Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

PIT POP! Bursting the bubble on home-range bias with fine-scale PIT telemetry

Hugh Allan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0251-7332 A * , Richard P. Duncan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1175-1152 A , Peter Unmack A , Duanne White A and Mark Lintermans A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.

* Correspondence to: hugh.allan@canberra.edu.au

Handling Editor: Gerry Closs

Marine and Freshwater Research 73(11) 1297-1309 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF22021
Submitted: 28 January 2022  Accepted: 28 June 2022   Published: 26 July 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context: Improved tracking technologies increase understanding of fish movement, but care is required when comparing studies of different design.

Aims: We used an approach that allowed fine-scale tracking to compare results from individual-tracking designs to simulated batch-marking designs.

Methods: Adult Galaxias tantangara (a small freshwater fish) individuals were tagged with 9-mm PIT tags in a small headwater stream and tracked with an accuracy of 1 lineal metre. To evaluate differences between common study designs, data were re-analysed to simulate both batch-marking section size and tracking resolution between 1 and 250 m.

Key results: Home-range estimates decreased with a smaller section size and tracking resolution. Batch-marking simulations differed in 99% of cases, whereas individual tracking simulations differed in only 17% of comparisons. Comparisons between different methods were rarely statistically equivalent, being so only when section size or resolution was less than 4 m.

Implications: Importantly, batch-marking studies are often likely to overestimate home-range size, and results from different studies may be comparable only when resolution is very fine or identical, even if the same method was used.

Keywords: batch marking, conservation, freshwater, home range, movement, passive integrated transponder, spatial ecology, threatened species.


References

Akbaripasand, A, Nichol, EC, Lokman, PM, and Closs, GP (2011). Microhabitat use of a native New Zealand galaxiid fish, Galaxias fasciatus. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45, 135–144.
Microhabitat use of a native New Zealand galaxiid fish, Galaxias fasciatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allan H, Lintermans M (2018) Ecology of the critically endangered stocky galaxias Galaxias tantangara. A progress report for the NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee. University of Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Allan H, Lintermans M (2021) Investigating the utility of drones to identify potential fish refugia. Report to the Australian Society for Fish Biology Threatened Fishes Committee.
| Crossref |

Allan, H, Unmack, P, Duncan, RP, and Lintermans, M (2018). Potential impacts of PIT tagging on a critically endangered small-bodied fish: a trial on the surrogate Mountain Galaxias. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147, 1078–1084.
Potential impacts of PIT tagging on a critically endangered small-bodied fish: a trial on the surrogate Mountain Galaxias.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allan, H, Duncan, RP, Unmack, P, White, D, and Lintermans, M (2021). Reproductive ecology of a critically endangered alpine galaxiid. Journal of Fish Biology 98, 622–633.
Reproductive ecology of a critically endangered alpine galaxiid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allibone, RM, and Townsend, CR (1997). Reproductive biology, species status and taxonomic relationships of four recently discovered galaxiid fishes in a New Zealand river. Journal of Fish Biology 51, 1247–1261.
Reproductive biology, species status and taxonomic relationships of four recently discovered galaxiid fishes in a New Zealand river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allibone, R, Caskey, D, and Miller, R (2003). Population structure, individual movement, and growth rate of shortjaw kokopu (Galaxias postvectis) in two North Island, New Zealand streams. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 37, 473–483.
Population structure, individual movement, and growth rate of shortjaw kokopu (Galaxias postvectis) in two North Island, New Zealand streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Altenritter, ME, Pescitelli, SM, Whitten, AL, and Casper, AF (2019). Implications of an invasive fish barrier for the long-term recovery of native fish assemblages in a previously degraded northeastern Illinois River system. River Research and Applications 35, 1044–1052.
Implications of an invasive fish barrier for the long-term recovery of native fish assemblages in a previously degraded northeastern Illinois River system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bell CP (2001) The ecology of Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in Manson Creek, North Canterbury. MSc (Zoology) thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Available at https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/4309Please%20check%20the%20edits%20made%20to%20Ref.%20(Bell%202001)

Berra, TM (1973). A home range study of Galaxias bongbong in Australia. Copeia 1973, 363–366.
A home range study of Galaxias bongbong in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Berra, TM, and Gunning, GE (1972). Seasonal movement and home range of the longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque) in Louisiana. The American Midland Naturalist 88, 368–375.
Seasonal movement and home range of the longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque) in Louisiana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bowie S, Jack D, Nelson D (2018) Use of built barriers in New Zealand streams as a conservation management tool. In ‘International conference on engineering and ecohydrology for fish passage’, 10–14 December 2018, Albury, NSW, Australia. (University of Massachusetts—Amherst: Amherst, MA, USA). Available at https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2018/December13/25

