Abstract
The social behaviour of Atlantic salmon smolts was evaluated during their migration period under controlled conditions in an experimental stream tank. Agonistic behaviour, dominance, distance to nearest neighbour, and distance from substrate were examined pre- and post-surgical implantation of dummy radio transmitters (2.4–4.3% body weight). Smolts were able to quickly equilibrate after transmitter insertion. Social ranking changed in nine of the eleven trials with four fish, and in only one of the five trials with pairs. No significant differences were found (p > 0.05) in any of the behavioural parameters measured. Overall, the only effect on smolts surgically implanted with radio transmitters was a large shift in dominance. The presence of an antenna also elicited aggressive attacks from other individuals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abbott, J. C., R. L. Dunbrack, C. D. On, 1985. The interaction of size and experience in dominance relationships of juvenile steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri). Behaviour 92: 241–253.
Adams, N. S., D. W. Rondorf, S. D. Evans, J. E. Kelly, R. W. Perry. 1998a. Effects of surgically and gastrically implanted radio transmitters on swimming performance and predator avoidance of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 55: 781–787.
Adams, N. S., D. W. Rondorf, S. D. Evans, J. E. Kelly, 1998b. Effects of surgically and gastrically implanted radio transmitters on growth and feeding behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 127: 128–136.
Altmann, J., 1973. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behaviour 49: 227–267.
Armstrong, J. D., C. E. Rawlings, 1993. The effect of intragastrie transmitters on feeding behaviour of Atlantic salmon, Salmo solar, pan during autumn. J. Fish Biol. 43: 646–648.
Baras, E., L. Westerloppe, C. Melard, J.-C. Philippart, V. Benech, 1999. Evaluation of implantation procedures for PIT-tagging juvenile Nile tilapia. North. am. J. Aquacult. 61: 246–251.
Brown, G. E., J. A. Brown, 1993. Do kin always make better neighbours?: the effects of territory quality. Behay. Ecol. Sociobiol. 33: 225–231.
Brown. R. S., S. J. Cooke, W. G. Anderson, R. S. McKinley, 1999. Evidence to challenge the ‘2% rule’ for biotelemetry. North am. J. Fish. Mgmt. 19: 867–871.
Cooke, S. J., C. Bunt, 2001. Assessment of internal and external antenna configurations of radio transmitters implanted in smallmouth bass. North am. J. Fish. Mgmt. 21: 236–241.
Claireaux, G., C. Lefrancois, 1998. A method for the external attachment of acoustic tags on roundfish. Hydrobiologia 371/372: 113–116.
Fenderson, O. C., W. H. Everhart, K. M. Muth, 1968. Comparative agonistic and feeding behaviour of hatchery-reared and wild salmon in aquaria. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 25: 1–14.
Fried, S. M., J. D. McCleave, K. A. Stred, 1976. Buoyancy compensation by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts tagged internally with dummy telemetry transmitters. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 33: 1377–1380.
Gibson, R. J., 1983. Water velocity as a factor in the change from aggressive to schooling behaviour and subsequent migration of Atlantic salmon smolt (Salmo solar). Nat. can. 110: 143–148.
Jenkins, T. M. Jr., 1969. Social structure, position and micro-distribution of two trout species (Salmo trutta and Salmo gairdneri) resident in mountain streams. Anim. Behay. 2: 56–123.
McCleave, J. D., K. A. Stred, 1975. Effect of dummy telemetry transmitters on stamina of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 32: 559–563.
Mellas, E. J., J. M. Haynes, 1985. Swimming performance and behaviour of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and white perch (Morone americana): Effects of attaching telemetry transmitters. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 488–493.
Sigismondi, L. A., L. J. Weber, 1988. Changes in avoidance response time of juvenile chinook salmon exposed to multiple acute handling stresses. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 117: 196–201.
Summerfelt, R. C., L. S. Smith, 1990. Anaesthesia, surgery, and related techniques. In Schreck, C. B., P. B. Moyle (eds), Methods for Fish Biology, Am. Fish. Soc., Bethesda: 213–272.
Swanberg, T. R., D. R. Geist, 1997. Effects of intraperitoneal transmitters on the social interaction of rainbow trout. North am. J. Fish. Mgmt. 17: 178–181.
Wagner, G. N., E. D. Stevens, 2000. Effects of different surgical techniques: suture material and location of incision site on behaviour of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Mar. Fresh. Behay. Physiol. 33: 103–114.
Wilson, J. W., A. E. Giorgi, L. C. Stuehrenberg, 1991. A method for estimating spill effectiveness for passing juvenile salmon and its application at lower granite dam on the Snake River. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 48: 1872–1876.
Young, A. H., P. Tytler, F. G. T. Holliday, A. MacFarlane, 1972. A small sonic tag for measurement of locomotor behaviour in fish. J. Fish Biol. 4: 57–65.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Connors, K.B., Scruton, D., Brown, J.A., McKinley, R.S. (2002). The effects of surgically-implanted dummy radio transmitters on the behaviour of wild Atlantic salmon smolts. In: Thorstad, E.B., Fleming, I.A., Næsje, T.F. (eds) Aquatic Telemetry. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 165. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0771-8_27
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0771-8_27
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6124-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0771-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive