Evidence of Positive Phototaxis in Paddlefish: Implications for Larval Sampling

Schooley, Jason D.; Geik, Adam; Sontheimer, Willis; Scarnecchia, Dennis L.

doi:10.1660/062.123.0124

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Post‐larval Paddlefish transition from early particulate foraging to later filter feeding (e.g., Hintz et al., 2017; Michaletz et al., 1982), or “sight‐feeding to filter‐feeding” transition (page 53 Shelton (2015)). Pre‐rostral Paddlefish have comparatively well‐developed eyes (Larimore, 1949) and are positively phototactic, which is reduced as Paddlefish develop (Schooley et al., 2020) and suggests a brief window of sight‐feeding early in development before the rostrum with its associated ampullae of Lorenzini is fully formed. Under these circumstances, low water clarity that inhibits foraging by pre‐rostral Paddlefish could lower survivorship and subsequent recruitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors associated with Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) restoration success in Oklahoma

Gary,

Long,

Eachus

et al. 2023

Fisheries Management Eco

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The Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) has been extirpated from portions of its native range due to anthropogenic habitat degradation and fragmentation, most notably the impoundment of rivers. To mitigate some of these losses in Oklahoma, Paddlefish have been stocked into reservoirs throughout the state, with variable success in establishing self‐sustaining populations. Two factors thought to contribute to success of Paddlefish stocking are spawning substrate and prey availability, which were quantified in six reservoirs and nine reservoir tributaries. Side‐scan sonar and supervised classification of aerial imagery were used to classify 4517‐ha of river substrate upstream of the river‐reservoir interface in reservoir tributaries. Zooplankton community structure, water clarity, and nutrient availability were also assessed in the same reservoirs and tributaries. One tributary had suitable spawning substrate (>40%), and the rest had minimal (<1.5%), which suggested that availability of suitable spawning substrate was not directly correlated with Paddlefish stocking success. Reservoirs with self‐sustaining Paddlefish populations had higher abundance of large zooplankton (copepods and cladocerans) than reservoirs without a reproducing population. Notably, tributaries associated with Lake Texoma, the one known example of failed restoration, were much more turbid than other rivers. We conclude that abiotic factors such as water clarity may contribute more to variable recruitment than spawning substrate or zooplankton abundance by mediating foraging success of Paddlefish post‐larvae.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(page 53 Shelton (2015)). Pre-rostral Paddlefish have comparatively well-developed eyes (Larimore, 1949) and are positively phototactic, which is reduced as Paddlefish develop (Schooley et al, 2020) and suggests a brief window of sight-feeding early in development before the rostrum with its associated ampullae of Lorenzini is fully formed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) restoration success in Oklahoma

Gary,

Long,

Eachus

et al. 2023

Fisheries Management Eco

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“…Second, although swimming capabilities of yolk larvae are weak and directionally limited (Yeager & Wallus, 1990), swimming interrupted by occasional rest periods (Jennings & Zigler, 2009) should minimize interactions with sessile P. hydriforme . Third, while many sturgeon larvae are photo‐negative (Gisbert et al., 1999; Kynard et al., 2002; Loew & Sillman, 1998; Parsley et al., 2002; Zhuang et al., 2003), Paddlefish larvae are photo‐positive (Schooley, Geik, Sontheimer, & Scarnecchia, 2020) and yolk larvae show no preference for benthic habitat (Yeager & Wallus, 1990). All of these life‐history traits should greatly hinder infection of Paddlefish by attachment of gametophores to early larval stages as has been observed for Sterlet (Raikova, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Polypodium hydriforme in American Paddlefish

Okamura

Hartigan

Long

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Diseases

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Polypodium hydriforme is a parasitic cnidarian that develops within the eggs of acipenseriform fish in the Old and New Worlds. Currently regarded as monotypic, P. hydriforme has been studied largely in the context of caviar production in Russian sturgeon species. We report the first robust epidemiological study of P. hydriforme in North American acipenseriform fish. We sampled infection prevalences (in 2017 and 2018) and intensities (in 2017) during annual surveys of American Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, caught during spawning migration in north‐eastern Oklahoma. Egg masses were characterized for the presence and intensity of P. hydriforme infection. Prevalences were similar in 2017 and 2018 (49% and 45%, respectively). Generally, a small number of eggs were infected per egg mass, but a few were heavily infected. Longer, heavier and older fish are more likely to be infected and to harbour more severe infections. In addition, infection is linked to decreases in roe fat weight independently of fish length, weight, age or roe weight. Infection thus diminishes Paddlefish energy reserves (roe fat) which could in turn impact host fitness. Our results raise questions about the impacts of infection on caviar production and Paddlefish conservation and suggest insights on infection dynamics and parasite strategies.

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Evidence of Positive Phototaxis in Paddlefish: Implications for Larval Sampling

Cited by 2 publications

References 25 publications

Factors associated with Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) restoration success in Oklahoma

Factors associated with Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) restoration success in Oklahoma

Epidemiology of Polypodium hydriforme in American Paddlefish

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