A review of factors affecting PIT tag detection using mobile arrays and use of mobile antennas to detect PIT-tagged suckers in a wadeable Ozark stream

Douglas L. Zentner; Skylar Wolf; Shannon K. Brewer; Daniel E. Shoup

doi:10.1002/nafm.10578

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A review of factors affecting PIT tag detection using mobile arrays and use of mobile antennas to detect PIT-tagged suckers in a wadeable Ozark stream

Douglas L. Zentner·Skylar Wolf·Shannon K. Brewer·Daniel E. Shoup

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Abstract

Advantages of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are their small size, longevity, and low-cost compared to other tags. PIT tags are often used in fisheries to study movement patterns, survival, or estimate population size. However, PIT tags are limited by their short detection distance. Mobile PIT antennas may increase the utility of PIT tags in fisheries. In this study, we synthesize the current detection efficiency literature on mobile PIT antennas, determine factors influencing PIT-tag detection probability and efficiency for a raft-mounted mobile antenna, and summarize techniques used to increase observations of PIT-tagged fishes with raft-mounted mobile antennas in a wadable stream. Our literature review indicated tag size and orientation were the most-important factors affecting detection probabilities; however, our antenna was primarily influenced by water depth of the tag and distance from the antenna. Detection efficiency was influenced by discharge, turbidity, and sample date. Tracking methods that include targeting key habitats (e.g., rootwads) and using natural features to congregated tagged fishes (e.g., riffles or pinch points) may increase detection efficiency in wadable streams. This is the first formal review of factors affecting mobile PIT antenna detection efficiency. The published literature, combined with our study results, indicate several factors need to be considered prior to mobile PIT antenna tracking.

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North American Journal of Fisheries Management Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 36.29741818650811° to 36.422111227204425° latitude; -95.06366729736328° to -94.4216537475586° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeX RIS

Douglas L. Zentner, Skylar Wolf, Shannon K. Brewer, Daniel E. Shoup. 2021-02-01. A review of factors affecting PIT tag detection using mobile arrays and use of mobile antennas to detect PIT-tagged suckers in a wadeable Ozark stream. https://doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10578

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