Abstract
Photo-identification has been proven to be a successful individual recognition tool in seahorse species (e.g., long-snout seahorse Hippocampus reidi (Ginsburg, 1933) and long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus (Cuvier, 1829)). Its use was deemed valuable for the assessment of wild populations and to understand variations in abundance over time when capture-recapture methods are needed. In this study, a computer software with a pattern recognition algorithm (I3S® Contour 3.0) was used for individual identification of short-snouted seahorses Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus 1758) in the laboratory. Using this methodology, differences in the shape of each individual’s coronet were tested as a unique and distinguishable characteristic. Two different contours were used as reference and tested to assess the effectiveness of this method in individual identification. A total of 94 captive-bred H. hippocampus, 45 adults (> 1 year old) and 49 young adults (4 months old), were tested. Positive matches were obtained in 55.1 % of the young adults and 84.4 % of the adults using contour 1; and in 77.6 % and 97.8 % for young adults and adults, respectively, using contour 2. All un-matched photos were later successfully matched by visual comparison, using additional traits (e.g., spot patterns) and gender. This methodology yielded very promising results and could be further used in wild individuals to allow population size estimates.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson CJR, Roth JD, Waterman JM (2007) Can whisker spot patterns be used to identify individual polar bears? J Zool 273(4):333–339. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00340.x
Andrade JP, Madeira C, Correia M, Palma J (2016) Assigning Hippocampus guttulatus recruits to the populations of origin using microsatellites: results from a field study in the Ria Formosa (south Portugal). PeerJ Preprints 4:e1794v1. https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1794v1
Baras E, Malbrouck C, Houbart M, Kestemont P, Mélard C (2000) The effect of PIT tags on growth and physiology of age-0 cultured Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis of variable size. Aquaculture 185(1–2):159–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0044-8486(99)00346-4
Barker SM, Williamson JE (2010) Collaborative photo-identification and monitoring of grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus) at key aggregation sites along the eastern coast of Australia. Mar Freshw Res 61(9):971–979. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF09215
Caldwell IR, Vincent ACJ (2012) Revisiting two sympatric European seahorse species: apparent decline in the absence of exploitation. Aquat Conserv 22(4):427–435. https://doi.org/10.1002/Aqc.2238
Caldwell IR, Correia M, Palma J, Vincent ACJ (2011) Advances in tagging syngnathids, with the effects of dummy tags on behaviour of Hippocampus guttulatus. J Fish Biol 78(6):1769–1785. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.02983.x
Canese S, Giusti M, Salvati E, Angiolillo M, Cardinali A, Fabroni F, Magno MC, Greco S (2007) Preliminary note on presence and density of Hippocampus hippocampus in the Soverato bay, Calabria Ionica. Biol Mar Mediterr 14(2):340–341
Claassens L, Harasti D (2020) Life history and population dynamics of an endangered seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) within an artificial habitat. J Fish Biol. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14452
Correia M, Palma J, Koldewey H, Andrade JP (2014) The use of a non-invasive tool for capture-recapture studies on a seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus population. J Fish Biol 84(4):872–884. https://doi.org/10.1111/Jfb.12304
Correia M, Caldwell I, Koldewey H, Andrade JP, Palma J (2015) Seahorse (Hippocampinae) population fluctuations in the Ria Formosa Lagoon, south Portugal. J Fish Biol 87(3):679–690. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12748
Correia M, Campoy A, Madeira C, Andrade JP (2018a) Is filament clipping an effective tool for tissue sampling in Hippocampus guttulatus? Environ Biol Fish 101(10):1517–1523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-018-0796-1
Correia M, Koldewey HJ, Andrade JP, Esteves E, Palma J (2018b) Identifying key environmental variables of two seahorse species (Hippocampus guttulatus and Hippocampus hippocampus) in the Ria Formosa lagoon, South Portugal. Environ Biol Fish 101(9):1357–1367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-018-0782-7
