PNNL

Abstract

A new acoustic transmitter (AT; cylindrical, 0.7 g in air, 24.2×5.0 mm, up to 365 d battery life) was developed to monitor age-0 sturgeon; however, an implantation technique is critical to provide guidance for its use in field research. The goal of this study was to evaluate four implantation techniques by assessing transmitter retention, survival, growth, and wound healing variables. White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus; n = 150, 35–116 g, 182–289 mm fork length) were separated into five treatments: 1) unmarked, 2) flank incision with one suture, 3) flank incision without a suture, 4) offline incision with one suture, and 5) offline incision without a suture. Tagged fish were implanted with a non-functioning AT and all fish were held for 28 days. There was 100% transmitter retention and no difference in survival or growth (by 14 d post-implantation) among treatments. Sutured treatments had greater inflammation and presence of ulceration and water mold than non-sutured. Offline incision fish were more susceptible to red vein aggregation than flank incision fish. Non-sutured treatments had greater openness than sutured, but only during the first 14 d post-implantation. The flank incision without a suture technique is recommended.