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Results for “Journal of Applied Ichthyology”

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89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
USGS2017

Comparative precision of age estimates from two southern reservoir populations of paddlefish [Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792)]

The aim of the study was to determine whether location and sex affected the age precision estimates between two southern, reservoir populations of paddlefish [ Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792)]. From 589 paddlefish collected in Grand Lake and Keystone Lake, Oklahoma in 2011, ages from dentaries were estimated using three independent readers and precision was compared with coefficient of variation between locations and sexes. Ages were more precisely estimated from Grand Lake and from females.

Oklahoma↗
USGS2018

Relating river discharge and water temperature to the recruitment of age‐0 White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836) in the Columbia River using over‐dispersed catch data

The goals were to (i) determine if river discharge and water temperature during various early life history stages were predictors of age‐0 White Sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus , recruitment, and (ii) provide an example of how over‐dispersed catch data, including data with many zero observations, can be used to better understand the effects of regulated rivers on the productivity of depressed sturgeon populations. An information theoretic approach was used to develop and select negative binomial and zero‐inflated negative binomial models that model the relation of age‐0 White Sturgeon survey data from three contiguous Columbia River reservoirs to river discharge and water temperature during spawning, egg incubation, larval, and post‐larval phases. Age‐0 White Sturgeon were collected with small mesh gill nets in The Dalles and John Day reservoirs from 1997 to 2014 and a bottom trawl in Bonneville Reservoir from 1989 to 2006. Results suggest that seasonal river discharge was positively correlated with age‐0 recruitment; notably that discharge, 16 June–31 July was positively correlated to age‐0 recruitment in all three reservoirs. The best approximating models for two of the three reservoirs also suggest that seasonal water temperature may be a determinant of age‐0 recruitment. Our research demonstrates how over‐dispersed catch data can be used to better understand the effects of environmental conditions on sturgeon populations caused by the construction and operation of dams.

Columbia River↗
USGS2018

Potential responses of the Lower Missouri River Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) population to a commercial fishing ban

We developed an age‐structured population matrix model to perform population viability analysis for Lower Missouri River (LMR) shovelnose sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus platorynchus ). We investigated potential effects of the commercial fishing moratorium put in place to help protect the similar‐appearing pallid sturgeon ( S. albus ). The model applies different components of total variance in life history parameters at different levels: sampling variance (parameter uncertainty) between model iterations; temporal variance (temporal environmental fluctuations) between time steps within iterations; and individual variance (individual differences) within each time‐step. The model predicted annual rates of population increase of 1.96% under historic fishing and 2.67% with removal of historic fishing. We identified combinations of fishing and harvest size restrictions that would permit a sustainable harvest of shovelnose sturgeon. Overall, the ban on commercial fishing of shovelnose sturgeon in the LMR due to similarity of appearance to pallid sturgeon should help the LMR shovelnose sturgeon population begin to rebound while decreasing any negative effects it may have had on pallid sturgeon populations.

Lower Missouri River basin↗
USGS2018

First maturity and spawning periodicity of hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana.

The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus conservation propagation program has augmented declining wild populations since the 1990s and the older age classes of hatchery-origin fish are beginning to reach sexual maturity in the wild. Currently, the majority of the information available on the age and size at first maturity and spawning periodicity for pallid sturgeon in the upper basin is from captive hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon (i.e. age and size at first maturity and spawning periodicity) or from wild pallid sturgeon artificially spawned in the propagation program (i.e. spawning periodicity). The purpose of this study was to document age and size at first maturity and spawning periodicity of known age hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon that have reached maturity in the wild. Radio-tagged pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri River upstream of Fort Peck Reservoir were serially sampled in the early-spring over multiple years and assigned to reproductive classifications each year based on sex-steroid concentrations. The youngest reproductively-active male hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon sampled was 14.5 years old and the youngest female was 18. Hatchery-origin males were observed having annual ( N = 3) and biennial ( N = 2) reproductive cycles. The observed spawning periodicity was similar to what has been reported elsewhere for the species. The youngest mature fish in this study are older and larger than what has been reported for those retained in captivity, indicating that body size alone is not a reliable predictor of maturity for pallid sturgeon.

