Capturing Underwater Video on the Cheap

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) biologists are participating in a broad-scale fish population study with the goal of developing state-specific criteria for aquatic life exposure to waterborne selenium.  High quality underwater video recordings of various fish behaviors (spawning, feeding, territorial displays, etc.) and egg sampling techniques were used by WVDEP biologists in the field to bolster sampling efficiency and the accuracy of larval identifications.  Recordings were made using ambient light in wadeable lentic and lotic environments.  Inexpensive (< $500) methods of capturing quality footage in these environments were used and are readily available to the public.