Seasonal Occurrence and Movements of Atlantic Sturgeon (acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) in Georgia and Florida

Seasonal Occurrence and Movements of Atlantic Sturgeon (acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) in Georgia and Florida PDF Author: Adam Gregory Fox
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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Book Description
The Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a federally endangered anadromous fish that historically occurred along the Atlantic coast of North American from Canada to Florida. Through the 20th century, overharvest and dam construction resulted in range-wide population declines. Despite two decades of federal protection, many populations have not recovered, and information about the status of many populations is lacking, especially in the Southeastern United States. Recruitment may be a bottleneck for recovery, but habitat use by early juveniles is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the status of Atlantic Sturgeon populations in the St. Johns River in Florida and the St. Marys River in Georgia, at the southern margin of the species' range, and 2) describe seasonal movement by juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers in Georgia. Sturgeon were captured using monofilament gill and trammel nets, and some individuals were tagged with surgically-implanted acoustic transmitters. Fish movements were monitored using an array of passive acoustic receivers distributed throughout the lower river and estuary of each system. We found no evidence of an extant population of Atlantic Sturgeon within the St. Johns River system, but did document the presence of young juveniles in the St. Marys River. Those fish represent a small, but genetically distinct population in a river where the species had previously been thought extirpated. Our results also indicated that both rivers continue to provide seasonally important habitat for migrating adults from other populations. Tagged age-1 river-resident juvenile sturgeon in the Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers exhibited similar patterns of seasonal habitat use 0́3 during the summer, fish were concentrated in upriver portions of nursery habitat, but during the winter they dispersed downriver and used more polyhaline habitat. Also during the winter of age-2, at least 30% of tagged fish outmigrated from their natal river. These results provide important information for management agencies regarding the status of Atlantic Sturgeon in the two southernmost rivers in their range, as well as helping to fill knowledge gaps about juvenile habitat use and outmigration.

Seasonal Occurrence and Movements of Atlantic Sturgeon (acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) in Georgia and Florida

Seasonal Occurrence and Movements of Atlantic Sturgeon (acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) in Georgia and Florida PDF Author: Adam Gregory Fox
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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Book Description
The Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a federally endangered anadromous fish that historically occurred along the Atlantic coast of North American from Canada to Florida. Through the 20th century, overharvest and dam construction resulted in range-wide population declines. Despite two decades of federal protection, many populations have not recovered, and information about the status of many populations is lacking, especially in the Southeastern United States. Recruitment may be a bottleneck for recovery, but habitat use by early juveniles is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the status of Atlantic Sturgeon populations in the St. Johns River in Florida and the St. Marys River in Georgia, at the southern margin of the species' range, and 2) describe seasonal movement by juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers in Georgia. Sturgeon were captured using monofilament gill and trammel nets, and some individuals were tagged with surgically-implanted acoustic transmitters. Fish movements were monitored using an array of passive acoustic receivers distributed throughout the lower river and estuary of each system. We found no evidence of an extant population of Atlantic Sturgeon within the St. Johns River system, but did document the presence of young juveniles in the St. Marys River. Those fish represent a small, but genetically distinct population in a river where the species had previously been thought extirpated. Our results also indicated that both rivers continue to provide seasonally important habitat for migrating adults from other populations. Tagged age-1 river-resident juvenile sturgeon in the Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers exhibited similar patterns of seasonal habitat use 0́3 during the summer, fish were concentrated in upriver portions of nursery habitat, but during the winter they dispersed downriver and used more polyhaline habitat. Also during the winter of age-2, at least 30% of tagged fish outmigrated from their natal river. These results provide important information for management agencies regarding the status of Atlantic Sturgeon in the two southernmost rivers in their range, as well as helping to fill knowledge gaps about juvenile habitat use and outmigration.

Population Characteristics and Seasonal Movements of Shortnose Sturgeon in the Lower Ogeechee River, Georgia, with Notes on the Atlantic Sturgeon

Population Characteristics and Seasonal Movements of Shortnose Sturgeon in the Lower Ogeechee River, Georgia, with Notes on the Atlantic Sturgeon PDF Author: Joel Fleming
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Shortnose sturgeon
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Habitat Utilization of Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus in the Delaware River, Bay and Coastal Atlantic Ocean

Habitat Utilization of Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus in the Delaware River, Bay and Coastal Atlantic Ocean PDF Author: Matthew W. Breece
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780355251487
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 150