Correia M, Paulo D, Samara E, Koulouri P, Mentogiannis V, Dounas C (2020) Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi-closed north-eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, north Aegean Sea). J Fish Biol 97:314–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14371
Curtis JMR (2006) Visible implant elastomer color determination, tag visibility, and tag loss: Potential sources of error for mark-recapture studies. N Am J Fish Manage 26(2):327–337. https://doi.org/10.1577/M0-099.1
Curtis JMR, Vincent ACJ (2005) Distribution of sympatric seahorse species along a gradient of habitat complexity in a seagrass-dominated community. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 291:81–91. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps291081
Curtis JMR, Vincent ACJ (2006) Life history of an unusual marine fish: survival, growth and movement patterns of Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier 1829. J Fish Biol 68(3):707–733. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2006.00952.x
Curtis JMR, Santos SV, Nadeau JL, Gunn B, Bigney Wilner K, Balasubramanian H, Overington S, Lesage CM, D’Entremont J, Wieckowski K (2017) Life history and ecology of the elusive European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus. J Fish Biol 91(6):1603–1622. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13473
Faleiro F, Narciso L, Vicente L (2008) Seahorse behaviour and aquaculture: How to improve Hippocampus guttulatus husbandry and reproduction? Aquaculture 282(1–4):33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.05.038
FitzGerald JL, Sheehan TF, Kocik JF (2004) Visibility of visual implant elastomer tags in Atlantic salmon reared for two years in marine net-pens. N Am J Fish Manage 24(1):222–227. https://doi.org/10.1577/M02-138
Foster SJ, Vincent ACJ (2004) Life history and ecology of seahorses: implications for conservation and management. J Fish Biol 65(1):1–61. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2004.00429.x
Franco A, Franzoi P, Malavasi S, Riccato F, Torricelli P (2006) Fish assemblages in different shallow water babitats of the Venice lagoon. Hydrobiologia 555(1):159–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1113-5
Freret-Meurer N, Andreata J, Alves M (2013) Seahorse fingerprints: a new individual identification technique. Environ Biol Fish 96:1399–1405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0118-6
Garrick-Maidment N, Trewhella S, Hatcher J, Collins KJ, Mallinson JJ (2011) Seahorse tagging project, Studland Bay, Dorset, UK. Mar Biodivers Rec 3:4. https://doi.org/10.1017/S175526721000062X
Genov T, Centrih T, Wright AJ, Wu G-M (2018) Novel method for identifying individual cetaceans using facial features and symmetry: A test case using dolphins. Mar Mamm Sci 34(2):514–528. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12451
Gibbons WJ, Andrews KM (2004) PIT tagging: simple technology at its best. Bioscience 54(5):447–454. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0447:PTSTAI]2.0.CO;2
Goldsmith RJ, Closs GP, Steen H (2003) Evaluation of visible implant elastomer for individual marking of small perch and common bully. J Fish Biol 63(3):631–636. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00176.x
Gristina M, Cardone F, Carlucci R, Castellano L, Passarelli S, Corriero G (2015) Abundance, distribution and habitat preference of Hippocampus guttulatus and Hippocampus hippocampus in a semi-enclosed central Mediterranean marine area. Mar Ecol 36(1):57–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12116
Gristina M, Bertrandino S, Cardone F, Mentino D, Corriero G, Scillitani G (2017) Skin filament recovery after clipping in Hippocampus guttulatus: behavioural and histological aspects. Aquat Biol 26:149–157. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00680
Harasti D, Martin-Smith K, Gladstone W (2012) Population dynamics and life history of a geographically restricted seahorse, Hippocampus whitei. J Fish Biol 81(4):1297–1314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03406.x
Holm S, Brungot J, Ronnekleiv A, Hoff L, Jahr V, Kjolerbakken KM (2007) Acoustic passive integrated transponders for fish tagging and identification. Aquacult Eng 36(2):122–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2006.09.003
Hutson KS, Smith BP, Godfrey RT, Whittington ID, Chambers CB, Ernst I, Gillanders BM (2007) A tagging study on yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) and Samson fish (S. hippos) in south Australian waters. Ttans R Soc South Aust 131:128–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2007.10887075
