RESEARCH ARTICLE


Evaluation of Sprayed Fluorescent Pigment as a Method to Mass-Mark Fish Species



David A. Schumann1, Keith D. Koupal2, *, W. Wyatt Hoback1, Casey W. Schoenebeck1
1 University of Nebraska at Kearney, Department of Biology, 2401 11th Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68849, USA
2 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Kearney Field Office, 1617 1st Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68847, USA


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© 2013 Schumann et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Kearney Field Office, 1617 1st Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68847, USA; Tel: 308 865 5310; Fax: 308 865 5309; E-mail: Keith.Koupal@Nebraska.gov


Abstract

A technique for mass-marking fish was evaluated that forces fluorescent pigment into dermal tissue with compressed air. A five month trial was conducted where mark retention, readability, and marking mortality were evaluated with six fish species that represent a variety of taxonomic groups. Approximately 100 of each species were marked; a percentage with fluorescent sprayed pigment and visible implanted elastomer (VIE) and the remaining with bilaterally distinct VIE tags. Marking mortality ranged from 0 to 100 percent and for three species mortality was size dependent. Mark retention declined at different rates for each species and ranged from 6 to 65 percent after five months. False-positive values and imperfect mark detection on poorly marked individuals affected retention. Growth of marked fish compared to unmarked control groups was significantly lower for two species. Because of inconsistency within and among species, fluorescent spray procedures need refinement and additional assessment prior to fisheries application.

Keywords: Fluorescent, mark readability, mark retention, mass-marking, marking mortality, pigment.