Broadhurst, BT, Dyer, JG, Ebner, BC, Thiem, JD, and Pridmore, PA (2011). Response of two-spined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus to short-term flow fluctuations in an upland Australian stream. Hydrobiologia 673, 63–77.
Response of two-spined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus to short-term flow fluctuations in an upland Australian stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Broadhurst, BT, Lintermans, M, Thiem, JD, Ebner, BC, Wright, DW, and Clear, RC (2012). Spatial ecology and habitat use of two-spined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus in an upland reservoir. Aquatic Ecology 46, 297–309.
Spatial ecology and habitat use of two-spined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus in an upland reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Broadhurst, BT, Ebner, BC, Lintermans, M, Thiem, JD, and Clear, RC (2013). Jailbreak: a fishway releases the endangered Macquarie perch from confinement below an anthropogenic barrier. Marine and Freshwater Research 64, 900–908.
Jailbreak: a fishway releases the endangered Macquarie perch from confinement below an anthropogenic barrier.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cadwallader, PL (1976a). Home range and movements of the common river galaxies, Galaxias vulgaris Stokell (Pisces: Salmoniformes), in the Glentui River, New Zealand. Marine and Freshwater Research 27, 23–33.
Home range and movements of the common river galaxies, Galaxias vulgaris Stokell (Pisces: Salmoniformes), in the Glentui River, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cadwallader, PL (1976b). Breeding biology of a non-diadromous galaxiid, Galaxias vulgaris Stokell, in a New Zealand river. Journal of Fish Biology 8, 157–177.
Breeding biology of a non-diadromous galaxiid, Galaxias vulgaris Stokell, in a New Zealand river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Carroll, C, Rohlf, DJ, Li, Y-W, Hartl, B, Phillips, MK, and Noss, RF (2015). Connectivity conservation and endangered species recovery: a study in the challenges of defining conservation-reliant species. Conservation Letters 8, 132–138.
Connectivity conservation and endangered species recovery: a study in the challenges of defining conservation-reliant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cooke, SJ, Martins, EG, Struthers, DP, et al. (2016). A moving target: incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 188, 239.
A moving target: incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crook, DA (2004a). Movements associated with home-range establishment by two species of lowland river fish. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 61, 2183–2193.
Movements associated with home-range establishment by two species of lowland river fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crook, DA (2004b). Is the home range concept compatible with the movements of two species of lowland river fish? Journal of Animal Ecology 73, 353–366.
Is the home range concept compatible with the movements of two species of lowland river fish?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crook, DA, and White, RWG (1995). Evaluation of subcutaneously implanted visual implant tags and coded wire tags for marking and benign recovery in a small scaleless fish, Galaxias truttaceus (Pisces: Galaxiidae). Marine and Freshwater Research 46, 943–946.
Evaluation of subcutaneously implanted visual implant tags and coded wire tags for marking and benign recovery in a small scaleless fish, Galaxias truttaceus (Pisces: Galaxiidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Daly, R, Filmalter, JD, Peel, LR, Mann, BQ, Lea, JSE, Clarke, CR, and Cowley, PD (2021). Ontogenetic shifts in home range size of a top predatory reef-associated fish (Caranx ignobilis): implications for conservation. Marine Ecology Progress Series 664, 165–182.
Ontogenetic shifts in home range size of a top predatory reef-associated fish (Caranx ignobilis): implications for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davis A (2017) Investigating the role of long distance dispersal in the response of stream fishes to urbanization. MSc (Integrative Biology) thesis, Kennesaw State University. Available at https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/20

David, BO, and Closs, GP (2001). Continuous remote monitoring of fish activity with restricted home ranges using radiotelemetry. Journal of Fish Biology 59, 705–715.
Continuous remote monitoring of fish activity with restricted home ranges using radiotelemetry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

David, BO, and Stoffels, RJ (2003). Spatial organisation and behavioural interaction of giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus) in two stream pools differing in fish density. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 37, 315–322.
Spatial organisation and behavioural interaction of giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus) in two stream pools differing in fish density.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dawson, DR, and Koster, WM (2018). Habitat use and movements of Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena) in a Victorian coastal stream. Marine and Freshwater Research 69, 1259–1267.
Habitat use and movements of Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena) in a Victorian coastal stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

