Acoustic telemetry is a powerful tool for learning about the movements and ecology of aquatic animals, but proper use requires evaluation of its performance in different environments. Nearshore freshwater habitats are important to many fishes; however, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in these areas influences the performance of acoustic telemetry through attenuation of the transmissions. Despite this, few studies have quantified the influence of SAV on the detection efficiency and range. We conducted range testing and hydroacoustic surveys to assess the seasonal influence of SAV biovolume on the detection efficiency of 180 kHz transmitters in the nearshore (<1.5 m) habitats of a temperate freshwater riverine ecosystem. The interaction of transmitter–receiver distance and SAV biovolume significantly reduced the detection efficiency of transmitters, which varied with seasonal growth and senescence of SAV. Daily effective detection range (mean ± s.e.) varied from 6.85 m ± 1.98 when SAV coverage was high (mean biovolume 0.98) to 196.08 m ± 51.89 when SAV was largely absent (mean biovolume 0.01). This study demonstrated the impact of SAV on the detection range of acoustic transmitters, illustrating the need for range testing and consideration in study design and analysis to improve the quality of interpretation of data in vegetated habitats.

声学遥测是了解水生动物运动和生态的有力工具，但是正确使用它需要评估其在不同环境中的性能。近岸淡水栖息地对许多鱼类都很重要；但是，这些区域的水下水生植被（SAV）通过传输的衰减影响声学遥测的性能。尽管如此，很少有研究量化SAV对检测效率和检测范围的影响。我们进行了范围测试和水声调查，以评估SAV生物量对温带淡水河流生态系统近岸（<1.5 m）生境中180 kHz发射器检测效率的季节性影响。发射器-接收器距离和SAV生物量的相互作用显着降低了发射器的检测效率，该效率随SAV的季节性增长和衰老而变化。当SAV覆盖率高时（平均生物量0.98），每日有效检测范围（平均值±se）从6.85 m±1.98到SAV严重缺乏时（平均生物量0.01）的196.08 m±51.89。这项研究证明了SAV对声发射器探测距离的影响，说明了在进行研究设计和分析时需要进行距离测试和考虑，以提高植被生境数据解释的质量。SAV大致不存在时为89（平均生物量0.01）。这项研究证明了SAV对声发射器探测距离的影响，说明了在进行研究设计和分析时需要进行距离测试和考虑，以提高植被生境数据解释的质量。SAV大致不存在时为89（平均生物量0.01）。这项研究证明了SAV对声发射器探测距离的影响，说明了在进行研究设计和分析时需要进行距离测试和考虑，以提高植被生境数据解释的质量。