Fish Surgery, Telemetry and Transmitter Encapsulation

Pictured above, an EMG transmitter implanted in the peritoneal cavity of a 35 cm smallmouth bass to examine physical output during fishway use. Also shown is a series of images showing radio transmitter encapsulation in a smallmouth bass after 22 months.

We are experts in fish surgery and have developed, tested and published multiple descriptions of surgical procedures for implantation of biotelemetry transmitters, electrodes, and vascular flow probes in freshwater and marine fish species.  We have invented custom surgical tools for specific research applications, and examined effects of various surgical techniques, wound-closure, and infection control methodologies relevant to fisheries research.

Surgical Techniques Video - radio transmitter implantation into an anesthetized white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) - 2008

TRANSMITTER IMPLANTATION/ATTACHMENT AND ENCAPSULATION

Threatened and Endangered Species 

Cycleptus elongatus - Blue Sucker - Texas, USA

    Xyrauchen texanus - Razorback Sucker - Nevada, USA

     

Lepisosteus oculatus - Spotted Gar - Ontario, Canada


 

Marine Species:  Plectropomus leopardus - Coral Trout - Queensland, Australia

Above:  Ultrasonic transmitter implantation into the peritoneal cavity of a coral trout (a species of marine grouper), and subsequent encapsulation of transmitter after 2.5 months.

Freshwater Species

Micropterus dolomieu - Smallmouth Bass - Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Above:  Radio transmitter encapsulation in the body cavity of a smallmouth bass after 22 months

Click HERE FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF TELEMETRY STUDIES

Click HERE FOR REFERENCES TO TELEMETRY STUDIES

SELECTED REFERENCES

Bunt, C.M., S.J. Cooke, J.F. Schreer and D.P. Philipp. 2004. Effects of incremental increases in silt load on the cardiovascular performance of riverine and lacustrine rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris.  Environmental Pollution 128:437-444.

Cooke, S. J., C.M. Bunt, J.F. Schreer and D.P. Philipp. 2002. Attachment, validation, and preliminary deployment of ultrasonic heart rate transmitters on largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, Aquatic Living Resources. 15: 155-162.

Cooke, S.J. and C.M. Bunt. 2001. Assessment of internal and external antenna configurations of radio transmitters implanted in smallmouth bass. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 21: 236-241.

Bunt, C.M. 1999. A tool to facilitate implantation of electrodes for electromyographic telemetry experiments. Journal of Fish Biology. 55: 1123-1128.