Growth and survival rates of dispersing free embryos and settled larvae of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River, Montana and North Dakota
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- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Data Release: USGS data release - Pallid sturgeon free embryo drift and dispersal experiment data from the Upper Missouri River, Montana and North Dakota, 2019
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
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Abstract
We released nearly 1.0 million 1-day post-hatch (dph) and 5-dph pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) free embryos in the Missouri River on 1 July 2019 and sequentially captured survivors at multiple sites through a 240-km river reach to quantify daily growth and survival rates during the early life stages. Genetic analysis was used to assign captured fish to released family lots and known ages. Growth rate was similar (0.74–0.75 mm day−1) between the 1- and 5-dph age groups during the 3–4-day dispersal period when water temperature averaged 16.8 °C. Daily survival rate was 0.64 during 1–4 dph for the original 1-dph age group and 0.80 during 5–7 dph for the original 5-dph age group. Total survival during free embryo dispersal (hatch to 9 dph) was estimated as 0.0437. The transition from dispersing as free embryos to settling as benthic larvae was verified for fish originally released as 5 dph. Growth of settled larvae was quantified with a Gompertz model through 75 dph (9 September; 112 mm) when water temperature was 18.8–21.0 °C in the rearing areas. Settled larvae had an estimated daily survival rate of 0.96, and estimated total survival during 9–75 dph was 0.0714. This study provides the first empirical survival estimates for pallid sturgeon early life stages in natural settings and is one of few studies reporting similar information for other sturgeon species. Applications of this work extend to pallid sturgeon restoration programs where population models are being developed to predict recruitment potential and population responses to river management alternatives.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Growth and survival rates of dispersing free embryos and settled larvae of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River, Montana and North Dakota |
| Series title | Environmental Biology of Fishes |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10641-022-01294-w |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Columbia Environmental Research Center |
| Description | 12 p.; Data Release |
| First page | 993 |
| Last page | 1014 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana, North Dakota |
| Other Geospatial | Missouri River |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |