A paired-laser photogrammetric method for in situ length measurement of benthic fishes

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Photogrammetry, a technique to obtain measurements from photographs, may be a valid method for measuring lengths of rare, threatened, or endangered species. Photogrammetric methods of measurement are nonintrusive and reduce the possibility of physical damage or physiological stress associated with the capture and handling of individuals. We evaluated precision and accuracy of photogrammetric length measurements relative to board measurements of Greenside Darters Etheostoma blennioides and Variegate Darters E. variatum in an aquarium and applied photogrammetry in a field study of the Diamond Darter Crystallaria cincotta, a federally listed endangered species. Digital photographs were taken of each individual using a waterproof camera equipped with two parallel lasers. Photogrammetric length measurements were digitized with ImageJ software. Agreement between board and photogrammetric measurements were high for Greenside and Variegate darters. The magnitude of differences was small between direct and photogrammetric measurements, ranging from 0.6% to 3.1%, depending on the species measured and the type of measurement taken. These results support photogrammetry as a useful method for obtaining length measurements of benthic stream fishes. Photogrammetric methods allowed for length measurements and an assessment of length frequency of 199 Diamond Darters, informative data for management that could not be collected with conventional measuring-board methods.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A paired-laser photogrammetric method for in situ length measurement of benthic fishes
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1080/02755947.2016.1235632
Volume 37
Issue 1
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 7 p.
First page 16
Last page 22
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