A Comparison of Tagging Methods for Mountain Sucker

Monitoring populations of indicator species can be used as a proxy for overall ecosystem health. Mountain Sucker Pantosteus jordani is listed as a Management Indicator Species for the US Forest Service in the Black Hills National Forest and as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by South Dakota’s Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Mountain Sucker declined in distribution and relative abundance between the 1960s and the present. Ongoing studies utilize 12 mm passive integrated transponders (PIT) to assess movement, however, information on tag retention and physiological effects are unknown for Mountain Sucker. We compared effects of tag implantation methods on mortality and growth of Mountain Sucker. Experiments conducted fall of 2014 assessed the effects of 3 different tagging methods on mortality and growth. Length and weight measurements were collected weekly for 5-8 weeks and mortality was recorded daily. Relative daily growth rates were calculated weekly, and mortality was compared among treatments, relative to the control. Mortality was 20 and 4 percent higher in tagging gun and tagging needle treatments than in the scalpel treatment, respectively. Mean relative daily growth rates were similar between groups. This information will improve assessment of fish survival estimates and inform future tagging efforts.