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Ontogenetic behavior and migration of kaluga, Huso dauricus

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Abstract

We conducted laboratory experiments with early life stages of kaluga sturgeon, Huso dauricus, from the middle reach of the Amur River to quantify ontogenetic behavior and compare their behavior with similar laboratory data collected previously on young kaluga from the Amur River. Our hatchling free embryos initiated an intense downstream migration that peaked on day 1, and continued strongly to day 3, decreased strikingly during days 4–6, and ceased on day 7 (8-day migration). Migrants preferred a bright habitat (illuminated and white bottom), open habitat, and swam-up far above the bottom (daily median distance, 3.5 m). On days 21–22, larvae initiated a second downstream migration of similar intensity (four fish passes per 5 min), with a peak at 34–35 days. Juveniles continued a slow intensity migration (one fish pass per 5 min) until day 66, indicating a long-duration migration style by early life stages that would carry them far downstream from a spawning site. Free embryos, larvae and early-juveniles also strongly preferred open habitat, suggesting a similar use of this habitat type by wild individuals of these three life stages. The behavior and migration of our kaluga early life stages were similar to the young kaluga studied previously, but the migration of the two groups was different in major ways. This result suggests there are at least two breeding stocks in the river, each with a slightly different early behavior. If correct, culture programs for stock enhancement must ensure breeding populations are not mixed, which would produce non-adapted early life stages. Genetics studies are needed to identify the kaluga populations in the Amur River.

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Acknowledgments

We extend special thanks to Prof. Yi Cai, Yangtze River University, for providing manpower, to Engineer Luoxin Li, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, for providing space, and to Miss Jia Hu and Mr Cong Zeng, Huazhong Agriculture University, for assistance with analyzing data. This study was supported by Nature Science Foundation of China (31172413, 31000221), Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201203086, 200903084) and the Ministry of Agriculture “948” Program (2010-S10). This study was approved by our institutional ethical committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Fishery, Huazhong Agricultural University, No.1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Yanhua Li, Qiwei Wei & Qiankun Li

  2. BK-Riverfish, LLC, 28 Echo Hill Rd., Amherst, MA, 01002, USA

    Boyd Kynard

  3. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No.8, 1st Wudayuan Road, Donghu Hi-Tech Development Zone, Wuhan, 430223, China

    Yanhua Li, Qiwei Wei, Hui Zhang & Hao Du

  4. Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, 214081, China

    Yanhua Li, Qiwei Wei, Hui Zhang & Hao Du

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  1. Yanhua Li
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  2. Boyd Kynard
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  3. Qiwei Wei
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  4. Hui Zhang
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  5. Hao Du
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  6. Qiankun Li
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Correspondence to Qiwei Wei.

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Li, Y., Kynard, B., Wei, Q. et al. Ontogenetic behavior and migration of kaluga, Huso dauricus . Environ Biol Fish 96, 1269–1280 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0162-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0162-2

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