Acoustic tag

Acoustic tags transmit a signal made up of acoustic pulses or "pings" that send positional information of the tagged organism to a hydrophone receiver. By tying the received acoustic frequency to a predetermined and unique signal code, tagged animals can be identified at an individual level. Transmitted signals may propagate up to 1 km (in freshwater) depending on tag model and environmental conditions.Fisk A.T., Johnson T.B., Stewart T., Halfyard E. 2016. Quantifying detection range of acoustic telemetry tags in deep water: first step for use in species restorations. Completion report, 2015_FIS_44040. Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor; and Glenora Fisheries Station, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Receivers can be actively held by a researcher ("Active Tracking") or affixed to specific locations ("Passive Tracking").Cooke, Steven J., Jonathan D. Midwood, Jason D. Thiem, Peter Klimley, Martyn C. Lucas, Eva B. Thorstad, John Eiler, Chris Holbrook, and Brendan C. Ebner. 2013. Tracking animals in freshwater with electronic tags: past, present and future. Animal Biotelemetry 1: 1-19. Arrays of receivers can allow the triangulation of tagged individuals over many kilometers.

Image:Example_of_Acoustic_Telemetry_Tags_for_Fisheries_Research.jpg

Acoustic tags are produced in many different shapes and sizes depending on the study organism or study environment. The battery life of acoustic tags varies by size, with some larger tags lasting over four years.Melnychuk, M. C., Dunton, K. J., Jordaan, A., McKown, K. A., & Frisk, M. G. 2017. Informing conservation strategies for the endangered Atlantic sturgeon using acoustic telemetry and multi‐state mark–recapture models. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54(3), 914-925.Hondorp, D. W., Holbrook, C. M., & Krueger, C. C. 2015. Effects of acoustic tag implantation on lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens: lack of evidence for changes in behavior. Animal Biotelemetry, 3, 1-13. Sound parameters such as frequency and modulation method are chosen for optimal detectability and signal level. For oceanic environments, frequencies less than 100 kHz range are often used,{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} while frequencies of several hundreds of kilohertz are more common in for studies in rivers and lakes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

A typical acoustic tag consists of a piezoceramic transducer, drive/timing electronics, and a battery power source.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} Cylindrical or “tube” transducers are often used, which have metalization on the inner and outer walls of the structure. In normal operation, an alternating current (AC) electrical signal generated by the drive/timing electronics is impressed across the two metalization layers. This voltage creates stress in the material, which in turn cause the transducer to emit an acoustic signal or “ping”, which emanates outward from the surface of the tube. An acoustic “ping” can be detected by specialized receivers, and processed using advanced signal processing techniques to determine if a fish swimming into the reception area carries a specific acoustic tag.

Acoustic tags are distinguished from other types of devices such as radio tags or passive inductive transponder (PIT) tags in that they can work in either salt or freshwater (e.g., radio and PIT tags perform poorly in saltwater) and do not depend on steering the fish in a particular path (e.g., PIT tags require the fish to be routed through a restricted sensing area).{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Several different methods are used to attach the tag to an organism. In fish, tags are frequently surgically implanted in the abdominal cavity.Thiem, J. D., Taylor, M. K., McConnachie, S. H., Binder, T. R., & Cooke, S. J. 2011. Trends in the reporting of tagging procedures for fish telemetry studies that have used surgical implantation of transmitters: a call for more complete reporting. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 21, 117-126.Mulcahy, D. M. 2003. Surgical implantation of transmitters into fish. ILAR journal, 44(4), 295-306. Surgical implantation generally results in high tag retention, therefore it is regularly used.Ammann, A. J., Michel, C. J., & MacFarlane, R. B. 2013. The effects of surgically implanted acoustic transmitters on laboratory growth, survival and tag retention in hatchery yearling Chinook salmon. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 96(2), 135-143.Klinard, N. V., Matley, J. K., Fisk, A. T., & Johnson, T. B. 2019. Long‐term retention of acoustic telemetry transmitters in temperate predators revealed by predation tags implanted in wild prey fish. Journal of Fish Biology, 95(6), 1512-1516. Electro-immobilization with a TENS unit and chemical immobilization with compounds such as eugenol are commonly used to restrict fish movement during surgery.Izzo, L. K., Dembkowski, D. J., Binder, T. R., Hansen, S. P., Vandergoot, C. S., & Isermann, D. A. 2024. A comparison of survival and behavior of lake whitefish following transmitter implantation using electro-or chemical immobilization. Animal Biotelemetry, 12(1), 39. In some instances, tags are endogastrically implanted by forcing the tag down the gullet.Neely, B. C., Steffensen, K. D., & Pegg, M. A. 2009. A comparison of gastrically and surgically implanted telemetry transmitters in shovelnose sturgeon. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 16(4), 323-328. Acoustic tags may also be attached externally using additional braces or tag types.Pursche, A. R., Walsh, C. T., & Taylor, M. D. 2014. Evaluation of a novel external tag-mount for acoustic tracking of small fish. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 21(2), 169-172.Johnson, M. W., Diamond, S. L., & Stunz, G. W. 2015. External attachment of acoustic tags to deepwater reef fishes: an alternate approach when internal implantation affects experimental design. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 144(4), 851-859.

{{Expand section|date=November 2018}}

Image:Dam Fish Track.jpg travelling through a fish by-pass intake.]]

Image:AT Screen.jpg

By determining the sound's time of arrival at each hydrophone, the 3D position of the fish can be calculated. The hydrophone receiver picks up the sound signal and converts it to data that researchers use to plot the resulting tag positions in three dimensions, in real-time. Using a post processing software, such as MarkTags, takes that data and delivers the result, the 3D track.

