TY - JOUR
AU1 - Brownscombe, Jacob
AU2 - Griffin, Lucas
AU3 - Gagne, Tyler
AU4 - Haak, Christopher
AU5 - Cooke, Steven
AU6 - Danylchuk, Andy
AB - Bonefish (Albula spp.) are a popular target for recreational anglers practicing primarily catch-and-release (C&R). The effects of C&R on bonefish have been previously examined in subtropical regions of The Bahamas. However, it is unclear how these findings relate to larger bonefish, as well as those caught in warmer, tropical environments. Here we examined the effects of C&R on physiological stress and reflex impairment in bonefish in tropical Culebra, Puerto Rico. Bonefish (Albula vulpes; 56.6 ± 5.0 cm total length, mean ± SE) were angled with spinning or fly fishing gear and either handled entirely in the water without air exposure (n = 12) or exposed to air for 2 min to simulate an aerial hook removal and admiration period (n = 11). Upon capture, bonefish were assessed for the presence of five reflexes and held in floating net pens for 1 h prior to phlebotomy for quantification of physiological stress. Blood lactate and pH were correlated with fight time, but linear models showed air exposure and water temperature were better predictors of physiological stress. Compared to previous research using simulated angling events, larger bonefish in warmer water under true angling scenarios had similar physiological stress responses. Two minutes of air exposure caused significant reflex impairment, which is a strong predictor of post release behavioural impairment and mortality risk in this species. Air exposure should be avoided with bonefish, especially with larger fish and at warmer water temperatures to minimize negative impacts and ensure the sustainability of C&R bonefish angling.
TI - Physiological stress and reflex impairment of recreationally angled bonefish in Puerto Rico
JF - Environmental Biology of Fishes
DO - 10.1007/s10641-015-0444-y
DA - 2015-09-07
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/physiological-stress-and-reflex-impairment-of-recreationally-angled-nGzUo0pdot
SP - 2287
EP - 2295
VL - 98
IS - 11
DP - DeepDyve
ER -