INIBIOMA   20415
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN BIODIVERSIDAD Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Photo-identification and the effects of tagging on the Patagonian catfish Hatcheria macraei
Autor/es:
BARRIGA, JUAN PABLO; CHIARELLO-SOSA, JUAN MAURO; JUNCOS, ROMINA; BATTINI, MIGUEL ANGEL
Revista:
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015 vol. 98 p. 1163 - 1171
ISSN:
0378-1909
Resumen:
The effects of subcutaneous visible implanted alphanumeric (VIA) microtags and pelvic fin excision, as well as individual photo-identification (Pid) based on natural spot patterns were experimentally evaluated in the small stream benthic Patagonian catfish Hatcheria macraei. VIA tag retention was 90% during the first 45 days, decreasing to 80 % at day 200, and 66 % at the end of the experiment, at day 254. Fin regeneration was not evident during the experiment. No differences were found between tagged or pelvic fin clipped catfish and a control group as regards survival, growth rate or condition factor (Fulton´s K). Spot patterns varied greatly between individuals but remained constant throughout the experimental period in each individual. The use of spot pattern analysis made individual Pid possible in H. macraei. The tagging was not effective in individualizing each fish, owing to mark loss or difficulty in reading the VIA tag codes. The combination of Pid with VIA tagging or fin clipping techniques in long term experiments is advisable in order to facilitate individual recognition. The Pid analysis described in this study is a low-cost method that could potentially be applied to any fish with a variable spot pattern.