==Applications==

{{Expand section|date=November 2018}}

At present, acoustic tags are most commonly used to monitor fish approaching diversion and guidance structures at hydropower dams. This allows hydropowered dam facilities, public utility districts, and municipalities to evaluate specific migration pathways used by the fish (most often salmon smolts), identify where fish mortality occurs, and assess fish behavior in relation to hydrodynamic conditions and/or any other environmental parameters.Celedonia, M. T., Tabor, R. A., Sanders, S., Damm, S., Lantz, D. W., Lee, T. M., ... & US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Movement and habitat use of Chinook salmon smolts, northern pikeminnow, and smallmouth bass near the SR 520 bridge, 2007 acoustic tracking study, annual report (No. WA-RD 694.1). Washington (State). Department of Transportation."Ransom, B. H., Steig, T. W., Timko, M. A., & Nealson, P. A. 2008. Basin-wide monitoring of salmon smolts at US dams. The international journal on hydropower & dams, 15(3), 44.Ransom, B. H., Steig, T. W., Timko, M. A., & Nealson, P. A. 2007. Basin-Wide Monitoring of Acoustically Tagged Salmon Smolts at Hydropower Dams in the Mid-Columbia River Basin, USA. Proceedings of Hydro. Ultimately, working to improve bypass effectiveness and protect fish populations, Acoustic Tag Tracking Systems are a significant breakthrough in the preservation of migrating salmon populations.

Acoustic tags have been employed to help public utility agencies, private firms, and state and federal agencies meet fisheries regulations as defined by the Federal Regulations and Oversight of Energy ([http://www.ferc.gov/ FERC]).

In the Laurentian Great Lakes, acoustic telemetry has addressed a variety of fishery research and management concerns through research conducted through the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System ([https://glatos.glos.us/ GLATOS]).Krueger, C. C., Holbrook, C. M., Binder, T. R., Vandergoot, C. S., Hayden, T. A., Hondorp, D. W., ... & Cooke, S. J. 2018. Acoustic telemetry observation systems: challenges encountered and overcome in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 75(10), 1755-1763. Estimates of spawning site fidelity have been made for lake trout and walleye.Hayden, T.A., Binder, T.R., Holbrook, C.M., Vandergoot, C.S., Fielder, D.G., Cooke, S.J., Dettmers, J.M., and C.C. Krueger. 2018. Spawning site fidelity and apparent annual survival of walleye (Sander vitreus) differ between a Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributary. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 27:339–349. https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12350

Acoustic telemetry has also been used to inform invasive species management through the use of Judas fish, or tagged fish used to "betray" the location or behaviors of others.Bajer, P. G., Chizinski, C. J., & Sorensen, P. W. 2011. Using the Judas technique to locate and remove wintertime aggregations of invasive common carp. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 18(6), 497-505. Acoustic tags were used on sea lamprey in the Great Lakes to determine the effectiveness of traps at physical removal and to locate potential spawning locations."Holbrook, C. M., Bergstedt, R. A., Barber, J., Bravener, G. A., Jones, M. L., & Krueger, C. C. 2016. Evaluating harvest‐based control of invasive fish with telemetry: performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes. Ecological Applications, 26(6), 1595-1609.Holbrook, C. M., Jubar, A. K., Barber, J. M., Tallon, K., & Hondorp, D. W. 2016. Telemetry narrows the search for sea lamprey spawning locations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42(5), 1084-1091. They have also been used on common carp throughout North Ameruca to identify seasonal aggregations for future exploitation and removal.Watkinson, D. A., Charles, C., & Enders, E. C. 2021. Spatial ecology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Lake Winnipeg and its potential for management actions. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 47(3), 583-591.

{{Expand section|not sure there are even applications in this system|date=November 2018}}

Although incredibly valuable as a research and management tool, acoustic tags have some limitations. Foremost, the equipment required for acoustic telemetry (e.g., tags, receivers, replacement batteries for receivers, mounting and deployment materials for receivers) can be cost-prohibitive especially in comparison to other techniques such as radio telemetry. For example, acoustic receivers can cost more than $2,000 USD per unit while tags can range from $200 - $1,000 USD per unit, depending on model. Additionally, acoustic tags have variable detection range depending on habitat type, tag size, and environmental conditions.Shultz, A., Klimah, C. A., Curtis-Quick, J., Claussen, R., LaBine, J., & Ray, A. 2021. Can you hear me now? Design considerations for large lake, multispecies telemetry projects. Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Sauger: Aspects of Ecology, Management, and Culture, 271-290.Huveneers, C., Simpfendorfer, C. A., Kim, S., Semmens, J. M., Hobday, A. J., Pederson, H., ... & Harcourt, R. G. 2016. The influence of environmental parameters on the performance and detection range of acoustic receivers. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 7(7), 825-835. Variability in detection or poor detection probability could ultimately influence conclusions made from data and therefore is important to account for by range testing.Kessel, S. T., Cooke, S. J., Heupel, M. R., Hussey, N. E., Simpfendorfer, C. A., Vagle, S., & Fisk, A. T. 2014. A review of detection range testing in aquatic passive acoustic telemetry studies. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 24, 199-218. Considerations on project scale and timeframe are necessary before implementing acoustic telemetry.

• Animal migration tracking
• Data storage tag
• GIS and aquatic science
• Pop-up satellite archival tag

{{Reflist}}

{{hydroacoustics|state=expand}}

{{fishery science topics|state=collapsed}}

Category:Ichthyology

Category:Fisheries science

Category:Sound

Category:Acoustics