Jiang H, Brownie C, Hightower JE, Pollock KH (2007) Estimating fishing mortality, natural mortality, and selectivity using recoveries from tagging young fish. N Am J Fish Manag 27(3):773–781. https://doi.org/10.1577/M06-127.1
Jørgensen MGP, Deurs Mv, Butts IAE, Jørgensen K, Behrens JW (2017) PIT-tagging method for small fishes: A case study using sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus). Fish Res 193:95–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.04.002
Kitchen-Wheeler A-M (2010) Visual identification of individual manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives Islands, Western Indian Ocean. Mar Biol Res 6(4):351–363. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000903233763
Kitsos MS, Tzomos T, Anagnostopoulou L, Koukouras A (2008) Diet composition of the seahorses, Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829 and Hippocampus hippocampus (L., 1758) (Teleostei, Syngnathidae) in the Aegean Sea. J Fish Biol 72(6):1259–1267. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01789.x
Lourie S (2016) Seahorses: A life-size guide to every species. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Lourie SA, Vincent AC, Hall HJ (1999) Seahorses: an identification guide to the world’s species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London
Lourie SA, Pollom RA, Foster SJ (2016) A global revision of the seahorses Hippocampus Rafinesque 1810 (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes): Taxonomy and biogeography with recommendations for further research. Zootaxa 4146(1):66. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4146.1.1
Martin-Smith KM (2011) Photo-identification of individual weedy seadragons Phyllopteryx taeniolatus and its application in estimating population dynamics. J Fish Biol 78(6):1757–1768. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.02966.x
Masonjones HD, Rose E, McRae LB, Dixson DL (2010) An examination of the population dynamics of syngnathid fishes within Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Curr Zool 56(1):118–133. https://doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/56.1.118
Meekan MG, Bradshaw CJA, Press M, McLean C, Richards A, Quasnichka S, Taylor JG (2006) Population size and structure of whale sharks Rhincodon typus at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 319:275–285. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps319275
Mellas EJ, Haynes JM (1985) Swimming performance and behavior of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and white perch (Morone americana): Effects of attaching telemetry transmitters. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 42(3):488–493. https://doi.org/10.1139/f85-066
Monteiro NM, Vieira MDN, Almada V (2005) Homing behaviour and individual identification of the pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis (Pisces: Syngnathidae): a true intertidal resident? Estuar Coast Shelf S 63(1–2):93–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2004.10.012
Monteiro NM, Silva RM, Cunha M, Antunes A, Jones AG, Vieira MN (2014) Validating the use of colouration patterns for individual recognition in the worm pipefish using a novel set of microsatellite markers. Mol Ecol Resour 14(1):150–156. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12151
Morgan S, Martin-Smith K (2004) Selected techniques for tagging seahorses. Project Seahorse Technical Report Series (6). Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55930a68e4b08369d02136a7/t/5602f66ee4b08b574e8f5d80/1443034734928/Tagging_Seahorses_Full_0.pdf. Accessed September 2020
Mortensen EN, Barrett WA (1995) Intelligent scissors for image composition. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 22nd annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques
Murray DL, Fuller MR (2000) A critical review of the effects of marking on the biology of vertebrates. In: Boitani L, Fuller TK (eds) Research Techniques in Animal Ecology: Controversies and Consequences. Columbia University Press, New York, pp 15–64
Novelli B, Otero-Ferrer F, Socorro JA, Caballero MJ, Segade-Botella A, Molina Dominguez L (2017) Development of short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus, L. 1758): osteological and morphological aspects. Fish Physiol Biochem 43(3):833–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-017-0339-2
Otero-Ferrer F, Herrera R, Tuset VM, Socorro J, Molina L (2015) Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments. Afr J Mar Sci 37(3):395–404. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476
Palma J, Stockdale J, Correia M, Andrade JP (2008) Growth and survival of adult long snout seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) using frozen diets. Aquaculture 278(1–4):55–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.03.019
