Why do sturgeons jump? Insights from acoustic investigations of the Gulf sturgeon in the Suwannee River, Florida, USA

Sulak, Kenneth J.; Edwards, Randy E.; Hill, Gary W.; Randall, Michael T.

doi:10.1046/j.1439-0426.2002.00401.x

Cited by 28 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…Ultrasonic tracking can also provide insight into winter site fidelity, the movement patterns of tagged shortnose sturgeon during the remainder of the year, and the extent of social behavior throughout the year, especially during the winter. Although previous reports indicate that sturgeon are social (shortnose sturgeon: Dadswell et al 1984; Gulf sturgeon A. oxyrinchus desotoi: Sulak et al 2002), we do not yet know what role social cues play in overwintering aggregations of shortnose sturgeon.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 71%

Age and Population Size Estimates of Overwintering Shortnose Sturgeon in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

2012

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The densities and overall abundances of overwintering shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum were estimated using underwater video at the Kennebecasis River overwintering site in 2009 and 2011. In 2009, underwater cameras coupled with lasers provided image‐based estimates of fish lengths (and therefore ages). The precision and accuracy of laser‐based measurements were estimated by laboratory experiments. In total, 362 and 222 overwintering shortnose sturgeon were counted in the 0.02‐km2 area during 2009 and 2011, respectively. The fork lengths of 83 overwintering shortnose sturgeon measured in 2009 ranged from 54 to 119 cm, corresponding to ages of 11–57 years (20.3 ± 7.9 years [mean ± SD]). Length measurement accuracy was highest (±10% fork length) when fish were positioned at 0 ± 30° or 180 ± 30° to the camera's lens. Three different models of spatial fish density estimated a total of 3,852–5,222 shortnose sturgeon in 2009 and 2011, similar to the 2005 local population estimate of 4,836 shortnose sturgeon. The consistent, high‐density aggregation of subadults and adults at this small site between 2005 and 2011 suggests that the site is important for protection of shortnose sturgeon in the Saint John River system.

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Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 71%

Age and Population Size Estimates of Overwintering Shortnose Sturgeon in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

2012

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“…using tidal cycles; Hunter et al, 2004Hunter et al, , 2005Gro¨ger et al, 2007). Examining movements of sturgeons in coastal environments using PSAT technology has been problematic, because this group of fishes may inhabit relatively deep and murky waters (Erickson and Hightower, 2007), exhibit frequent depth changes (Erickson and Hightower, 2007;Sulak et al, 2007), and shed external tags at high rates . Other researchers who have attempted to use PSATs to describe horizontal movements of sturgeons are Erickson and Hightower (2007) with Green Sturgeons (Acipenser medirostris), Edwards et al (2007) with Gulf Sturgeons (Acispenser oxyrinchus desotoi), and Doukakis et al (2008) with Beluga (Huso huso) and Ship Sturgeons (Acipenser nudiventris).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of pop-up satellite archival tags to identify oceanic-migratory patterns for adult Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchell, 1815

Erickson

Kahnle

Millard

et al. 2011

Journal of Applied Ichthyology

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Summary Oceanic‐migratory behavior of adult Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, was examined using pop‐up satellite archival tags (PSAT). Twenty‐three Atlantic Sturgeons were caught and tagged with PSATs in the Hudson River, New York during 2006 and 2007. Fifteen of those fish returned to the ocean (with PSATs attached) 6–132 days after tagging. These PSATs remained attached to fish for a period of 108–360 days archiving light, temperature, and depth, before releasing from fish, ascending to the surface, and transmitting data to satellites. The location of PSATs was measured to within ±150 m by satellites using Doppler shift of radio transmissions within hours after tags reached the surface. Positions prior to pop up were initially estimated using only archived‐light data and the tag manufacturers’ proprietary software. Positional error associated with light‐based estimates is high, especially with regard to latitude. This error was reduced by applying depth, distance, and temperature filters. Thirteen of the 15 Atlantic Sturgeons that left the Hudson River with PSATs attached remained within the Mid‐Atlantic Bight for up to 1 year after tagging. Their geographic distributions generally extended from Long Island, New York to Chesapeake Bay at depths between 5 and 40 m. Aggregation areas were identified off southwest Long Island, along the New Jersey coast, off Delaware Bay, and off Chesapeake Bay. Depth distribution was seasonal; fish inhabited deepest waters during winter and shallowest waters during summer and early fall. Two Atlantic Sturgeons traveled outside of the Mid‐Atlantic Bight. One migrated north to Cobequid Bay (terminal end of the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia), whereas the other traveled south to the coast of Georgia.

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“…It is common knowledge that white sturgeon and other acipenserid sturgeon can be seen at the water surface and occasionally breach through the surface of the water or jump. Similar behavior is hypothesized to be a form of communication for Gulf sturgeon A. oxyrinchus desotoi (Sulak et al 2002). In addition, there is limited evidence suggesting that white sturgeon may spawn throughout the water column, including near the surface (Parsley et al 1993;.…”

mentioning

confidence: 89%

Variations in Vertical Location of Kootenai River White Sturgeon during the Prespawn and Spawning Periods

Paragamian

Duehr

2005

Trans Am Fish Soc

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Our objectives were to determine the general water column habitat use of Kootenai River white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus during the prespawn and spawning periods and to determine the degree of their benthic existence. Depth-sensitive radio transmitters were attached to five male and four female white sturgeon and were periodically monitored day and night from April through June 2001. A total of 297 radio contacts were made, of which 209 included the depth of the river. One fish was not used for statistical analysis because its behavior was often modified by the presence of our boat. Of the 209 contacts, 75% (156) were made within the bottom one-third of the water column. Mean depth of the fish during the daytime prespawn and daytime spawning period was different (9.7 and 6.5 m, respectively), and the distribution between these two periods was significantly different. Some of the variation was likely due to the deeper habitat of the daytime prespawn staging reach compared with that of the daytime spawning period location (12.6 and 7.7 m, respectively). White sturgeon used a variety of locations throughout the water column, were closer to the river bottom during the spawning period, and were much more mobile during the spawning period than we previously believed. We were also able to chart some white sturgeon as they gradually cruised the contour of the river bottom several meters from the substrate yet paused momentarily. Although depth-sensitive transmitters were well suited to further defining some white sturgeon behavioral characteristics, they lacked the precision to achieve instantaneous locations.

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Why do sturgeons jump? Insights from acoustic investigations of the Gulf sturgeon in the Suwannee River, Florida, USA

Cited by 28 publications

References 8 publications

Age and Population Size Estimates of Overwintering Shortnose Sturgeon in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

Age and Population Size Estimates of Overwintering Shortnose Sturgeon in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

Use of pop-up satellite archival tags to identify oceanic-migratory patterns for adult Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchell, 1815

Variations in Vertical Location of Kootenai River White Sturgeon during the Prespawn and Spawning Periods

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