Seasonal movements among river reaches, migration strategies, and population structure of the divided Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon population: the effects of Holyoke Dam

By: , and 
Edited by: B. KynardP. Bronzi, and H. Rosenthal

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Abstract

Even after 155 years, each population segment seasonally migrates toward the other attempting to maintain the natural connection. Migration timing and style of pre-spawning and post-spawning males and females is discussed, as is homing. The impact of Holyoke Dam on population size and growth is characterized and turbine mortality of adult sturgeon passing through a Kaplan turbine at the dam is estimated. The chapter also identifies a behavioral dysfunction that results when migrations are blocked by a dam and are not completed at the correct stage of life. Many unknown effects of damming on other long-lived riverine fishes are likely captured in this 16-year study.

Study Area

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 introduces the shortnose sturgeon biology in the Conneticut River system, demonstrating the impact of damming.

Chapter 2 examines the spring upstream migration focusing also on the demography of the population.

Chapter 3 examines the spring migration of spawning and non-spawning fish while

chapter 4 provides a comparison of the foraging and wintering behaviour of two populations of shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers.

Chapter 5 identifies the timing of wintering behaviour and locations while

chapter 6 reports on the spawning behaviour.

Chapters 7 and 8 report on experimental work to examine behaviour.

Chapter 9 deals with lifetime movements of Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon. Morphology and osteology are examined in

Chapter 10 while chapter 11 presents the first information on the use of any fish ladder design by shortnose sturgeon.

Chapter 12 deals extensively with the long-term effects of various bio-telemetry attachment methods on shortnose sturgeon and summarizes information gained over decades on tagging and recapture.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Seasonal movements among river reaches, migration strategies, and population structure of the divided Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon population: the effects of Holyoke Dam
Chapter 1
ISBN 978-3-8448-2801-6
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher World Sturgeon Conservation Society Special Publication
Publisher location Norderstedt, Germany
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description 51 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Title Life history and behaviour of Connecticut River Shortnose and other sturgeons
First page 1
Last page 50
Country UNITED STATES
State Conneticut, Massachusetts
County United States
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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