| Abstract: | White sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus occur in rivers of the western United States and southwestern Canada, but some populations are in decline because of recruitment failure. Many river systems in this area have been altered as a result of development that has caused major environmental changes. Our goal was to examine how three changes - lower turbidity levels, higher light levels, and altered substrates - might affect predation by prickly sculpin Cottus asper on white sturgeon larvae. We experimentally investigated predation at various turbidity levels and found that significantly more white sturgeon yolk sac larvae were eaten at lower turbidity levels. The effects of light level (1-4 and 7-15 1x), the presence or absence of rocks as cover, and prey size (14-17 mm and 20-24 mm total length) on the outcome of predator-prey interactions were also examined. Significantly fewer white sturgeon were eaten during trials that combined the lowest light level, cover, and the smallest larvae. Our results suggest that altered river conditions caused by impoundment and other factors have increased predation on white sturgeon larvae. ?? Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2005. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70029372 |
| Citation Author: | Gadomski, D. M.; Parsley, M. J. |
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| Citation End Page: | 374 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Transactions of the American Fisheries Society |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 6 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Effects of turbidity, light level, and cover on predation of white sturgeon larvae by prickly sculpins; 2005; Article; Journal; Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; Gadomski, D. M.; Parsley, M. J. |
| Citation Start Page: | 369 |
| Citation Volume: | 134 |
| Citation Year: | 2005 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Effects of turbidity, light level, and cover on predation of white sturgeon larvae by prickly sculpins; 2005; Article; Journal; Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; Gadomski, D. M.; Parsley, M. J. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/T03-213.1 |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 2005 00:00 -0600 |
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