Reproduction of Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in Holyoke Pool, Connecticut River, Massachusetts

Copeia ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 1980 (1) ◽  
pp. 114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce D. Taubert

<em>Abstract.</em>—The shortnose sturgeon, <em>Acipenser brevirostrum</em>, is a long-lived species that grows slowly, matures at an advanced age, and spawns only intermittently. In the Connecticut River, there are two distinct subpopulations of shortnose sturgeon, which have been separated by the Holyoke Dam for 157 years. My research addressed the viability and persistence for these two separate populations and the effects of dispersal, variation in survival and reproduction, and catastrophes. My risk-based approach used a stage-based metapopulation model that I constructed in RAMAS<sup>®</sup> GIS incorporating the available data. Based on the existing data, this population model for the shortnose sturgeon metapopulation in the Connecticut River made several predictions. The observed stability of the two subpopulations was possible either: with reproduction in both upper and lower subpopulations and small to moderate rates of dispersal between them; or with no reproduction in the lower subpopulation, very high reproduction in the upper subpopulation and high rate of net downstream dispersal. My results provided estimates of extinction risk for the shortnose sturgeon metapopulation under various management options and highlighted three key areas for future research, demonstrating the value of a risk-based approach. This approach is particularly useful for management of long-lived aquatic species.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1125-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce D. Taubert ◽  
Michael J. Dadswell

Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) protolarvae, ranging from 8.0 to 12.5 mm TL, had 20–23 postanal and 33–36 preanal myomeres and the preanal length was 66–70% of TL. The yolk sac was large, the pectoral fin buds were barely visible, and the entire body was covered with expanded melanophores. Mesolarvae of 13.0–14.7 mm TL had 22 postanal and 34 preanal myomeres, and preanal length was 61% of TL. The yoke sac was nearly gone, barbels, mouth, and pectoral fins were well developed and the anlage of the dorsal fin was visible. Mouth width of the 14.7 mm TL mesolarva was 71% of the head width and teeth were present.


2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (4-6) ◽  
pp. 491-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Collins ◽  
D. W. Cooke ◽  
T. I. J. Smith ◽  
W. C. Post ◽  
D. C. Russ ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1248-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinhai Li ◽  
Matthew K Litvak ◽  
John E. Hughes Clarke

The overwintering habitat use of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) was investigated from January to March 2005 in the upper Kennebecasis River, New Brunswick, Canada, using a novel underwater video camera system and modeling approach. Following a random sampling procedure, 187 holes were drilled into the ice, and 234 sturgeon were counted and video-recorded. We found that sturgeon concentrated in a 2 ha area at the confluence of the Kennebecasis and Hammond rivers on a flat sandy substrate at a depth of 3.1–6.9 m. Generalized linear models were developed to describe the relationship of shortnose sturgeon density and habitat variables. The model indicated that the shortnose sturgeon had significant preference to deeper areas within this region. The total abundance of shortnose sturgeon in the area was estimated to be 4836 ± 69 (mean ± standard error) using the ordinary kriging method to interpolate sturgeon density at unsampled sites. This overwintering habitat of shortnose sturgeon can be defined as critical habitat following the identification policies of the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA).


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Little ◽  
M. Kieffer ◽  
G. Wippelhauser ◽  
G. Zydlewski ◽  
M. Kinnison ◽  
...  

Aquaculture ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 253 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 721-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Flynn ◽  
M. Matsuoka ◽  
M. Reith ◽  
D.J. Martin-Robichaud ◽  
T.J. Benfey

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