Posted by:
OHI
at Mon Feb 14 02:35:56 2011 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by OHI ]
Ed,
I read the paper. Although, as with many scientific papers, it was difficult to determine EXACTLY what the COMPLETE data results were. There were 474 newts marked with micro chips. And only 196 were "captured" if I read it correctly. That is less then 50% recaptured. What happened to over 50% of the newts? Mortality from micro chipping? We don't know. Breeders are not going to go for one mortality much less mortality of greater then 50%. Further, in the discussion section the authors extrapolate that the low survival of the study population was a symptom of poor climate, microhabitat and body condition. Sounds to me like they are trying to justify their high mortality.
So, I would have to say the statement "pit tags have been used successfully in newts as small as 1.7 grams with no effects on survivial" is a false statement.
In addition, when I was taking Dr. Tilley's salamander field course at Highlands, Dr. Andy Ashe was pit tagging marbled salamanders and having many problems with mortality. And, Dr. Eliot Jacobson was involved in the Florida discussions about pit tagging all venomous and seemed to think it was not a good idea to pit tag smaller animals.
Welkerii
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RE: answering your other questions - OHI, Mon Feb 14 02:35:56 2011