Movement behaviour of the small benthic Rhine sculpin Cottus rhenanus (Freyhof, Kottelat & Nolte, 2005) as revealed by radio-telemetry and pit-tagging

Abstract

From February 2006 to June 2007, we followed the movement patterns of the Rhine sculpin (Cottus rhenanus) by combining short-term radiotelemetry (n = 10 radio-tagged sculpin with a miniature 0.5-g transmitter) and long-term individual (PIT-tag) mark-recapture (n = 452 PIT-tagged sculpin during six removal electric fishing operations) studies in a small tributary of the River Meuse, Belgium. During a 25-to 27-day period, the radio-tracked sculpin displayed various mobility patterns, showing frequent movement from one day to another and longitudinal home ranges from 7 to 46 m, with cumulative distances up to 149 m. During the mark-recapture study, most (99%) recaptured PIT-tagged individuals moved from their original 5-m long site, subsequently using longitudinal home ranges between 5 and 435 m (mean, 50 m; median, 20 m). The most common movement behaviour was alternation between upstream and downstream movements (62%), followed by directional upstream (26%) and directional downstream (11%) movement. Using the latest available techniques, this study builds on the current knowledge on the Cottus genus and closes gaps in the comprehension of sculpin movement and home range at a scale that had not been investigated to date.

Combining Radio and PIT-Telemetry to Study the Large and Fine-Scale Movements of Stocked and Wild Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) in a Northeastern Stream, Portugal

“…radio and PIT-telemetry, allowed a better understanding of the movement patterns and spatial distribution of stocked and native trout through intensive tracking of a small number of radio-tagged fish over a short time scale and continuous monitoring of movements and microhabitat use by PIT-telemetry. As pointed out by Ovidio et al (2009) gaps in the fish behaviour can be closed using complementary methodologies. This study also confirmed previous observations following distinct methodologies (e.g.…”

Movement of logperch—the obligate host fish for endangered snuffbox mussels: implications for mussel dispersal

“…The limited potential for colonization from other populations (the 'rescue effect', Hanski 1999) may help to explain why E. triquetra and other Epioblasma species are highly imperiled (Nature Serve 2009). Table 3 Results from the ANCOVA analyses that examined whether there were differences in the relationship between the predictor variable (e.g., study design parameters: spatial extent of the study, study duration and recapture rate) and the maximum displacement distances for darters and sculpins Ovidio et al (2009) …”

Period-dependent sex-biased movement in a polygamous stream fish (Cottus perifretum Freyhof, Kottelat & Nolte, 2005—Actinopterygii, Cottidae) with male parental care

“…Japanese fluvial sculpin, Cottus pollux Günther 1873: Natsumeda, 2001;C. bairdii: Petty & Grossman, 2004;Rhine sculpin, Cottus rhenanus Freyhof, Kottelet & Nolte 2005: Ovidio et al, 2009. They have an extremely reduced swim-bladder and are known for their benthic and cryptic behaviour (e.g.…”

“…: Breen et al, 2009;Hudy & Shiflet, 2009;Ovidio et al, 2009). Between-individual differences in the range of movements can be extreme.…”