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A review of marking techniques for Crustacea and experimental appraisal of electric cauterisation and visible implant elastomer tagging for Austropotamobius pallipes and Pacifastacus leniusculus
Haddaway NR, Mortimer RJG, Christmas M, Dunn AM 
Published Online: 12/31/2011
Abstract
Marking for recognition of individual animals is often required in population studies. Marking Crustacea requires that identifiers be readable throughout successive moults, making regular external tags unsuitable. A suite of marking methods have therefore been developed to cope with this. We review the efficacy, cost, and suitability of eight available marking methods for Crustacea, particularly for crayfish. Two methods are low cost and may have minimal impacts on growth and survival; visible implant elastomer (VIE) and electric cauterisation. Austropotamobius pallipes, the only native crayfish in Britain, is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and conservation efforts are currently underway to preserve the species. The success of relocation conservation may be assessed by analysing individual growth, survival and reproduction, requiring long-term identification of individuals in the wild. We experimentally assessed the impacts of VIE in juvenile A. pallipes and electric cauterisation in adult A. pallipes and Pacifastacus leniusculus. Our results indicate that electric cauterisation reduces growth in A. pallipes but not P. leniusculus. We observed no impact of Visible Implant Elastomer on growth or survival in juvenile A. pallipes, however tag migration was observed. The VIE method is suitable for marking large numbers of individuals, but caution must be used when individual recognition is required due to tag migration.
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How to Cite
Haddaway NR, Mortimer RJG, Christmas M, Dunn AM. (2011). A review of marking techniques for Crustacea and experimental appraisal of electric cauterisation and visible implant elastomer tagging for Austropotamobius pallipes and Pacifastacus leniusculus. Freshwater Crayfish 18(1):55-67. doi: 10.5869/fc.2011.v18.55
Author Information
Neal R. Haddaway, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, L C Miall Building,Leeds, West Yorkshire, UKLS2 9JT. E-mail: bsnrh@leeds.ac.uk
Robert J. Mortimer, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Maths/Earth and Environment Building, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UKLS2 9JT. E-mail: mortimer@see.leeds.ac.uk
Martin Christmas, n/a, Environment Agency, Rivers House, 21 Park Square South,Leeds, West Yorkshire, UKLS1 2QG. E-mail: martin.christmas@environment-agency.gov.uk
Alison M. Dunn,* Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, L C Miall Building,Leeds, West Yorkshire, UKLS2 9JT. E-mail: a.dunn@leeds.ac.uk
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 12/8/2010
Manuscript Accepted: 8/15/2011
Published Online: 12/31/2011
Published in Print: 12/31/2011
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.