T-105-12
Evaluation of Surgical Tagging Techniques and Guidelines for Implantation of Acoustic Transmitters into Small Juvenile White Sturgeon

Stephanie Liss , Environmental Assessment Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Neil Ashton , Ecology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Richard S. Brown , Ecology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Ricardo Walker , Ecology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Z. Daniel Deng , Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Huidong Li , Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
Cheryl Klassen , Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Stephanie Backhouse , Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Phil Bates , Idaho Power Company, Boise, ID
Matt Howell , Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Spokane, WA
Sturgeon (Acipenseridae) sampling in large river environments can be problematic using traditional techniques (i.e., non-telemetry).  There is insufficient information about young-of-year (YOY) sturgeon due to low abundances (or densities), or a preference for hard-to-sample habitats.  Surgically implanted acoustic transmitters allow for active monitoring of fish survival, movement, and distribution; however, tagging has been limited to larger juveniles and adults due to technology limitations (i.e., tag size).  In the current study, a novel acoustic transmitter was used for implantation into YOY sturgeon.  A total of 150 white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were separated into five groups: 1. unmarked (true control); 2. offline incision with one suture; 3. offline incision without a suture; 4. flank incision with one suture; 5. flank incision without a suture.  Treatment fish were implanted with a dummy acoustic transmitter and all fish were held for 12 weeks.  Survival, growth, tag retention, and a suite of wound variables were quantified.  Results showed that for sturgeon tagged without a suture (offline or flank) wounds healed better than sturgeon tagged with one suture (offline or flank).  Tag retention was high for all treatments.  Overall the flank location without a suture proved to be the best long term tagging technique.