Sampling Techniques for Burbot in the Green River of Wyoming

Burbot Lota lota populations are declining throughout much of their native distribution; however, they have received little research interest.  One important gap in our knowledge is the lack of standardized sampling methods for Burbot in lotic and lentic systems.  Past research has focused on passive gears in lentic systems, but declining populations in many lotic systems suggests that research into effective sampling methods for Burbot is warranted.  Night electrofishing, 6.4-mm mesh hoop nets, and 19-mm mesh hoop nets were compared at 49 sites for juvenile and adult Burbot in the Green River drainage of Wyoming during the summer and fall (2013).  Occupancy models were used to estimate the probability of detection (p) for each gear within the context of various habitat characteristics.  During the summer, night electrofishing had the highest detection probability for both juvenile (p ± SE;0.35 ± 0.05) and adult (0.30 ± 0.06) Burbot.  In the fall, 6.4-mm mesh hoop nets had the highest probability of detection for both juvenile and adult Burbot (0.46 ± 0.07).  Occupancy modeling provided a framework by which the efficacy of sampling methods can be compared, while accounting for variations in detection.