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Behavior, movements, and habitat use of adult green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in the upper Sacramento River

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Abstract

We conducted the first continuous shipboard tracking of southern Distinct Population Segment green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in the Sacramento River. Tracking of adult green sturgeon occurred between river kilometer (rkm) 434.8 and 511.6, a section of the putative spawning grounds located near Red Bluff, California. The recorded positions of acoustically tagged green sturgeon were analyzed using First Passage Time analysis to determine differences in habitat use between suitable and non-suitable habitats. Classification and Regression Tree modeling was used to determine explanatory inputs attributable to above average habitat use. Green sturgeon exhibited above average habitat use at five sites, identified as potential spawning aggregate sites. Three types of movements (holding, milling, and directed) could be categorized from tracks. Lastly, we show that green sturgeon while on the spawning grounds exhibit a high degree of mobility throughout the spawning grounds, often making large movements between specific habitat units. Our study illustrates how the application of shipboard tracking can be useful for describing movement, behavior and habitat utilization at a spatial scale not achieved by stationary acoustic monitors.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Continuous shipboard tracking is an intensive process, without the support of the UC Davis Biotelemetry Laboratory, United States Bureau of Reclamation, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service none of this could be possible. The authors would like to thank R. Corwin (USBR), R. Chase (USBR), B. Poytress (USFWS) and his crew, and J. Israel (USBR) for their assistance. Habitat data was collected by R. Corwin, R. Chase, E. Mora, and J. Israel. N. Willits provided statistical guidance and J. Van Eenennaam provided histology processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotelemetry Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Michael J. Thomas, Matthew L. Peterson, Eric D. Chapman, Alex R. Hearn, Gabriel P. Singer, Ryan D. Battleson & A. Peter Klimley

  2. FISHBIO, 180 East 4th Street Suite 160, Chico, CA, USA

    Matthew L. Peterson

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  1. Michael J. Thomas
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  2. Matthew L. Peterson
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  3. Eric D. Chapman
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  5. Gabriel P. Singer
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  7. A. Peter Klimley
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Correspondence to Michael J. Thomas.

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Thomas, M.J., Peterson, M.L., Chapman, E.D. et al. Behavior, movements, and habitat use of adult green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in the upper Sacramento River. Environ Biol Fish 97, 133–146 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0132-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0132-8

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