Population status and demographics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, from 2000 to 2007

Bauman, John M.; Moerke, Ashley H.; Greil, Roger; Gerig, Brandon S.; Baker, E. A.; Chiotti, Justin A.

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2010.12.003

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Our study combined with Bauman et al (2011) demonstrates that the SMR contains a resident lake sturgeon population that uses a small spatial area. Due to the relatively small population size (~500; Bauman et al, 2011) and lack of confirmed spawning site, lake sturgeon within the SMR are especially vulnerable to harvest, habitat degradation and catastrophic events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Within the study reach, lake sturgeon used core areas at the inflow of the North Channel of Sugar Island and Lake George and the outflow of Lake George near East Neebish Island. Similarly, catch data provided by Bauman et al (2011) found that lake sturgeon in the SMR were only captured between the North Channel of Sugar Island to the southern end of Lake George. While our telemetry study demonstrated residency of lake sturgeon during spring and summer in the SMR, we were unable to conduct winter tracking surveys to verify year round residency of implanted sturgeon.…”

Section: Movementmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Within the SMR, lake sturgeon may be constrained to the study reach by shipping activities in the shipping channel and a barrier in the form of the SMR Rapids compensating works and the Soo Locks. No tagged lake sturgeon during this study were located in proximity to the main shipping channel, and previous setline attempts in the shipping channel were unsuccessful (Bauman et al, 2011). Shipping can impact fish by increasing shear stress, altering water levels, increasing water velocity and increasing turbidity which subsequently alters fish feeding and swimming behavior (Wolter and Arlinghaus, 2003).…”

Section: Movementmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Lake sturgeon were captured via setlines (see Bauman et al, 2011) during the summers of 2006 and 2007 using methods established by Thomas and Hass (1999). Twelve lake sturgeon were implanted with sonic transponders (Sonotronics Inc.) in 2006 and six additional sturgeon were implanted in 2007.…”

Section: Capture and Tagging Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extensive surveys conducted by the MI DNR from 1975 to 1995 found that lake sturgeon abundance was declining and by 1995 lake sturgeon were absent from the survey (Fielder and Waybrant, 1998). Yet since 2000, the Lake Superior State University Aquatic Research Lab has captured over 230 sturgeon in the SMR, with a recapture rate of approximately 15% during summer assessments (Bauman et al, 2011). Despite the SMR being identified in the MI DNR Lake Sturgeon Rehabilitation Strategy as having high suitability for lake sturgeon, little data currently exist on this population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Movement patterns and habitat characteristics of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, Michigan, 2007–2008

Gerig

Moerke

Greil

et al. 2011

Journal of Great Lakes Research

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Movementmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Movementmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Capture and Tagging Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Movement patterns and habitat characteristics of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, Michigan, 2007–2008

Gerig

Moerke

Greil

et al. 2011

Journal of Great Lakes Research

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Evaluation and Comparison of a Habitat Suitability Model for Postdrift Larval Lake Sturgeon in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers

Krieger

Young

Diana

2018

N American J Fish Manag

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We evaluated composition and spatial distribution of riverine nursery habitat for larval Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River, Michigan, and Fighting Island Channel of the Detroit River, Ontario, using a habitat suitability model (HSM) and fish collections. Although model outputs indicated similar portions of high‐quality habitat in the Middle Channel (16.9%) and Fighting Island Channel (15.7%), larval abundance and dispersal patterns varied between these systems. Analysis with Akaike's information criterion indicated that a regression model using sand–silt substrate performed best at predicting the observed water‐volume‐standardized CPUE (number of larvae·h−1·m−3) in the Middle Channel. Of 93 larvae that were collected in the Middle Channel, most were found to cluster at three distinct areas of high‐ and moderate‐quality habitat, which was composed predominately of sand–silt substrate. Lengths of larvae varied by as much as 9 mm, and the degree of yolk sac absorption also varied, indicating that larvae in the Middle Channel remained within the channel after a short drift downstream. Of the 25 larvae that were collected in Fighting Island Channel, distribution was sporadic, and occurrence did not significantly correlate with measured habitat variables. Larvae were relatively homogeneous in size and yolk sac stage, indicating that newly emerged larvae did not utilize available habitat in Fighting Island Channel but instead drifted into the main channel of the Detroit River. Dispersal patterns indicate variability in young Lake Sturgeon ecology, which is dependent on local habitat conditions—most notably, substrate composition. Furthermore, modeled larval–habitat associations found in this study were compared to a similar study on larval Lake Sturgeon from the North Channel of the St. Clair River. Model outputs from all three systems accurately accounted for observed larval dispersal patterns among both rivers. This supports the transferability of an HSM parameterized for Lake Sturgeon from individual river reaches within two large river systems.

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Lake Sturgeon population trends in the St. Clair–Detroit River system, 2001–2019

Chiotti

Boase

Briggs

et al. 2023

N American J Fish Manag

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Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens are listed as threatened or endangered in 15 states or provinces within their native range. Accordingly, investments in habitat and population restoration for this species have increased throughout the Great Lakes. To aide evaluation of restoration efficacy, robust population parameters are needed to inform management decisions. The St. Clair – Detroit River System (SCDRS) contains one of the largest self‐sustaining Lake Sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes; however recent estimates of population abundance and growth parameters have not been assessed. Our study used baited setline and mark‐recapture data collected between 2001 – 2019 to estimate whether the number of Lake Sturgeon captured varied annually and/or with water temperature and whether population abundance and population growth rate varied among three sub‐populations located in the SCDRS. Trends in the number of Lake Sturgeon captured on setlines varied among sub‐populations and by life stage. Annual trends in the number of Lake Sturgeon captured remained consistent over time in the upper St. Clair River, decreased for adults and increased for subadults in the lower St. Clair River, and increased in the Detroit River. With sub‐population abundance of 20,184 (95% CI = 12,533 – 27,816) in the upper St. Clair River/southern Lake Huron, 6,523 (95% CI = 5,720 – 7,327) in the lower St. Clair River, and 6,416 (95% CI = 4,065 – 8,767) in the Detroit River, our study confirms that the SCDRS contains the largest Lake Sturgeon population with unimpeded access to the Great Lakes. The geometric mean population growth rate (λ) for all sub‐populations indicated stable populations and ranged from 1.00 – 1.16. Our study provides an updated assessment of Lake Sturgeon population parameters that serve as a baseline to evaluate habitat restoration efforts and inform management of the SCDRS recreational Lake Sturgeon fishery.

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Population status and demographics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, from 2000 to 2007

Cited by 16 publications

References 22 publications

Movement patterns and habitat characteristics of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, Michigan, 2007–2008

Movement patterns and habitat characteristics of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the St. Marys River, Michigan, 2007–2008

Evaluation and Comparison of a Habitat Suitability Model for Postdrift Larval Lake Sturgeon in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers

Lake Sturgeon population trends in the St. Clair–Detroit River system, 2001–2019

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