Underwater videography outperforms above-water videography and in-person surveys for monitoring the spawning of Devils Hole Pupfish

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

The monitoring of threatened and endangered fishes in remote environments continues to challenge fisheries biologists. The endangered Devils Hole Pupfish Cyprinodon diabolis, which is confined to a single warm spring in Death Valley National Park, California–Nevada, has recently experienced record declines, spurring renewed conservation and recovery efforts. In February–December 2010, we investigated the timing and frequency of spawning in the species' native habitat by using three survey methods: underwater videography, above-water videography, and in-person surveys. Videography methods incorporated fixed-position, solar-powered cameras to record continuous footage of a shallow rock shelf that Devils Hole Pupfish use for spawning. In-person surveys were conducted from a platform placed above the water's surface. The underwater camera recorded more overall spawning throughout the year (mean ± SE = 0.35 ± 0.06 events/sample) than the above-water camera (0.11 ± 0.03 events/sample). Underwater videography also recorded more peak-season spawning (March: 0.83 ± 0.18 events/sample; April: 2.39 ± 0.47 events/sample) than above-water videography (March: 0.21 ± 0.10 events/sample; April: 0.9 ± 0.32 events/sample). Although the overall number of spawning events per sample did not differ significantly between underwater videography and in-person surveys, underwater videography provided a larger data set with much less variability than data from in-person surveys. Fixed videography was more cost efficient than in-person surveys (\$1.31 versus \$605 per collected data-hour), and underwater videography provided more usable data than above-water videography. Furthermore, video data collection was possible even under adverse conditions, such as the extreme temperatures of the region, and could be maintained successfully with few study site visits. Our results suggest that self-contained underwater cameras can be efficient tools for monitoring remote and sensitive aquatic ecosystems.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Underwater videography outperforms above-water videography and in-person surveys for monitoring the spawning of Devils Hole Pupfish
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1080/02755947.2015.1094155
Volume 35
Issue 6
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher Informa UK Limited
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 11 p.
First page 1252
Last page 1262
Country United States
State Nevada
Other Geospatial Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details