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| VIE Code CapacityWhile VIE is primarily used for batch identification, a surprising number of batches or individuals can be generated by combining multiple tags, multiple tag locations, and multiple colors. For example, researchers tracking seahorses have used this method to track more than 500 individual seahorses at one time. Please refer to Selecting VIE Colors or contact our biological services staff before selecting the colors for your project. Six fluorescent colors (red, yellow, blue, orange, green, and pink) and four non-fluorescent colors (black, brown, white, and purple) constitute the only intrinsic VIE codes. If only one tag per fish were used, the number of potential unique tags is simply the product of the numbers of colors used and the locations. However, if two or more tags are used in each specimen, in combination with several different locations, many unique codes can be devised. In any tagging program, it is important that all of the study animals have the same number of tags. That way, there can be no confusion between animals which lost tags and those which began with fewer tags. In general, the number of unique codes is found by the formula: Where:
For example, three body locations used with four colors (C = 4, L = 3, N = 3) would provide:
NMT has created an application to calculate and list the unique codes available for a given number of body locations, tags and colors. You can download it using the link below Download
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Northwest Marine Technology, Inc. (360) 468 - 3375 | Last edited: 15 Jun 2010 | ||
