Evaluation of shortnose sturgeon spawning in the Pinopolis Dam tailrace, South Carolina

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Fifty egg mats and up to five D-shaped plankton nets were deployed in the tailrace of Pinopolis Dam at river kilometer 77 on the Cooper River, South Carolina, to evaluate the spawning activity of shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum. Spawning times were estimated by back-calculation based on developmental phase. Eggs were collected on 17 of 21 d sampled continuously from March 4 through March 25, 2002, when water temperatures were 10-16??C. A total of 31 shortnose sturgeon eggs were collected from egg mats. An additional 338 shortnose sturgeon eggs and 1 newly hatched yolk sac larva were collected from plankton nets. A minimum of 20 spawning events occurred in the tailrace during the 2002 spawning season. No relationship between mean daily discharge and spawning date was observed. Shortnose sturgeon spawned more often during the night than at any other time of day independent of generation.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evaluation of shortnose sturgeon spawning in the Pinopolis Dam tailrace, South Carolina
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1577/M03-131.1
Volume 24
Issue 3
Year Published 2004
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
First page 932
Last page 938
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