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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(4)

Acoustic and radio-transmitter retention in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in New Zealand

Adam J. Daniel A C , Brendan J. Hicks A , Nicholas Ling A and Bruno O. David B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, School of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand.

B Research, Development and Improvement, Department of Conservation, PO Box 112, Hamilton, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: carpresearch@gmail.com

Marine and Freshwater Research 60(4) 328-333 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08139
Submitted: 30 April 2008  Accepted: 4 December 2008   Published: 29 April 2009

Abstract

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) are notoriously difficult to monitor in water temperatures above 20°C using telemetry owing to transmitter expulsion. To reduce transmitter loss, radio transmitters were anchored to the pelvic girdle and a polymer coating was applied to acoustic transmitters to reduce tissue irritation in two tank trials. Ten dummy transmitters were surgically implanted in each of four groups of adult koi carp, a highly coloured strain of C. carpio. Water temperatures ranged between 7 and 24°C. After 365 days, the control and test groups of each trial had similar expulsion rates (P ≥ 0.30; two-tailed Fisher’s exact probability test). Expulsion rates for uncoated acoustic transmitters were 60% (n = 6), coated acoustic transmitters 50% (n = 5), unanchored radio transmitters 60% (n = 6) and anchored radio transmitters 90% (n = 9). Expulsions occurred 15–362 days after implantation as a result of ulcers at or near the surgical wound. Bacterial infection of the wound appears to be the primary mechanism for transmitter expulsion.

Additional keywords: surgical implant, tagging, tag rejection, tag shedding.


Acknowledgements

This study was funded by contract UOWX0505 from the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Funding and assistance were also provided by New Zealand Department of Conservation and Environment Waikato. Alex Ring, Grant Tempero and Dudley Bell, University of Waikato, assisted with fish capture. Veterinary equipment was donated by Newstead Veterinary Services, Hamilton, New Zealand and Becton Dickson Pty Ltd., Australia. We would like to thank Brendan Ebner, Christian Bauer and other referees for their helpful comments. This study was approved by the University of Waikato Animal Ethics Committee (protocol no. 660).


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