Mark retention of calcein in Cisco and Bloater

North American Journal of Aquaculture
By: , and 

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Abstract

Since 2012, a multi-agency initiative to restore these native forage species has been under way. Evaluating the restoration success of Cisco Coregonus artedi and Bloater C. hoyi in Lake Ontario waters requires methods to identify stocked fish. However, juvenile Cisco and Bloater are fragile; thus, mass marking techniques that reduce the handling of individual fish are required and have not previously been evaluated. In 2014–2015 we evaluated the usefulness of calcein (SE-MARK) as a marker on bony structures, including the otolith. Juvenile Bloater and Cisco (14, 100, 128 d old) were immersed in a calcein bath at 5,000 mg/L of water for 4 min to apply the chemical marker. Observations of the marking retention were evaluated 8 d following the treatment. All fish immersed in calcein had strong brilliant marks (rating scale 3) on all bony structures including scales, fin rays, jaw bones, and vertebrate. The otolith was the only hard structure that did not show a brilliant marking due to the opaque nature of the structure. Our results suggest that calcein produces a strong discernable mark on hard bony structures of Cisco and Bloater; however, long-term retention needs further study.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Mark retention of calcein in Cisco and Bloater
Series title North American Journal of Aquaculture
DOI 10.1080/15222055.2016.1143419
Volume 78
Issue 2
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 5 p.
First page 148
Last page 153
Country Canada, United States
Other Geospatial Lake Ontario
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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