Evaluation of four surgical implantation techniques for age‐0 white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836) with a new acoustic transmitter
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Source: Journal of Applied Ichthyology
DOI: 10.1111/jai.13564
Institutions: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Manitoba Hydro
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2772397436