@article{gilliland_fessler_paxton_ebert_tharp_runde_bacheler_buckel_taylor_2023, title={Spatial extent and isolation of marine artificial structures mediate fish density}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2296-7745"]}, DOI={10.3389/fmars.2023.1240344}, abstractNote={Installations of artificial structures in coastal oceans create de facto habitat for marine life. These structures encompass wide varieties of physical characteristics, reflecting their multiple, diverse purposes and creating a need to understand which characteristics maximize fish habitat. Here, we test how physical characteristics – horizontal area, vertical relief, and spatial isolation – relate to fish density from echosounder surveys over artificial structures like concrete pipes, train boxcars, and ships purposely sunk to function as reefs. Echosounder mapping of 31 artificial reef structures and associated fish across a 200 km linear length of the continental shelf of North Carolina, USA, revealed that structures with greater horizontal area and vertical relief host higher fish densities than smaller, shorter structures. Artificial structure spatial arrangement also relates to fish density, as isolated structures are generally associated with greater localized fish densities than structures closer to one another. Patterns in the relationships between fish density and reef characteristics differed for schooling fish, as there was some evidence that reefs of intermediate area exhibited higher schooling fish density. These results suggest that intentional design and spatial arrangement of marine built structures like artificial reefs relates to and can be deliberately incorporated into siting and deployment decisions to enhance their role as fish habitat.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE}, author={Gilliland, Virginia A. and Fessler, Avery E. and Paxton, Avery B. and Ebert, Erik F. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Runde, Brendan J. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Taylor, J. Christopher}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{runde_rudershausen_bacheler_tharp_buckel_2022, title={Depredation of Demersal Reef Fishes Released with Descender Devices Is Uncommon off North Carolina, USA}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10815}, abstractNote={Abstract Descender devices are increasingly recognized as a leading means of barotrauma mitigation for released reef fishes. Yet, some resource users oppose regulations requiring or encouraging descender device use, arguing that predators frequently eat fish during release (depredation), sometimes causing device loss. We synthesized data for over 1,200 descended releases (both videoed and nonvideoed) of 16 species of reef fish off North Carolina, USA. Of 114 videos, we observed possible predators on seven, none of which showed actual depredation. Of 1,176 nonvideoed releases, we lost zero descender devices, indicating that although cryptic depredation may have occurred, equipment loss was nonexistent. The lack of any evidence of depredation in ocean waters off North Carolina provides information to managers that they can use to reinforce education and outreach to encourage descender use.}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2022}, month={Aug} }
 @article{runde_buckel_bacheler_tharp_rudershausen_harms_ben-horin_2022, title={Evaluation of six methods for external attachment of electronic tags to fish: assessment of tag retention, growth and fish welfare}, volume={1}, ISSN={["1095-8649"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14989}, DOI={10.1111/jfb.14989}, abstractNote={External attachment of electronic tags has been increasingly used in fish studies. Many researchers have used ad hoc attachment methods and provided little or no validation for the assumption that tagging itself does not bias animal behaviour or survival. The authors compared six previously published methods for externally attaching acoustic transmitters to fish in a tank holding experiment with black sea bass Centropristis striata (L.). They tracked tag retention, fish growth and external trauma (as a measure of fish welfare) for 60 days. For each of these metrics, the results showed a wide range of responses among tagging treatments. A simple attachment method using a spaghetti tag passed through the dorsal musculature of the fish and tied to the end cap of the transmitter emerged as the preferred option based on high retention, no impact on growth and relatively low detriment to fish welfare. Future field studies using external electronic tagging should consider tag-related effects that could compromise results when selecting a method for tag attachment.}, journal={JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Harms, Craig A. and Ben-Horin, Tal}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }