Examination of non-game fish passage at road-stream crossing using mark-recapture, genetic, and PIT tag techniques

Many government agencies are in the process of inventorying and replacing road-stream crossings, often with a stated goal to improve aquatic organism passage.   Although considerable research has focused on the passage capabilities of salmonid fishes, few biologists have addressed how the movements of other, non-game species are influenced by road-streams crossings.  Agencies are in need of simple, cost-effective techniques to verify aquatic organism passage at road-stream crossings.  In early 2010 we initiated simultaneous mark-recapture and genetic studies to determine movement of non-game fish species, including several darters (Etheostoma sp), cyprinids (e.g. Phoxinus; Semotilus) and sculpins (Cottus) through 20 road-stream crossings on the Daniel Boone National Forest.   At 3 crossings we also established antenna arrays to continuously monitor movement of PIT tagged fish.   Our results will provide managers with information on the passage capabilities of non-game species, and a comparison of techniques used to monitor fish movements.