Research Tools to Investigate Movements, Migrations, and Life History of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae), with an Emphasis on Marine-Oriented Populations

Nelson, Troy C.; Doukakis, Phaedra; Lindley, Steven T.; Schreier, Andrea; Hightower, Joseph E.; Hildebrand, Larry R.; Whitlock, Rebecca; Webb, Molly A. H.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071552

Cited by 43 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 185 publications

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“…Examples of these are the role of by-catch for coastal species (Adams et al 2014), longline fisheries by-catch for pelagic species (Restrepo et al 2003), wetland habitats and their loss in fish that use estuaries and other coastal areas as nurseries, and pollution (Jue et al 2014), hydrological modification and dams (Nelson et al 2013), hypoxia/dead zone (Breitburg 2002), invasive species (Cote and Maljkovic 2010), and maritime transport and ecotourism activities (Hueter and Tyminski 2012). …”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do en route events around the Gulf of Mexico influence migratory landbird populations?

et al. 2017

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Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do en route events around the Gulf of Mexico influence migratory landbird populations?

et al. 2017

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“…Historical overfishing and population declines due to human development (e.g. dams; Smith 1985, Cooke et al 2012 are problematic to the recovery of sturgeons, many of which do not spawn annually and are long lived (Dadswell 2006, Nelson et al 2013). In the USA, the Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi is a federally listed threatened species (Smith & Tillman 1991), and many of the river, bay, and nearshore areas throughout its range are considered critical habitats that support spawning, in-river holding, or feeding activities (Knowles & Manson 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrobenthic prey and physical habitat characteristics in a western Gulf sturgeon population: differential estuarine habitat use patterns

Peterson¹,

Havrylkoff²,

Grammer³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi is listed as 'threatened' under the US Endangered Species Act throughout its range in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA, as the recognized break between eastern and western populations. Population recovery requires protection of the species and its critical habitat. We examined Gulf sturgeon physical habitat attributes and infaunal macrobenthic prey density and composition both spatially and seasonally relative to acoustically tagged Gulf sturgeon occurrence in the Pascagoula River estuary. Gulf sturgeon occupancy patterns indicated that adults move quickly through the system during fall and spring compared to longer but more spatially and temporally variable occupancy for juveniles and sub-adults in both seasons; sub-adults exhibited a less spatially and temporally variable occupancy pattern. We found significant differences in physical habitat and macrobenthic density characteristics that partially explained Gulf sturgeon spatial and temporal occupancy patterns. Direct comparisons of physical drivers (% silt, depth, particulate organic carbon) and macrobenthic density patterns (BEST procedures) were significantly correlated (p < 0.01) but weak (global R = 0.277) and suggest alternate hypotheses to better explain the differential estuarine habitat use patterns. The most parsimonious explanation with multiple weights-of-evidence suggests reduced use of the eastern distributary habitat by Gulf sturgeon based on synergistic effects of urbanization and industrialization such as bulkheading, channelization, dredging and related maintenance activities, and beach re-nourishment, all of which occur almost exclusively in the east zone of the estuary.

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“…For wide‐ranging and long‐lived species, the need to observe movements of individuals at biologically relevant spatial and temporal scales increases this difficulty even further (Nelson et al. ). Conservation programs that monitor and quantify variable habitat use among individuals can yield data to formulate management goals to conserve or even enhance population diversity and ultimately promote the long‐term persistence of populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, developing guidelines to conserve behavioral diversity is difficult because variation at the individual level is infrequently studied despite recognition that habitat use of mobile species is unlikely to fit a generalist pattern (Fodrie et al 2015, Dwyer et al 2019. For wide-ranging and long-lived species, the need to observe movements of individuals at biologically relevant spatial and temporal scales increases this difficulty even further (Nelson et al 2013). Conservation programs that monitor and quantify variable habitat use among individuals can yield data to formulate management goals to conserve or even enhance population diversity and ultimately promote the long-term persistence of populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sequence analysis and acoustic tracking of individual lake sturgeon identify multiple patterns of river–lake habitat use

et al. 2019

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Understanding the spatial ecology of sturgeon (Acipenseridae) has proven to be a challenge due to the life history characteristics of these fish, especially their long life span, intermittent spawning, and long‐distance migrations. Within the Huron‐Erie Corridor (HEC) of the Laurentian Great Lakes, habitat use of 247 lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) was monitored over a three‐year period (2015–2017) with acoustic transmitters. Extensive spatial coverage of receivers throughout the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River between Lake Huron and Lake Erie (~150 km) allowed for continuous monitoring of the movements of acoustic‐tagged individuals. Sequence analysis of individual detection histories was used to describe lake sturgeon habitat use and to determine (1) whether distinct habitat‐use patterns occurred within the HEC; (2) whether the range of habitats occupied varied across seasons among sturgeon grouped by common patterns; and (3) whether variation identified was related to tagging sites in the two rivers or sex. Lake sturgeon were active throughout the HEC, but five distinct habitat‐use patterns were identified. River residents were not broadly distributed across entire rivers, but rather associated with particular segments (middle Detroit River, St. Clair River delta). Variations in habitat‐use sequences were in part related to three river tagging sites, but not sex, and did not produce groups with sequences that reflected all five habitat‐use patterns derived from cluster analysis. Lake sturgeon distribution was reduced to fewer habitat segments during winter and expanded to the maximum extent during the spring and summer. Conservation planning that incorporates behavioral diversity of habitat use is relatively rare due to a lack of observations on movements of individuals at biologically relevant spatial and temporal scales, but using telemetry and sequence analysis methods may promote the success of conservation and restoration efforts.

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Research Tools to Investigate Movements, Migrations, and Life History of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae), with an Emphasis on Marine-Oriented Populations

Cited by 43 publications

References 185 publications

How do en route events around the Gulf of Mexico influence migratory landbird populations?

How do en route events around the Gulf of Mexico influence migratory landbird populations?

Macrobenthic prey and physical habitat characteristics in a western Gulf sturgeon population: differential estuarine habitat use patterns

Sequence analysis and acoustic tracking of individual lake sturgeon identify multiple patterns of river–lake habitat use

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