Abstract
Movements of the endangered shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum in the Ogeechee River (Georgia, USA) may be limited by unsuitable habitat conditions during June–September. The research objective was to determine if habitat quality is likely to impede movements and spawning of shortnose sturgeon in this system. We inserted ultrasonic transmitters in 18 adult shortnose sturgeon to monitor their monthly in-stream movements. Water quality data were collected at discrete locations along the Ogeechee River. We used geostatistical models based on Weighted Asymmetric Hydrologic Distance, in place of Euclidean distance, to predict water quality variables along the Ogeechee River, avoiding problems associated with linear distance metrics in a river network. Using ArcGIS, we constructed habitat quality models based on physiological tolerance to water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. During the summer months, tagged fish remained congregated above the fresh-saltwater interface. However, individuals appeared to move in response to changing water quality conditions. Seasonal habitat availability in other southern rivers should be similarly analyzed to assess potential relationships between the habitat and sturgeon movements. Although further laboratory and field studies are needed to better understand latitudinal variation in life history and environmental tolerances of shortnose sturgeon, the results of our study suggest that temporal and spatial variability in water quality affect habitat availability of southern populations of shortnose sturgeon.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the many technicians that assisted with data collection. This study was funded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the National Marine Fisheries Service. We would like to thank David Higginbotham for logistical support and Erin Peterson for helpful comments during the modeling stage of the analysis. This manuscript benefitted greatly from the suggestions of anonymous reviewers. All research was approved by the University of Georgia IACUC.
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Farrae, D.J., Albeke, S.E., Pacifici, K. et al. Assessing the influence of habitat quality on movements of the endangered shortnose sturgeon. Environ Biol Fish 97, 691–699 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0170-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0170-2