Reproductive contribution of lake sturgeon transferred upstream of dams on a Great Lakes tributary

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Dam construction contributes to declines in the distribution and abundance of many fishes. Increasing connectivity through adult transfer can be demographically and genetically beneficial, but assessing the effects resulting from transfer can be difficult if resident fish exist upstream. Genotypes of adult and larval lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) were used to quantify contributions to larval recruitment from adults transferred upstream of dams on the Menominee River, USA. We evaluated whether transfer timing, sex, and adult size were associated with the odds of reproduction. Elevator transfer operations in Fall 2019, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 resulted in 152 male and 81 female lake sturgeon transferred upstream. In 2020 and 2021, 580 and 518 larvae were genotyped. We found that 86% (201/233) of adults reproduced and 62.3% (684/1098) of offspring had transferred parents. In total, we estimated that 392 resident adults contributed to offspring production. Mixed matings accounted for 53% of offspring genotyped, increasing levels of offspring genetic diversity relative to offspring produced from resident-only matings. Transferring adults may be a viable restoration alternative for other iteroparous fish in river systems where connectivity to spawning areas has been impeded.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Reproductive contribution of lake sturgeon transferred upstream of dams on a Great Lakes tributary
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2024-0215
Volume 82
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher Canadian Science Publishing
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 16 p.
First page 1
Last page 16
Country United States
State Michigan, Wisconsin
Other Geospatial Menominee River
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