DeHaan, PW, Von Bargen, J, and Scheerer, PD (2017). Genetic variation and the relationship between stream and lake ecotypes of a threatened desert Catostomid, the Warner sucker (Catostomus warnerensis). Ecology of Freshwater Fish 26, 609–620.
Genetic variation and the relationship between stream and lake ecotypes of a threatened desert Catostomid, the Warner sucker (Catostomus warnerensis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ebner, BC, and Thiem, JD (2009). Monitoring by telemetry reveals differences in movement and survival following hatchery or wild rearing of an endangered fish. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 45–57.
Monitoring by telemetry reveals differences in movement and survival following hatchery or wild rearing of an endangered fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Enders, EC, Clarke, KD, Pennell, CJ, Ollerhead, LMN, and Scruton, DA (2007). Comparison between PIT and radio telemetry to evaluate winter habitat use and activity patterns of juvenile Atlantic salmon and brown trout. Hydrobiologia 582, 231–242.
Comparison between PIT and radio telemetry to evaluate winter habitat use and activity patterns of juvenile Atlantic salmon and brown trout.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fletcher, CM, Collins, SF, Nannini, MA, and Wahl, DH (2019). Competition during early ontogeny: effects of native and invasive planktivores on the growth, survival, and habitat use of bluegill. Freshwater Biology 64, 697–707.
Competition during early ontogeny: effects of native and invasive planktivores on the growth, survival, and habitat use of bluegill.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fluker, BL, Jones, KD, and Kuhajda, BR (2019). Genetic structure and diversity of the blueface darter Etheostoma cyanoprosopum, a microendemic freshwater fish in the southeastern USA. Endangered Species Research 40, 133–147.
Genetic structure and diversity of the blueface darter Etheostoma cyanoprosopum, a microendemic freshwater fish in the southeastern USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Funk, JL (1957). Movement of stream fishes in Missouri. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 85, 39–57.
Movement of stream fishes in Missouri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gerber, KM, Mather, ME, and Smith, JM (2017). A suite of standard post-tagging evaluation metrics can help assess tag retention for field-based fish telemetry research. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 27, 651–664.
A suite of standard post-tagging evaluation metrics can help assess tag retention for field-based fish telemetry research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gerking, SD (1953). Evidence for the concepts of home range and territory in stream fishes. Ecology 34, 347–365.
Evidence for the concepts of home range and territory in stream fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Herrera, M, Moreno-Valcárcel, R, De Miguel Rubio, R, and Fernández-Delgado, C (2019). From transient to sedentary? Changes in the home range size and environmental patterns of movements of European Eels (Anguilla anguilla) in a Mediterranean River. Fishes 4, 43.
From transient to sedentary? Changes in the home range size and environmental patterns of movements of European Eels (Anguilla anguilla) in a Mediterranean River.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hesthagen, T (1990). Home range of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and brown trout, Salmo trutta, in a Norwegian stream. Freshwater Biology 24, 63–67.
Home range of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and brown trout, Salmo trutta, in a Norwegian stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hilderbrand, RH, and Kershner, JL (2000). Conserving inland cutthroat trout in small streams: how much stream is enough? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 20, 513–520.
Conserving inland cutthroat trout in small streams: how much stream is enough?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hill, J, and Grossman, GD (1987). Home range estimates for three north American stream fishes. Copeia 1987, 376–380.
Home range estimates for three north American stream fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jungwirth, A, Balzarini, V, Zöttl, M, Salzmann, A, Taborsky, M, and Frommen, JG (2019). Long-term individual marking of small freshwater fish: the utility of visual implant elastomer tags. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 73, 49.
Long-term individual marking of small freshwater fish: the utility of visual implant elastomer tags.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Klinard, NV, Halfyard, EA, Fisk, AT, Stewart, TJ, and Johnson, TB (2018). Effects of surgically implanted acoustic tags on body condition, growth, and survival in a small, laterally compressed forage fish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147, 749–757.
Effects of surgically implanted acoustic tags on body condition, growth, and survival in a small, laterally compressed forage fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koehn JD, Crook DA (2013) Movements and migration. In ‘Ecology of Australian Freshwater Fishes’. (Eds P Humphries, K Walker) pp. 105–129. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia)

Koehn, JD, McKenzie, JA, O’Mahony, DJ, Nicol, SJ, O’Connor, JP, and O’Connor, WG (2009). Movements of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) in a large Australian lowland river. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 18, 594–602.
Movements of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) in a large Australian lowland river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koster, WM, Dawson, DR, Kitchingman, A, Moloney, PD, and Hale, R (2020). Habitat use, movement and activity of two large-bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool. Journal of Fish Biology 96, 782–794.
Habitat use, movement and activity of two large-bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lane, AA, Kornis, MS, and Bronte, CR (2019). Evaluation of coded wire tag loss in brook trout tagged using automated methods. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 39, 29–35.
Evaluation of coded wire tag loss in brook trout tagged using automated methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lintermans M (1998) The ecology of the two-spined blackfish Gadopsis bispinosus (Pisces: Gadopsidae). MSc thesis, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Available at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/10975

Lintermans M, Allan H (2019) Stocky galaxias Galaxias tantangara. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019’. e.T122903246A123382161. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Available at https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/122903246/123382161

