Use of navigation channels by Lake Sturgeon: Does channelization increase vulnerability of fish to ship strikes?

Hondorp, Darryl W.; Bennion, David; Roseman, Edward F.; Holbrook, Christopher M.; Boase, James C.; Chiotti, Justin A.; Thomas, Michael V.; Wills, Todd C.; Drouin, Richard; Kessel, Steven T.; Krueger, Charles C.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179791

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…The movement of many fish species has been linked to prominent high‐relief features in some seascapes (e.g. deep channels in estuaries, seamounts in the deep sea, rocky shoals in continental shelves) (Holland & Dean Grubbs, 2008; Hondorp et al., 2017; Siceloff & Howell, 2013), but these movements are rarely linked to terrain (but see Fabrizio et al., 2013; Huff et al., 2011), and it is not clear whether the location and characteristics of terrain features shape the movement of fish across seascapes (research priority 4, Table 8).…”

Section: Future Directions and Research Prioritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of seafloor terrain on fish and fisheries: A global synthesis

et al. 2021

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The structure of seafloor terrain affects the distribution and diversity of animals in all seascapes. Effects of terrain on fish assemblages have been reported from most ecosystems, but it is unclear whether bathymetric effects vary among seascapes or change in response to seafloor modification by humans. We reviewed the global literature linking seafloor terrain to fish species and assemblages (96 studies) and determined that relief (e.g. depth), complexity (e.g. roughness), feature classes (e.g. substrate types) and morphology (e.g. curvature), have widespread effects on fish assemblages. Research on the ecological consequences of terrain have focused on coral reefs, rocky reefs, continental shelves and the deep sea (n ≥ 20 studies), but are rarely tested in estuaries (n = 7). Fish associate with a variety of terrain attributes, and assemblages change with variation in the depth and aspect of bathymetric features in reef and shelf seascapes, and in the deep sea. Fish from different seascapes also respond to distinct metrics, with fluctuations in slope of slope (coral reefs), rugosity (rocky reefs) and slope (continental shelves, deep sea) each linked to changes in assemblage composition. Terrain simplification from coastal urbanization (e.g. dredging) and resource extraction (e.g. trawling) can reduce fish diversity and abundance, but assemblages can also recover inside effective marine reserves. The consequences of these terrain changes for fish and fisheries are, however, rarely measured in most seascapes. The key challenge now is to examine how terrain modification and conservation combine to alter fish distributions and fisheries productivity across diverse coastal seascapes.

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Section: Future Directions and Research Prioritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of seafloor terrain on fish and fisheries: A global synthesis

et al. 2021

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“…Land cover classes were hypothesized to differentially influence abiotic suitability: experts hypothesized that Gulf Sturgeon avoid intertidal areas due to the shallowness of the water, oyster reefs because they are physical barriers, and dredged channels due to the presence of vessels (Supplementary Figure B.6). Distance to dredged channel was hypothesized to negatively influence abiotic suitability because experts believed that while Gulf Sturgeon avoid channel bottoms, they may use channel edges due to the greater water flow (e.g., Hondorp et al 2017). Protective structures (i.e., woody debris) were hypothesized to have a small but positive influence on abiotic suitability because increased habitat complexity may provide protection from predators (Quinn and Peterson 1996; Supplementary Figure B.6).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each point represents a year between October 2007 and January 2016 for which acceptable water condition (d) was estimated from water monitoring station data. Hondorp et al 2017). Protective structures (i.e., woody debris) were hypothesized to have a small but positive influence on abiotic suitability because increased habitat complexity may provide protection from predators (Quinn and Peterson 1996;Supplementary Figure B.6).…”

Section: Apalachicola Bay Model Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Information Gaps in Predicting Winter Foraging Habitat for Juvenile Gulf Sturgeon

et al. 2021

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The Gulf Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi is an anadromous species that inhabits Gulf of Mexico coastal waters from Louisiana to Florida and is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Seasonal cues (e.g., freshwater discharge) determine the timing of spawning and migration and may influence the availability of critical habitat during winter months in six estuaries. Large information gaps, especially related to critical estuarine habitat for juveniles, hinder recovery efforts to protect these habitats and assess risks from emerging threats. Using Apalachicola Bay, Florida, as a model system, we developed and analyzed a preliminary Bayesian network model so that we could identify knowledge gaps (i.e., where expert knowledge was lacking) and data gaps (i.e., where data were unavailable) that limit the ability to assess the quantity of critical estuarine habitat for juvenile Gulf Sturgeon. The model hypothesized habitat availability per winter month in estuarine habitat under alternative scenarios of river discharge and length of the winter foraging season. A search for geospatial data sets revealed that the largest gap involved salinity, temperature, and oxygen (i.e., water condition) monitoring data, with data available only for Apalachicola Bay. For the Apalachicola Bay model, data gaps prevented the development of 53% of water condition geospatial data sets and a sensitivity analysis showed that water condition data most limited the ability to predict habitat availability. Expert knowledge was low, and conditional certainty scores showed that the relationships with the lowest certainty were abiotic suitability and habitat availability. Reducing information gaps could aid the

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“…Sturgeon capture and tagging were described previously (see Hondorp et al. , Kessel et al. ), and are only summarized here.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). Sturgeon capture and tagging were described previously (see Hondorp et al 2017, Kessel et al 2018, and are only summarized here. Lake sturgeon were captured during April-May (Detroit River) or June (St. Clair River) with individuals likely to be adults (total length > 120 cm; Peterson et al 2007) selected for tagging.…”

Section: Fish Collection and Acoustic Monitoringmentioning

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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Use of navigation channels by Lake Sturgeon: Does channelization increase vulnerability of fish to ship strikes?

Cited by 13 publications

References 41 publications

The influence of seafloor terrain on fish and fisheries: A global synthesis

The influence of seafloor terrain on fish and fisheries: A global synthesis

Identifying Information Gaps in Predicting Winter Foraging Habitat for Juvenile Gulf Sturgeon

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

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