PIT tagging technique for Ambystomatid salamanders (Amphibia)

Knowledge graph centered on PIT tagging technique for Ambystomatid salamanders (Amphibia) with 37 nodes and 132 connections. Top connected: Spruce, Rushes, small mammals, aquatic insects, Ambystoma.

Method synopsis

Controlled laboratory experiment comparing survival, growth, and tag retention between PIT-tagged and control salamanders over 90 days to validate tag safety for small amphibians.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 3 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Efficacy and Uses of PIT Tag Telemetry in Salamanders From the Western USA: ,<i> Aneides vagrans </i>, <i> Ensatina eschscholtzii </i>, and <i> Ambystoma mavortium </i> (2022), Herpetological Conservation and Biology. The protocol was originally introduced by A PIT tagging technique for Ambystomatid salamanders (2016), Herpetological Review. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Ensatina field site establishment
   Established 60×30m plot in Redwood Experimental Forest, Klamath, California and deployed 20 redwood cover objects (45×45 cm) with 1cm gap created by redwood spacers between top and bottom boards
   Quantities: 60×30m plot area, 20 cover objects, 45×45 cm cover object size, 1cm gap heightDuration: Cover objects established for multi-year study from 2015-2020Conditions: Redwood forest understory habitat
   Equipment: redwood fence boards, redwood spacers, Global Pocket Reader Plus handheld PIT tag reader
2. Ensatina remote detection surveys
   Connected Biomark HPR Plus PIT tag reader to Biomark BP Plus portable antenna and scanned forest floor in 3m long radiating lines from flagged locations, conducting 30×4m belt transects from north to south across the plot using random number generator for E-W start positions
   Quantities: 3m radiating scan lines, 30×4m belt transects, complete plot coverageDuration: Monthly surveys from July 2016 to January 2017, then resurveyed flagged locations in subsequent eventsConditions: Forest floor scanning in angiosperm understory
   Equipment: Biomark HPR Plus PIT tag reader, Biomark BP Plus portable antenna

Typical Equipment

• plastic housing boxes
• EcoEarth substrate
• MK25 implanter
• PIT tags
• benzocaine
• Baytril antibiotic

Output Measurements

• survival rate
• mass change
• tag retention
• behavioral observations

Papers Using This Protocol (4)

Species Studied With This Protocol