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Book Description
Animals utilize various environments throughout their life cycle to optimize growth, fitness, and survival. These environments are their habitats. As the lifecycle of an organism progresses, the resources needed, and thus the habitats preferred will change to fulfill the new requirements of the given life history stage. Resource needs for many organisms will also vary seasonally in both composition and specificity requiring organisms to shift their habitats to fulfill changing needs throughout the year. Incorporating species occurrence observations and environmental properties enables species distribution models to reliably estimate habitat locations. Destruction of habitat and overfishing beginning in the late 19th century severely depleted Atlantic Sturgeon populations. Subsequent to the boom and bust period of exploitation, there has been minimal fishing pressure and improving habitats. However, lack of recovery led to the 2012 listing of Atlantic Sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act. In this dissertation I utilize various sources of environmental data, species distribution modeling, and acoustic biotelemetry to gain insight into the occurrence and habitat use of adult Atlantic Sturgeon to further their protection and promote efficient resource management. ☐ To estimate adult Atlantic sturgeon spatial distributions during riverine occupancy in the Delaware River, I utilized a maximum entropy approach along with passive biotelemetry during the likely spawning season. I found that substrate composition and distance from the salt front significantly influenced the locations of adult Atlantic Sturgeon in the Delaware River. The movement of the salt front upstream as a result of dredging and climate change likely eliminated historic spawning habitats and currently threatens areas where Atlantic Sturgeon spawning may still be taking place. ☐ In the Delaware Bay I found that movement and residency patterns were driven primarily by depth, bottom temperature, and location. These findings revealed that as temperatures warm in the summer Atlantic Sturgeon maintain residency in deep areas near the mouth of the Delaware Bay where upwelling offshore waters keep bottom temperatures cooler than surrounding area. As water temperatures begin to cool in the fall this pattern of residency turns back into movement. ☐ By placing Atlantic Sturgeon in the context of dynamic, objective, and globally conservative seascapes, in a manner similar to landscape partitioning in the terrestrial environment, I was able to link Atlantic Sturgeon occurrence to one particular seascape associated with terrigenous input during their spring migration. To verify the seascape findings from the passive acoustic array I deployed an autonomous underwater vehicle to dynamically sample the seascape distribution in the coastal ocean to confirm the original hypothesis of selection for a given seascape. ☐ To expand the prediction of Atlantic Sturgeon occurrence for the entire seasonal cycle I matched fisheries independent biotelemetry observations of Atlantic Sturgeon with daily satellite observations to construct a time resolved spatial distribution model of Atlantic Sturgeon. I determined that depth, day-of-year, sea surface temperature, and light absorption by seawater are the most important predictors of Atlantic sturgeon occurrence. I found strong spatial differences in spring and fall migration patterns, when anthropogenic interactions peak. Cross-validated models correctly identified > 88% of biotelemetry observations in this study region and my models also correctly identified ~67% of fisheries dependent observations throughout the year. However, during their migrations, when harmful interactions were highest, models correctly identified ~91% of fisheries dependent observations. ☐ The Delaware Bay and River once supported the largest population of sturgeon in North America but due to anthropogenic impacts this population segment is severely depleted. Recent measures have aided to stabilize Atlantic Sturgeon populations but without further protection for habitats, such as those highlighted by this dissertation, recovery may never be realized. I strongly suggest that the dynamic models created in this body of work be used for guidance to managers and stakeholders to reduce interactions with this highly imperiled species thereby enhancing conservation and recovery efforts.

Species Profiles

Species Profiles PDF Author: Carter Rowell Gilbert
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atlantic sturgeon
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Movement Patterns, Habitat Use, and Seasonal Distribution of Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus, from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada

Movement Patterns, Habitat Use, and Seasonal Distribution of Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus, from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada PDF Author: Andrew Douglas Taylor
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Sturgeons
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America

Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America PDF Author: G.T.O LeBreton
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402028334
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
Modern North American sturgeons and paddlefish are the result of 100 million years of evolution. Once an integral part of aboriginal culture, their numbers were decimated by overfishing and habitat destruction during the past two centuries. This book details the extensive science aimed at helping these remarkable species recover from the brink of extinction, and describes the historical, biological, and ecological importance of North American sturgeon and paddlefish. The text is enhanced by photographs and detailed line drawings. This comprehensive volume will be an invaluable resource for researchers, educators, and consultants, in academic and government settings, who work to further scientific understanding of these fishes. No other single compilation has documented current information in such detail.

Biology and Conservation of the European Sturgeon Acipenser sturio L. 1758

Biology and Conservation of the European Sturgeon Acipenser sturio L. 1758 PDF Author: Patrick WILLIOT
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642206115
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 662

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Book Description
The book aims at synthesizing our current knowledge of Acipenser sturio and its management. This species, one of the most widespread sturgeon species all over Western Europe ranging from the Black Sea to the Baltic, is now on the verge of extinction. Major aspects of its biology and management, including mismanagement, are provided in a historic perspective. Similarly, the changes in the restoration programs (in situ and ex situ) initiated in France and Germany are presented. As the species occurred in sympatry with Acipenser oxyrinchus in Germany and Poland and very recently in France as well, a brief outlook on restoration-management programs of A. oxyrinchus are also provided for both North America and Northern European countries, namely Germany and Poland. As conservation-restoration actions go beyond scientific issues, non-governmental stakeholders and marine professional fishermen’s organizations have also been asked to contribute, and the key role of a French-German cooperation plan is underlined. A part of the book is devoted to perspectives. Illustrations of the European sturgeon, mainly in photographs, but also in stamps and paintings, are presented.

Atlantic Sturgeon

Atlantic Sturgeon PDF Author: Michael J. Van Den Avyle
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atlantic sturgeon
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Status Review of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus)

Status Review of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus) PDF Author: Atlantic Sturgeon Status Review Team
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atlantic sturgeon
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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A Species Action Plan for the Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus

A Species Action Plan for the Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus PDF Author: Florida. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Atlantic sturgeon
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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