Abstract
Identifying individuals by their natural body markings is an excellent surrogate for artificial tags. Photo identification has been primarily tested in oceanic species but has not been extensively used on freshwater fish. Brook trout are renowned for their lateral spot patterns. In this study, Interactive Individual Identification System was used to digitize and assess spot pattern uniqueness for identifying individual brook trout within a population for a short-term mark-recapture study. Brook trout were sampled over multiple days in Harper Creek and captured 315 specimens. Photo images were collected of their left lateral side and digitized. Based on photo identification, 263 unique brook trout were sampled. Additionally, there were 36 recaptures: 29 sampled twice, six sampled three times, and one sampled four times enabling a population estimate to be derived. In 2019, Harper Creek supported a spawning population of 514.4 (408–659; 95% CIs) brook trout. Ninety-four unique brook trout were sampled from a geographically distinct population of which none of the spot patterns matched the Harper Creek population. Spot patterns were distinct between lateral sides of an individual fish. Spot patterns on brook trout are unique and can be used to as a non-invasive means to identify individual at least in short-term projects.
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Data is available from author upon reasonable request.
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Code for m/r is available from the author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
Field assistance was provided by Anita LeBaron, Mike Parna, Chris Wilson, and Scott Ferguson of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF), Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section. This project was initially started as part of a Science Fair project completed by Nicola Haxton (Grade 7, Children’s Montessori School) but expanded. Finally, I thank Nick Jones of the OMNRF, Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section for his invaluable comments on an earlier version of this paper. Work conducted on brook trout in this study was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Animal Care Council.
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Funding was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF).
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As sole author, I made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work, and the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
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Work conducted on Brook Trout in this study was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Animal Care Council.
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Haxton, T. Use of unique brook trout spot patterns over a short duration for a mark-recapture study. Environ Biol Fish 104, 1391–1399 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01169-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01169-6