Sturgeon Ecomorphology: A Descriptive Approach

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

“…Moreover, quantifying benthic resource distribution coupled with sediment characteristics are surrogate approaches used to identify primary sturgeon foraging areas (Fox et al 2002, Brooks & Sulak 2005, Harris et al 2005, Nellis et al 2007, Ross et al 2009). These data suggest that Gulf sturgeon, like most sturgeon, are opportunistic benthic foragers (Huff 1975, Miller 2004, Vecsei & Peterson 2004, Parauka et al 2011) as Breder (1929 showed in his detailed description of sturgeon foraging behavior. Sturgeon use barbels, snout and head electroreceptors, their specialized tubular mouth, and suction feeding (Miller 2004, Vecsei & Peterson 2004) to obtain prey from sediments.…”

“…These data suggest that Gulf sturgeon, like most sturgeon, are opportunistic benthic foragers (Huff 1975, Miller 2004, Vecsei & Peterson 2004, Parauka et al 2011) as Breder (1929 showed in his detailed description of sturgeon foraging behavior. Sturgeon use barbels, snout and head electroreceptors, their specialized tubular mouth, and suction feeding (Miller 2004, Vecsei & Peterson 2004) to obtain prey from sediments. As past natural and anthropogenic events can be recorded as layers in the sediment, they are considered the 'memory' of ecosystem change; thus benthic assemblages appear to reflect temporal and spatial change in the environment due to accumulated environmental stress (Dean 2008, Montagna et al 2013.…”

Ecology and biology of the lake sturgeon: a synthesis of current knowledge of a threatened North American Acipenseridae

“…The thick-walled, gizzard-like stomach is connected to a spiral-valve intestine, a primitive alimentary arrangement shared by many Acipenserids adapted to a diet of benthic crustaceans and molluscs (Harkness and Dymond 1961). Body armouring is extensive on juveniles but becomes progressively reduced with age (Priegel and Wirth 1971;Scott and Crossman 1973;Vecsei and Peterson 2004). In juveniles < 100 cm, the laterodorsal and lateroventral surfaces are protected by a layer of tightly-spaced denticles evenly distributed between the five principal rows of scutes.…”

“…Feeding is accomplished as the animal swims along the bottom with its barbels in contact with the substrate. As prey items are detected, they are sucked in by a rapid extension of the protractible mouth (Priegel and Wirth 1974;Vecsei and Peterson 2004). Inedible materials such as sand or silt, sucked are expelled through the mouth or gills, while food items are retained and crushed against the ridges of cartilaginous palate before being swallowed (Harkness and Dymond 1961;Priegel and Wirth 1974).…”

First verified occurrence of the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the James River, Virginia

“…After the passive integrated transponder was in place, the surface of the fish was noted to be very smooth (Gorham and McAllister, 1974), in contrast with the surface of Atlantic sturgeon. This sturgeon was rolled over to reveal its ventral surface, where pre-anal plates were observed on the ventral median, and the anal fin lacked paired plates (Vecsei and Peterson, 2004). After the placement of plates and smooth skin were noted, it was determined that the fish was most likely a shortnose sturgeon.…”