Lintermans, M, Geyle, HM, Beatty, S, et al. (2020). Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction. Pacific Conservation Biology 26, 365–377.
Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lucas, MC, and Baras, E (2000). Methods for studying spatial behaviour of freshwater fishes in the natural environment. Fish and Fisheries 1, 283–316.
Methods for studying spatial behaviour of freshwater fishes in the natural environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McInnes, MG, Burns, NM, Hopkins, CR, Henderson, GP, McNeill, DC, and Bailey, DM (2020). A new model study species: high accuracy of discrimination between individual freckled hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) using natural markings. Journal of Fish Biology 96, 831–834.
A new model study species: high accuracy of discrimination between individual freckled hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) using natural markings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Milano, D, Aigo, JC, and Macchi, PJ (2013). Diel patterns in space use, food and metabolic activity of Galaxias maculatus (Pisces: Galaxiidae) in the littoral zone of a shallow Patagonian lake. Aquatic Ecology 47, 277–290.
Diel patterns in space use, food and metabolic activity of Galaxias maculatus (Pisces: Galaxiidae) in the littoral zone of a shallow Patagonian lake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moore, SJ, Allibone, RM, and Townsend, CR (1999). Spawning site selection by two galaxiid fishes, Galaxias anomalus and G. depressiceps, in tributaries of the Taieri River, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33, 129–139.
Spawning site selection by two galaxiid fishes, Galaxias anomalus and G. depressiceps, in tributaries of the Taieri River, South Island, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mundahl, ND, and Ingersoll, CG (1989). Home range, movements, and density of the central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum, in a small Ohio stream. Environmental Biology of Fishes 24, 307–311.
Home range, movements, and density of the central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum, in a small Ohio stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Norman, BM, and Morgan, DL (2016). The return of ‘Stumpy’ the whale shark: two decades and counting. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 14, 449–450.
The return of ‘Stumpy’ the whale shark: two decades and counting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee (2016) ‘Final determination: Galaxias tantangara: Stocky Galaxias as a critically endangered species.’ (NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee)

Pillans, RD, Babcock, RC, Thomson, DP, et al. (2017). Habitat effects on home range and schooling behaviour in a herbivorous fish (Kyphosus bigibbus) revealed by acoustic tracking. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 1454–1467.
Habitat effects on home range and schooling behaviour in a herbivorous fish (Kyphosus bigibbus) revealed by acoustic tracking.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pittman RG (2011) Minimum stream length requirements for McCloud River redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss spp.) in Trout and Tate creeks, Siskiyou County, California. MSc thesis, Humboldt State University, Department of Fisheries, Arcata, CA, USA. Available at http://dspace.calstate.edu/handle/2148/733

Pygas D, Alderson B, Reeds K, Blount C (2019) Appendix M.2 aquatic ecology impact assessment, Snowy 2.0 main works, prepared for EMM Consulting by Cardno Pty Ltd. (EMM Consulting by Cardno Pty Ltd)

Raadik, TA (2014). Fifteen from one: a revision of the Galaxias olidus Günther, 1866 complex (Teleostei, Galaxiidae) in south-eastern Australia recognises three previously described taxa and describes 12 new species. Zootaxa 3898, 1–198.
Fifteen from one: a revision of the Galaxias olidus Günther, 1866 complex (Teleostei, Galaxiidae) in south-eastern Australia recognises three previously described taxa and describes 12 new species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rash, JM, Goodfred, DW, and Jones, EM (2018). Evaluation of coded wire tag retention in brown trout (Salmo trutta) fingerlings tagged at three anatomical locations. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 33, 503–509.
Evaluation of coded wire tag retention in brown trout (Salmo trutta) fingerlings tagged at three anatomical locations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tamario, C, Calles, O, Watz, J, Nilsson, PA, and Degerman, E (2019). Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): implications for conservation strategies regarding fish-passage solutions. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 29, 612–622.
Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): implications for conservation strategies regarding fish-passage solutions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thiem, JD, Broadhurst, BT, Lintermans, M, Ebner, BC, Clear, RC, and Wright, D (2013). Seasonal differences in the diel movements of Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) in an upland reservoir. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 22, 145–156.
Seasonal differences in the diel movements of Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) in an upland reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Town, C, Marshall, A, and Sethasathien, N (2013). Manta Matcher: automated photographic identification of manta rays using keypoint features. Ecology and Evolution 3, 1902–1914.
Manta Matcher: automated photographic identification of manta rays using keypoint features.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Waltham, NJ, and Schaffer, J (2019). Feral pig exclusion fencing provides limited fish conservation value on tropical floodplains. bioRxiv , 625053.
Feral pig exclusion fencing provides limited fish conservation value on tropical floodplains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |