Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 09050

Branch : Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory

Study Plan Number : 09050

Study Title : Life history behavior and fish passage of shortnose and other sturgeons

Starting Date : 01/01/2000

Completion Date : 12/31/2010

Principal Investigator(s) : Kynard, Boyd

Primary PI : Kynard, Boyd

Telephone Number : (413) 863-3807

Email Address : boyd_kynard@usgs.gov

SIS Number :

Primary Program Element : Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Second Program Element : Fish and Aquatic Habitats

Status : Active

Abstract : BACKGROUND
This study focuses on behavior of sturgeons to understand behavioral aspects of their life history, and to develop upstream fish passage and guidance protection technology for juvenile downstream migrants. All of the work done at the Conte Center facility is on native sturgeons, particularly shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum, but comparative studies will be done in collaboration with foreign investigators on sturgeons in P.R. China and in Romania.

Sturgeon research is a priority of both state and federal agencies. Their protected status and a lack of information on life history of coastal and riverine species, passage, or protection at water intakes make the objectives of the present study plan relevant to most fisheries agencies in the US. All species of sturgeons are listed as “special concern” by The World Conservation Union. Our primary foreign target species are Chinese sturgeon A. sinensis, classified as endangered in China, and in the Danube River, stellate sturgeon A. stellatus, and Russian sturgeon A. guldenstadti . Neither of the Danubian sturgeons are protected, but present overharvest will likely change this status before the expiration of this study.

This study was amended in April 2007 to investigate behavior and habitat of early life stages of Kootenai River white sturgeon.
OBJECTIVES
1. Determine the spawning success, periodicity, and spawning habitat preference of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon.

2. Determine wintering habitat, preference for wintering temperature, and long-term use of water depth and temperature of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon.

3. Determine the life stages participating in the summer migration of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon.

4. Determine the role of chemical cues in natal site imprinting and conspecific identification of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon.

5. Determine the substrate preference and survival of young pallid sturgeon relative to preferred substrate type and determine if 3 year old juvenile pallid sturgeons migrate.

6. Use comparative studies of multiple species to develop conceptual models of spawning habitat selection and ontogenetic behavior and migration of early life stages.

7. Evaluate a spiral side baffle prototype fishway for passing lake sturgeon and other riverine fishes. 8. Develop an angled bar rack barrier that provides 90 % guidance efficiency of juvenile sturgeons.
HYPHOTHESIS TO BE TESTED
1. River conditions affect the spawning success of shortnose sturgeon.

2. Female Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon will spawn in an artificial flume and females have a preference for spawning substrate and water velocity.

3. Adult Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon select certain geomorphological riverine areas and substrate, depth, and water velocity during the winter.

4. Juvenile shortnose sturgeon prefer warmer water temperature during winter than acclimation temperature.

5. Seasonal use of water depth changes, water temperature used in summer show a use of cool water during peak summer high temperatures, and there are similarities among years.

6. The ontogenetic behavior of early life stages has phylogenetic significance and an adaptive pattern.

7. Juvenile and adult Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon participate in the upstream summer migration.

8. Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon embryos imprint to the rearing water and individual shortnose sturgeon yearlings recognize conspecifics using chemical cues.

9. Young pallid sturgeon prefer solid substrate where they have higher survival.

10. Three-year-old pallid sturgeon migrate downstream.

11. Lake sturgeon are passed upstream equally by all spiral fishway configurations.

12. Juvenile sturgeon are guided equally by all bar rack configurations.

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Branch :	Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory
Study Plan Number :	09050
Study Title :	Life history behavior and fish passage of shortnose and other sturgeons
Starting Date :	01/01/2000
Completion Date :	12/31/2010
Principal Investigator(s) :	Kynard, Boyd
Primary PI :	Kynard, Boyd
Telephone Number :	(413) 863-3807
Email Address :	boyd_kynard@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :	Fish and Aquatic Habitats
Status :	Active
Abstract :	BACKGROUND This study focuses on behavior of sturgeons to understand behavioral aspects of their life history, and to develop upstream fish passage and guidance protection technology for juvenile downstream migrants. All of the work done at the Conte Center facility is on native sturgeons, particularly shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum, but comparative studies will be done in collaboration with foreign investigators on sturgeons in P.R. China and in Romania. Sturgeon research is a priority of both state and federal agencies. Their protected status and a lack of information on life history of coastal and riverine species, passage, or protection at water intakes make the objectives of the present study plan relevant to most fisheries agencies in the US. All species of sturgeons are listed as “special concern” by The World Conservation Union. Our primary foreign target species are Chinese sturgeon A. sinensis, classified as endangered in China, and in the Danube River, stellate sturgeon A. stellatus, and Russian sturgeon A. guldenstadti . Neither of the Danubian sturgeons are protected, but present overharvest will likely change this status before the expiration of this study. This study was amended in April 2007 to investigate behavior and habitat of early life stages of Kootenai River white sturgeon. OBJECTIVES 1. Determine the spawning success, periodicity, and spawning habitat preference of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon. 2. Determine wintering habitat, preference for wintering temperature, and long-term use of water depth and temperature of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon. 3. Determine the life stages participating in the summer migration of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon. 4. Determine the role of chemical cues in natal site imprinting and conspecific identification of Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon. 5. Determine the substrate preference and survival of young pallid sturgeon relative to preferred substrate type and determine if 3 year old juvenile pallid sturgeons migrate. 6. Use comparative studies of multiple species to develop conceptual models of spawning habitat selection and ontogenetic behavior and migration of early life stages. 7. Evaluate a spiral side baffle prototype fishway for passing lake sturgeon and other riverine fishes. 8. Develop an angled bar rack barrier that provides 90 % guidance efficiency of juvenile sturgeons. HYPHOTHESIS TO BE TESTED 1. River conditions affect the spawning success of shortnose sturgeon. 2. Female Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon will spawn in an artificial flume and females have a preference for spawning substrate and water velocity. 3. Adult Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon select certain geomorphological riverine areas and substrate, depth, and water velocity during the winter. 4. Juvenile shortnose sturgeon prefer warmer water temperature during winter than acclimation temperature. 5. Seasonal use of water depth changes, water temperature used in summer show a use of cool water during peak summer high temperatures, and there are similarities among years. 6. The ontogenetic behavior of early life stages has phylogenetic significance and an adaptive pattern. 7. Juvenile and adult Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon participate in the upstream summer migration. 8. Conn. R. shortnose sturgeon embryos imprint to the rearing water and individual shortnose sturgeon yearlings recognize conspecifics using chemical cues. 9. Young pallid sturgeon prefer solid substrate where they have higher survival. 10. Three-year-old pallid sturgeon migrate downstream. 11. Lake sturgeon are passed upstream equally by all spiral fishway configurations. 12. Juvenile sturgeon are guided equally by all bar rack configurations.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility