Use of pop-up satellite archival tag technology to study postrelease survival of and habitat use by estuarine and coastal fishes: an application to striped bass (Morone saxatilis)

Pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) have been used to study movements, habitat use, and postrelease survival of large pelagic vertebrates, but the size of these tags has historically precluded their use on smaller coastal species. To evaluate a new generation of smaller PSATs for the study of postrelease survival and habitat use of coastal species, we attached Microwave Telemetry, Inc., X-tags to ten striped bass (Morone saxatilis) 94–112 cm total length (TL) caught on J hooks and circle hooks during the winter recreational fishery in Virginia. Tags collected temperature and depth information every five minutes and detached from the fish after 30 days. Nine of the ten tags released on schedule and eight transmitted 30% to 96% (mean 78.6%) of the archived data. Three tags were physically recovered during or after the transmission period, allowing retrieval of all archived data. All eight striped bass whose tags transmitted data survived for 30 days after release, including two fish that were hooked deeply with J hooks. The eight fish spent more than 90% of their time at depths less than 10 m and in temperatures of 6–9°C, demonstrated no significant diel differences in depth or temperature utilization (P>0.05), and exhibited weak periodicities in vertical movements consistent with daily and tidal cycles.

Pattern of cutaneous wound healing in a live fish Clarias batrachus (L.)(Clariidae, Pisces.)

Incisional wounds of the same length and depth were made on skin between dorsal fin and the lateral line canal of Clarias batrachus and the pattern of wound closure has been studied histologically. Following infliction, a marked change in the colour of the skin surrounding the wound was observed which lasted for about 30 h and restored thereafter. Mucus and blood cells plugged the wound gap shortly after infliction. The epidermis surrounding the wound was found to be detached from the basement membrane. Mass movement of epidermal cells was observed from both side of the wound gap. The epidermal cells at the margin of the wound became hypertrophied. The epidermis became normal by 32 days. The dealing of sub-epidermal tissue indicated degenerative and regenerative changes of muscle fibres. The mucus and blood cells were accumulated in the wound gap and later fine blood vessels were formed. Gradually granulation tissue was formed and fibroblasts and myoblasts appeared. Myoblast differentiated into muscle bundles. The epidermal repair was completed within 35 days.