DOI: 10.5061/dryad.nk98sf7zp
title: Evaluating the efficacy of using GPS satellite transmitters to assess movement of bigheaded carp in a riverine system

description: We have evaluated the feasibility of using GPS satellite transmitters on
 invasive bigheaded carp species, silver carp, and bighead carp, that could
 determine patterns of movement, identify potential feeding and spawning
 areas, and inform a comprehensive monitoring and commercial removal
 program in the Illinois River Waterway system in the United States.
 Despite a wealth of information on bigheaded carp movement from acoustic
 and radio telemetry, a finer-scale approach to understanding habitat use
 and daily surfacing trends in movement would strengthen management
 efforts. Custom Fastloc™-GPS data-logging transmitters (with radio
 telemetry capability) manufactured by Sirtrack™ were tethered to adult
 bigheaded carp in field experiments.  Sixteen field-deployed
 transmitters were recovered and yielded 490 individual GPS waypoints when
 transmitters were attached to fish. We observed movement rates within the
 Dresden Island Reach of the Illinois River Waterway of approximately 16
 river km, and movement in and out of backwater habitats, and the
 warm-water discharge of a nuclear generating station. We have demonstrated
 the use of this technology to monitor bigheaded carp and will use the
 information gained from this study to inform future work with remotely
 accessed, real-time, Argos satellite-linked prototypes. Fine-scale
 accuracies, fast acquisition speeds, and the ability to gather real-time
 data make this a promising tool and is one of the first uses of GPS
 technology to track fish movement in a riverine system. Continued
 exploration to improve tag retention efficiency will enhance its utility
 for continued invasive carp management. 
description: These data come from evaluating the use of GPS satellite
 transmitters on silver carp and bighead carp in a riverine system. The
 goal of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of using such GPS
 technology on bigheaded carp and evaluate attachment methods and retention
 time of external transmitters. 
description: # Evaluating the efficacy of using GPS satellite transmitters to assess
 movement of bigheaded carp in a riverine system
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.nk98sf7zp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.nk98sf7zp) These data come from evaluating the use of GPS satellite transmitters used on silver carp and bighead carp in a riverine system. The goal of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of using such GPS technology on bigheaded carp and evaluting attachment methods and retention time of external transmitters. Data collected starting in September 2015 to the last transmitter recovered in June 2017. All fishes were collected and tracked within the Dresden Island Pool of the Des Plaines River (RM 272-286), which is part of the Illinois River Waterway System. Transmitters used for this project have diameter of 44 mm, length of 82 mm, and weigh 55 g. Fish used for this study range from 715 mm-1030 mm. 490 total detections when transmitter was plausibly on fish. Days transmitter remained attached to fish ranged from 3 to 23 days (median=8.5 days). ## Description of the data and file structure | Tag # | Unique tag number | | ----- | ----------------- | | Species | SVCP=Silver carp, BHCP=Bighead carp, Hybrid=Silver Carp x Bighead Carp | | Length (mm) | Length of fish in millimeters | | Sex | Male or Female | | Date Tagged | Date that fish was collected and transmitter attached | | Latitude (Tagged) | Latitude of fish collection in decimal degrees | | Longitude (Tagged) | Longitude of fish collection in decimal degrees | | Date Recovered | Date transmitter was recovered | | Latitude (Recovered) | Latitude of transmitter recovery in decimal degrees | | Longitude (Recovered) | Longitude of transmitter recovery in decimal degrees | | Valid Detections | \# of detections when transmitter was collecting valid data points | | Invalid Detections | \# of detections when transmitter was collecting invalid data points \(malfunction in transmitter; points \~10\-100 miles away from plausible range \(e\.g\. on land\) | | Date Detached (?) | Using valid data points was able to determine when transmitter detached from fish | | Days Attached | \# of days transmitter was attached to fish | | Detections While Attached | \# of valid detections when transmitter was attached to fish | | Detections Per Day | \# of valid detections per day when transmitter was attached to fish | | VHF Detections | \# of VHF \(Very High Frequency\) detections | | Transmitter Status | Not recovered, unable to process data, or data downloaded | | Waypoint Date | Date that GPS or VHF waypoint was collected | | Waypoint Time | Time (CST) that GPS or VHF waypoint was collected | | Battery | Battery life/strength (Volts) | | Satellites | \# of satellites detected and used to determine GPS waypoint | | Latitude | Latitude of GPS or VHF waypoint in decimal degrees | | Longitude  | Longitude of GPS or VHF waypoint in decimal degrees  | | Hour | Hour of the day that GPS waypoint was gathered (1-24) | ## **Description of worksheets in Excel file** **Metadata:** we provide information such as title, authors, description of data, who data was collected by, data range timeline, location of field work, and other comments necessary to interpret and better understand dataset. **Transmitter information:** we provide information of each transmitter attached to fish, including species and length of fish used, date of when fish was tagged and when it was recovered, latitude and longitude of where fish was tagged and recovered, # of GPS and VHF detections, days fish was tagged, and transmitter status after recovery. **All valid waypoints:** we provide information on all GPS waypoints from each transmitter. Information includes tag #, species and length of fish used, date of when fish was tagged and when it was recovered, latitude and longitude of where fish was tagged and recovered, date and time of each waypoint gathered, latitude and longitude of each waypoint, and # of satellites detected and used to determine GPS waypoint. **Waypoints while attached:** we provide information of GPS waypoints when the transmitter was plausibly attached to the fish. Information includes tag #, species and length of fish used, date of when fish was tagged and when it was recovered, latitude and longitude of where fish was tagged and recovered, date and time of each waypoint gathered, latitude and longitude of each waypoint, # of satellites detected and used to determine GPS waypoint, and hour of the day when each waypoint was gathered. **Invalid waypoints (malfunction):** we provide information of waypoints that were gathered after a malfunction with the transmitters. These waypoints are not plausible based on there locations (on land or miles away from study area. Information includes tag #, species and length of fish used, date of when fish was tagged and when it was recovered, latitude and longitude of where fish was tagged and recovered, date and time of each waypoint gathered, latitude and longitude of each waypoint, # of satellites detected and used to determine GPS waypoint. **VHF Detections:** we provide information on waypoints gathered via VHF (very high frequency) telemetry. VHF telemetry was critical in helping us locate tagged fish, and transmitters that were detached from fish. Information includes tag #, species and length of fish used, date of when fish was tagged and when it was recovered, latitude and longitude of where fish was tagged and recovered, date and time of each waypoint gathered, and latitude and longitude of each waypoint.