Traditional sampling techniques such as capturing fish with nets to estimate their abundance, and walking streams to measure habitat or count fish nets (redds) are important for generating information about fish populations. However, technology holds great promise to expand the scope and detail of such data, which can help biologists more effectively conserve and manage populations of interest. We have extensively utilized Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags implanted into fish and other organisms to track their movements using a variety of stationary and mobile antennas. Detections using these antennas can provide information on occupancy, survival, and seasonal timing of movement. Small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS or drones) can provide high-quality imagery to address research and address management needs, from counting individuals, to characterizing types of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Our program has two Department of Interior certified drone pilots, and our most extensive application of the drone technology has been to measure the surface water coverage of aquatic vegetation in a small wetland through time in response to nonnative common carp.
Research