Development of a flatbed passive integrated transponder antenna grid for continuous monitoring of fishes in natural streams

Abstract

This paper describes a flatbed antenna grid designed for continuous remote monitoring of fish tagged with 23 mm passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in a natural stream with extensive spatial coverage. A range of applications of the system is presented.

Making riverscapes real

“…These 'Lagrangian frame of reference' (Doyle and Ensign, 2009) techniques include passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging (e.g. Johnston et al, 2009), RFID -radio frequency identification (e.g. Bubb et al, 2002), and 'GRiFTers' for measuring spatial distributions of water velocity (Stockdale et al, 2008).…”

Tracking animals in freshwater with electronic tags: past, present and future

“…Passive PIT telemetry arrays (discussed below) have also provided similar benefits. Development in antenna technology robust to dynamic river and stream conditions [32] has enabled longerterm field deployments. The technical contributions noted above have led to a number of important and unique ecological advances.…”

“…Unlike many marine and terrestrial ecosystems, rivers are by nature linear. The work of Fausch et al [32] was instrumental in discussing some of the problems associated with trying to conduct ecological research broadly within the 'riverscape'. Telemetry applications provide a rare exception; a research method that actually capitalizes on the physical structure of dendritic freshwater ecosystems in capturing movement processes.…”

“…Flatbed PIT antennas reasonably robust to ice processes [32] In small streams, use mobile PIT antennas through the ice [ Can use CART tags [22] A downrigger device has been developed that enables tracking of radio-tagged fish at depth, but has limited reception zone [37] Low-frequency radio tags can improve performance in deep water [35] as can use of more powerful batteries or stronger transmitter output [36] Abiotic Thermocline Thermoclines can impair the performance of acoustic transmitters [38,39], but radio transmitters are unaffected (aside from the fact that thermoclines often occur at depth)…”

Geosalar: Innovative Remote Sensing Methods for Spatially Continuous Mapping of Fluvial Habitat at Riverscape Scale

“…in a study of juvenile Atlantic salmon individual mobility using a large array of passive integrated transponder antennas buried in the bed of a natural stream. This system, described in details in Johnston et al (2009), allowed the continuous remote monitoring of PIT-tagged fish locations at high spatial and temporal frequency, from which four types of daily behaviour were identified: stationary, sedentary (low mobility), floater (frequent movements in restricted home range) and explorer (movements across the reach). The surprising result is that most individual fish were found to exhibit all types of daily behaviour during the study period, thus challenging the traditional description of a population composed of fractions of sedentary and mobile individuals.…”