Evaluation of four surgical implantation techniques for age‐0 white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836) with a new acoustic transmitter

Abstract

Summary The goal of this study was to evaluate four implantation techniques by assessing transmitter retention, survival, growth, and wound healing responses in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836). A new acoustic transmitter (AT; cylindrical, 0.7 g in air, 24.2 × 5.0 mm, up to 365 days battery life) was developed to monitor age‐0 sturgeon; however, an implantation technique is critical to provide guidance for its use in field research. Sturgeon (n = 150, 182–289 mm fork length, 35–116 g) were separated into five treatments (n = 30 per treatment): (i) control, (ii) flank incision with one suture, (iii) flank incision without a suture, (iv) offline incision with one suture, and (v) offline incision without a suture. Fish were implanted with a non‐functioning AT and observed for 28 days. Transmitter retention was 100% and only fish in the offline incision without a suture treatment had reduced growth (0.15% mm growth per day) compared to controls (0.38%) over the 28 days study. Suturing caused an increase in incision inflammation, ulceration, and water mold infection. Offline incisions were more susceptible to varicosities than flank incisions. Non‐sutured incisions showed greater incision openness, but only during the first 14 days post‐implantation. A flank incision without a suture is recommended for implanting this new AT in age‐0 white sturgeon.

A subdermal tagging technique for juvenile sturgeon using a new self-powered acoustic tag

“…A long incision would likely be required, which could affect wound healing and recovery from surgery. Subsequent concerns for wound healing could occur if sutures were used to anchor the tag, as sutures could cause inflammation, ulceration, or water mold [28]. Externally attaching the transmitter, although potentially beneficial for positioning the SPT, could present problems for the fish during wound healing as the technique would also require the use of sutures [28].…”

Assessing Acoustic Tagging Effects on Survival, Growth, and Swimming Ability of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon

“…Research by Liss et al. () also showed that surgical techniques used in juvenile White Sturgeon A. transmontanus reduced growth over a 24‐d period when a tag representing about 1.1% of total body weight was implanted. Further research on the tagging of juvenile Green Sturgeon A. medirostris , however, showed no significant differences in either swimming ability or growth between tagged and nontagged individuals (Miller et al.…”

“…; Liss et al. ). Winter () was the first to propose the “2% rule,” which indicates that if the tag weight is no more than 2% of a fish's total body weight, the tag will have negligible effects on growth, condition, and survival.…”

“…that the tag and implantation method have little or no deleterious effects on the implanted individual based on the relationship of tag weight to total body weight (i.e., tag burden; Miller et al 2014;Liss et al 2017). Winter (1983) was the first to propose the "2% rule," which indicates that if the tag weight is no more than 2% of a fish's total body weight, the tag will have negligible effects on growth, condition, and survival.…”

“…In young-of-the-year Siberian Sturgeon Acipenser baeri, research has shown that tagging (using tags constituting 1-3% of total body weight) can affect swimming ability, distance, and speed (Carrera-García et al 2017). Research by Liss et al (2017) also showed that surgical techniques used in juvenile White Sturgeon A. transmontanus reduced growth over a 24-d period when a tag representing about 1.1% of total body weight was implanted. Further research on the tagging of juvenile Green Sturgeon A. medirostris, however, showed no significant differences in either swimming ability or growth between tagged and nontagged individuals (Miller et al 2014).…”