9 research outputs found
Morphological variation among populations of Hemigrammus coeruleus (Characiformes: Characidae) in a Negro River tributary, Brazilian Amazon
The role of Lithodoras dorsalis (Siluriformes: Doradidae) as seed disperser in Eastern Amazon
Testing the native invasion hypothesis to explain anthropogenic influence on stream fish assemblages
Treefrog lateral line as a mean of individual identification through visual and software assisted methodologies
Inter and intraspecific variation in fish body size constrains microhabitat use in a subtropical drainage
Factors affecting secondary sex characteristics in the yellowtail tetra, Astyanax altiparanae
Tolerant semiaquatic bugs species (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) are associated to pasture and conventional logging in the Eastern Amazon
Individual identification and marking techniques for zebrafish
In laboratory fish research, the zebrafish Danio rerio (Cyprinidae) represents the equivalent of the mouse in mammalian research. This species has become a major model for studies in developmental and behavioural genetics, neurophysiology, biomedicine, ecotoxicology, and behavioural and evolutionary ecology. To meet the need for accurate and reproducible data in both fundamental and applied sciences, it is of primary importance to be able to tag and/or recognize individual zebrafish. However, classic methods used in fish ecology and aquaculture are generally difficult to apply to such small fish. Recently, various new tagging methods have been developed. This paper presents a first review of current identification and marking methods applied to zebrafish, from external observation methods (such as skin pattern recognition, fin clipping, scale regeneration, colour and transgenic methods) to the most advanced technological developments in electronic (low- and high- radio-frequencies PIT tags, microchip) and image analysis methods (video tracking). This review aims to help researchers and zebrafish facility managers select the identification method (ID) best adapted to their needs. The main characteristics of each ID method are examined (including detection range, durability, speed and repetitiveness, ID code combination, size dependence and ethical considerations), and their pros and cons are summarized in a decision table to help select the most appropriate option for a research or management program. Finally, contextual applications of these ID methods and future developments are discussed