemetry to assess behavioral responses to acute hypoxia and ammonia exposure in farmed rainbow trout of different competitive ability

“…(Carbonara et al, 2015;Cooke et al, 2016;Lennox et al, 2017). Traditionally used in wild fish as a key source of information for conservation and management practices in aquatic ecology (Fuchs and Caudill, 2019;Lennox et al, 2017;McKenzie et al, 2016), these electronic tags are also a promising tool for refining farming procedures for a better monitoring and control of fish welfare in aquaculture facilities (Brijs et al, 2018;Carbonara et al, 2020Carbonara et al, , 2019aKolarevic et al, 2016;Martos-Sitcha et al, 2019).…”

A seismic monitoring approach to detect and quantify river sediment mobilization by steelhead redd‐building activity

“…It has been shown that the process of building a redd can take several days for steelhead, including both the stage before and the stage after the spawning phase (Needham and Taft, 1934; Burner, 1951; Fuchs and Caudill, 2019). Thus one single sequence of pulses lasting 10–20 min will certainly not be enough to create a proper redd, and it is to be expected that there must be additional and extensive seismic redd‐building signals.…”