Multi-run migratory behavior of adult male lake sturgeon in a short river

Journal of Great Lakes Research
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
By: , and 

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Abstract

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) can migrate long distances to spawn, but many populations currently spawn in systems where the length of accessible riverine migratory habitat has been greatly reduced by dam construction. With the increased prevalence of shortened rivers, focusing on migratory dynamics in short rivers (<30 km) is beneficial to understanding the migratory needs of lake sturgeon populations. Here we document male lake sturgeon movements during the spawning period in the Winooski River, Vermont, USA; a river with only 17 km to the first natural upstream barrier. Male lake sturgeon were acoustically tagged (n = 25, 1215–1470 mm TL) and tracked using five to nine stationary receivers from 2017 to 2019. River discharge, temperature, the lagged effect of temperature (3-day), and time of day were significant factors describing upstream movements of tagged fish. Migrating male lake sturgeon (n = 10 in 2017, n = 18 in 2018, and n = 17 in 2019) displayed general movement patterns during the spawning period that included a single run upstream to the spawning site (60%), upstream and downstream movements throughout the river during the season (20%), or multiple runs made up the entire length of the spawning tributary to the spawning site (20%). No multi-run males were observed during 2018 when discharge was less flashy (i.e., fewer steep increases and declines in discharge) than in 2017 and 2019. These results suggest that the prevalence of multi-run spawning behavior of male lake sturgeon is related to flow conditions.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Multi-run migratory behavior of adult male lake sturgeon in a short river
Series title Journal of Great Lakes Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2021.06.012
Volume 47
Issue 5
Year Published 2022
Language English
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 10 p.
First page 1400
Last page 1409
Country United States
State Vermont
Other Geospatial Winooski River
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