Use of Population Modeling to Enhance the Gulf Sturgeon Recovery Plan PDF Download

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Category : Fish populations
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
The Gulf sturgeon population in the Pearl River was monitored from 1992 through 1996 and compared to historical data sets from the 1960s and 1980s. The estimated population sire iii 1996 was approximately 300 fish with adults comprising about 3 percent of the population. Annual mortality rates in the late 1960s were about 9 percent; these rates increased to almost 40 percent in 1985 and decreased to about 26 percent during 1992 through 1996. Population modeling was used to evaluate the sturgeon's status and recovery potential. Results of models suggest that this population can only withstand mortality rates in the range of 13 to 18 percent, depending upon recruitment assumptions. Population models indicated that catch and fishing effort data specified in the Gulf Sturgeon Recovery Plan may not detect a declining population. Population models can be used to simulate annual variation in population sire under different rates of mortality. Recovery goals can address a specific source of mortality simulated in the model and monitoring can determine the success of recovery efforts. Population modeling does not require considerably more effort or expertise over that already required to conduct monitoring studies.