Suitability of Lake Sturgeon Growth Rings inChronology Development

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if ring widths in the cross section of lake sturgeon pectoral fin rays satisfy three criteria required of structures used in the development of growth chronologies. First, ring widths must be related to the overall somatic growth of the organism. Second, ring widths must demonstrate synchrony of interannual growth variation among individuals within a population. Finally, fin ray rings and growth chronologies should be related to both interpopulation and interannual variations of known environmental factors. This research indicated that ring widths document variations in somatic growth. Average fin ray cross‐sectional radii at age 25 were related to total length using data from seven populations sampled across North America. This investigation also suggested that growth ring widths were influenced by large‐scale, population‐wide, extrinsic factors in two ways. First, differences between populations in fin ray cross‐sectional radii at age 25 were strongly correlated with mean annual, summer, and winter air temperatures. Second, growth chronologies developed from populations that demonstrate significant synchrony of interannual growth variations among members are consistently positively correlated to past air‐temperature records. This research has provided evidence that growth rings contained in the cross section of the lake sturgeon pectoral fin ray can be used in the construction of growth chronologies.

Review of a species in peril: what we do not know about lake sturgeon may kill them

“…There are several ways in which fish can be aged including the annuli of scales (not possible in sturgeon), fin rays or otoliths, or, less accurately, by deriving a correlation between length and age using known age fish (LeBreton and Beamish 2000). Further, although aging structures are known to be more accurate than length versus age models, they are themselves prone to error.…”

Climate–growth relationships for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) across three southeastern USA states

“…Recently, a novel science has emerged that applies tree-ring techniques to the growth rings of aquatic taxa, e.g., in mussel shells (Schöne 2003;Rypel et al 2008Rypel et al , 2009, fish otoliths and fins (LeBreton & Beamish 2000b;Black et al 2008), and coral skeletons (Schuhmacher et al 1995;Lazier et al 1999). Tree rings have long been used in terrestrial ecology to reconstruct climate variation, place contemporaneous climate observations within a historical context, and gain an appreciation for the role of climate in the development and dynamics of forest ecosystems (Douglas 1921;Fritts 1971;Cook et al 2007).…”

Extrinsic Factors Influencing Somatic Growth of Lake Sturgeon

“…With fewer macroinvertebrates drifting in the water column during fall, benthic in situ production associated with lower‐velocity habitats may help sustain growth until the onset of winter, when the capacity for growth (as a function of water temperature) of many Lake Sturgeon populations ceases (Cuerrier ; Lebreton et al. ; LeBreton and Beamish ; Bruch et al. ; McDougall et al.…”

“…For example, on the middle Nelson River (Gull and Stephens lakes), the quantity of organisms captured in bottom-set drift traps was~50% greater during July and August relative to late September (Gill 2007a(Gill , 2007b. With fewer macroinvertebrates drifting in the water column during fall, benthic in situ production associated with lower-velocity habitats may help sustain growth until the onset of winter, when the capacity for growth (as a function of water temperature) of many Lake Sturgeon populations ceases (Cuerrier 1966;Lebreton et al 1999;LeBreton and Beamish 2000;Bruch et al 2009;McDougall et al 2014d).…”