Efficacy of Using Passive Integrated Transponder Technology to Track Individual Shorthead Sculpins

We evaluated the feasibility of using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to mark and track individual shorthead sculpins (Coitus confusus). We implanted PIT tags in 80 shorthead sculpins in 2 size categories (60–80 mm and 81-106 mm total length) and in 1 of 2 locations (subcutaneous along the spinous dorsal fin or in the body cavity). We evaluated tag retention, sculpin survival, and net-avoidance behavior for 29 days. We observed no mortality directly attributable to PIT-tag injection at either tagging location. We observed a 38.8% loss rate of dorsal tags and a 2.5% loss rate of body-cavity tags. No change in net-avoidance behavior was observed. We released 97 PIT-tagged sculpins into an artificial stream and monitored them with 3 stationary and 1 portable antenna. Sixty sculpins were detected at least once, and 18 sculpins were detected multiple times with the portable antenna. These results indicate that PIT-tagging within the body cavity is a feasible method for marking and tracking individual shorthead sculpins.