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Analysis of persistent marking techniques using passive integrated transponders and visible im-plant elastomer through metamorphosis in Ambystoma mavortium

Salamander species are a key component of monitoring ecosystem integrity and health as indicator species. Being able to monitor growth and development from larval to adult forms can provide important descriptive data such as growth, development, and survivorship. Passive integrated transponders (PIT) and visible implant elastomer (VIE) are two methods of permanent tagging through metamorphosis in salamander species. We were interested in what the retention rate of tags using PIT versus VIE through metamorphosis in Ambystoma mavortium. We hypothesized intramuscular PIT tags would be most successful compared to sub-cutaneous PIT tags and VIE injection. In our experiment, PIT tags retention was significantly greater than VIE retention. PIT tag injection resulted in less stress on the individual and held no statistically significant impact on growth (SVL and weight). We recommend using intramuscular PIT tags as a marking technique through metamorphosis in Ambystoma mavortium. This tagging method provides a high retention probability, but is limited by sample size and funding. Large scale experiments with greater sample size may choose to avoid costly PIT tags. Introduction Similar to canaries in coal mines, amphibians play an important role as indicator species in aquatic ecosystems due to their high susceptibility to environmental changes such as water quality degradation, human construction acting as barriers, habitat fragmentation, or climatic alterations (Polich et al, 2013; Wake, 2009; Ghioca & Smith, 2008; Ashpole et al, 2011). By monitoring the health and stability of amphibian populations researchers are better able to evaluate the quality of the environment and its conditions. Current data suggests that the Barred Tiger salamander populations are in decline in 25% of eastern Nebraska (Ferraro, unpublished). The most likely cause of this population decline would be either habitat loss and fragmentation or pollution. The comparison of data collected from recaptured individuals allows researchers and managers to understand population dynamics and health by examining survivorship, growth, development or habitat use and preference. In order to collect data for these comparisons researchers must employ tagging procedures that are reliable, long lasting, easily recognized and cause minimal stress to the specimen. Finding tagging procedures that persists through the physiological changes salamanders undergo during metamorphosis from an aquatic larval to terrestrial adult form (including gill loss, muscle development, and tail shape alteration) is critically important for advancing the understanding of conservation needs. Previous methods of marking salamanders have included pattern mapping, toe-clipping, tattooing, branding, tail-clipping, passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) or visible implant elastomer (VIE) (Davis & Ovaska, 2001; Arntzen et al, 2004; Ireland, 1973; Polich et al, 2013; Seale & Boraas, 1974). Tagging larval amphibians over adults may have advantages such as reduced materials and expenses (Ghioca & Smith, 2007). Larval amphibians have a greater plasticity to their environment (Newman, 1992) and have the greatest amount of factors that influence their development. Life history studies allow better management decisions for both amphibian species and biodiversity dependent on them. In order to examine the feasibility and retention rates of passive integrated transponders versus visible implant elastomer, we compared growth and retention through metamorphosis in barred tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) with each tag. MARKING ANALYSIS IN A. MAVORTIUM 3