Parker NC, Giorgi AE, Heidinger RC, Jester DB, Prince ED, Winans GA (1992) Fish-marking techniques. Rev Fish Biol Fisher 2(4):341–342. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043523
Pine WE, Pollock KH, Hightower JE, Kwak TJ, Rice JA (2003) A review of tagging methods for estimating fish population size and components of mortality. Fisheries 28(10):10–23. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(2003)28[10:AROTMF]2.0.CO;2
Planas M, Chamorro A, Quintas P, Vilar A (2008) Establishment and maintenance of threatened long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus, broodstock in captivity. Aquaculture 283(1–4):19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.06.023
Pollom R (2016) Hippocampus hippocampus The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: eT10069A54904826 Downloaded on 02 April 2020
Silvy NJ, Lopez RR, Peterson MJ (2005) Wildlife marking techniques. In: Braun CE (ed) Techniques for wildlife investigations and management. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, pp 339–363
Sogabe A, Matsumoto K, Yanagisawa Y (2007) Mate change reduces the reproductive rate of males in a monogamous pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus: The benefit of long-term pair bonding. Ethology 113(8):764–771. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01370.x
Stevens GMW, Hawkins JP, Roberts CM (2018) Courtship and mating behaviour of manta rays Mobula alfredi and M. birostris in the Maldives. J Fish Biol 93(2):344–359. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13768
Valladares S, Banon R, Lopez A, Bouza C, Chamorro A, Garcia ME, Planas M (2014) First records of the seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus in Galician waters (NW Spain). Cybium 38(1):74–76
Van Tienhoven AM, Den Hartog JE, Reijns RA, Peddemors VM (2007) A computer-aided program for pattern-matching of natural marks on the spotted raggedtooth shark Carcharias taurus. J Appl Ecol 44(2):273–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01273.x
Welch DW, Batten SD, Ward BR (2007) Growth, survival, and tag retention of steelhead trout (O. mykiss) surgically implanted with dummy acoustic tags. In: Almeida P, Quintella B, Costa M, Moore A (eds) Developments in Fish Telemetry. Developments in Hydrobiology 195, vol 195. Springer, Dordrecht,, p 289–299
Williams BK, Nichols JD, Conroy MJ (2002) Analysis and management of animal populations: Modeling, estimation and decision making. Academic, San Diego
Willis TJ, Babcock RC (1998) Retention and in situ detectability of visible implant fluorescent elastomer (VIFE) tags in Pagrus auratus (Sparidae). New Zeal J Mar Fresh 32(2):247–254
Willis TJ, Parsons DM, Babcock RC (2001) Evidence for long-term site fidelity of snapper (Pagrus auratus) within a marine reserve. New Zeal J Mar Fresh 35(3):581–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2001.9517024
Winner BL, McMichael RH, Brant LL (1999) Evaluation of small T-anchor and dart tags for use in marking hatchery-reared juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Fish Bull Noaa 97(3):730–735
Woodall LC, Otero-Ferrer F, Correia M, Curtis JMR, Garrick-Maidment N, Shaw PW, Koldewey HJ (2018) A synthesis of European seahorse taxonomy, population structure, and habitat use as a basis for assessment, monitoring and conservation. Mar Biol 165(1):19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3274-y
Woods CMC, Martin-Smith KM (2004) Visible implant fluorescent elastomer tagging of the big-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis. Fish Res 66(2–3):363–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(03)00183-8
Woodall L (2017) Hippocampus hippocampus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T10069A67618259. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T10069A67618259.en. Downloaded on 2 Apr 2020.
Würsig B, Jefferson TA (1992) Methods of photo-identification for small metaceans. Report of the International Whaling Commission Spec. Issue 12
Acknowledgements
This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through project UID/Multi/04326/2019.
Funding
This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through project UID/Multi/04326/2019.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Correia, M., Antunes, D., Andrade, J.P. et al. A crown for each monarch: a distinguishable pattern using photo‐identification. Environ Biol Fish 104, 195–201 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01075-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01075-x