SREL Reprint #2322

Use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for marking small freshwater turtles

Kurt A. Buhlmann and Tracey D. Tuberville

University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 USA

Introduction: Internally injected passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags have been used in recent studies on a wide variety of animal species, including salmonid fishes (Prentice et al., 1990; McCutcheon et al., 1994; Peterson et al., 1994), crustaceans (Pengilly and Watson, 1994), birds (Elbin and Burger, 1994), and mammals (Thomas et al., 1987; Barnard, 1989; Ball et al., 199 1). In amphibian and reptile studies, PIT tags have been used on salamanders (J.A. Ott and D.E. Scott, pers. comm.), snakes (Keck, 1994; Jemison et al., 1995), lizards (Germano and Williams, 1993), crocodilians (Dixon and Yanosky, 1993), freshwater turtles (Camper and Dixon, 1988), and sea turtles (Fontaine et al., 1987; McDonald and Dutton, 1996; Steyermark et al., 1996). Loss incidence of internally injected PIT tags appears to be low. Reported tag loss has been attributed to inability to detect the tag in large animals (Steyermark et al., 1996) or to faulty implantation (Freeland and Fry, 1995). PIT tag retention of 100% has been reported in pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) by Elbin and Burger (1994) and in leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) by McDonald and Dutton (1996).

SREL Reprint #2322

Buhlmann, K.A. and T.D. Tuberville. 1998. Use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for marking small freshwater turtles. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3:102-104.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).