Montana↗
USGS2018

Population viability analyses for three Macrhybopsis spp. of the Lower Missouri River

Recent declines in three species of chubs that inhabit the lower Missouri River (shoal chub M. hyostoma , sicklefin chub M. meeki and sturgeon chub M. gelida ) have become a concern in the management of their own populations and the endangered pallid sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ) that feeds on them. These chub populations encounter threats from fish predation and habitat loss. With the recent advancements in the understanding of the reproductive life history of these species, their declines have prompted development of population models and population viability analyses. For each species, we developed an age‐structured population matrix model with hierarchical stochasticity, which partitions parameter total variance into sampling and temporal components. Using these models, we found population growth rate of all three chub species decreased when stochasticity was added to the model. While examining sensitivity, we found individual fish growth, as measured by length‐at‐age, to impact population growth rate and depending on the species, could be up to four times more influential than overall survival, the next most sensitive parameter. Current survival rates have large temporal variance; more research into accuracy and factors that influence survival rates is needed.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗
USGS2018

Tag retention and survival of juvenile bighead carp implanted with a dummy acoustic tag at three temperatures

Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (together, the bigheaded carps) are invasive fishes in North America that have resulted in substantial negative effects on native fish communities and aquatic ecosystems. Movement and behavior of adult bigheaded carps has been studied previously using telemetry, while similar studies with juvenile bigheaded carps have yet to be attempted. Recent technological advances in telemetry transmitters has increased the availability of tags sufficiently small enough to implant in juvenile carps. However, the effects of surgical implantation of telemetry tags on juvenile bigheaded carps have not been evaluated. We determined tag retention and survival associated with surgical implantation of acoustic telemetry tags into juvenile bighead carp (range 128–152 mm total length) at three temperatures (13, 18, and 23°C). In addition, we assessed the effect of surgically implanted transmitters on the fitness, defined as changes in weight or critical swimming speed, of carp implanted with transmitters. Survival was high among tagged fish (85%) with 47% of tags retained at the conclusion of the 45‐day study. No substantial decline in fitness of the fish was observed in tagged fish compared to untagged fish.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗
USGS2020

Characterization of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) spawning habitat in the Lower Missouri River

Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefish) globally have declined throughout their range due to river fragmentation, habitat loss, overfishing, and degradation of water quality. In North America, pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) populations have experienced poor to no recruitment, or substantial levels of hybridization with the closely related shovelnose sturgeon (S. platorynchus). The Lower Missouri River is the only portion of the species’ range where successful reproduction and recruitment of genetically pure pallid sturgeon have been documented. This paper documents spawning habitat and behavior on the Lower Missouri River, which comprises over 1,300 km of unfragmented river habitat. The objective of this study was to determine spawning locations and describe habitat characteristics and environmental conditions (depth, water velocity, substrate, discharge, temperature, and turbidity) on the Lower Missouri River. We measured habitat characteristics for spawning events of ten telemetry‐tagged female pallid sturgeon from 2008–2013 that occurred in discrete reaches distributed over hundreds of kilometers. These results show pallid sturgeon select deep and fast areas in or near the navigation channel along outside revetted banks for spawning. These habitats are deeper and faster than nearby river habitats within the surrounding river reach. Spawning patches have a mean depth of 6.6 m and a mean depth‐averaged water‐column velocity of 1.4 m per second. Substrates in spawning patches consist of coarse bank revetment, gravel, sand, and bedrock. Results indicate habitat used by pallid sturgeon for spawning is more common and widespread in the present‐day channelized Lower Missouri River relative to the sparse and disperse coarse substrates available prior to channelization. Understanding the spawning habitats currently utilized on the Lower Missouri River and if they are functioning properly is important for improving habitat remediation measures aimed at increasing reproductive success. Recovery efforts for pallid sturgeon on the Missouri River, if successful, can provide guidance to sturgeon recovery on other river systems; particularly large, regulated, and channelized rivers.

Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota↗
USGS2020

Pallid sturgeon seasonal habitat selection in a large free-flowing river, the lower Mississippi River

Pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes & Richardson, 1905, Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History, 1905, 7, 37) are an endangered riverine sturgeon native to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and declining numbers have been attributed to multiple stressors, including habitat loss and alteration. The lower Mississippi River provides a useful context to assess pallid sturgeon habitat selection because, although altered for flood control and navigation, it provides a free-flowing system with a diversity of habitats and a minimally altered hydrograph. A discrete choice model of data collected year-round from two reaches for 3–5 years revealed changes in habitat selection across water temperatures and river stages representative of seasonal variation in habitat for 116 telemetry-tagged pallid sturgeon. Natural bank, island tip, and secondary channel were positively selected and main channel, although frequently used, was avoided. The degree of selection varied among river stages, water temperatures, and reaches. Habitat selection appears to be strongly influenced by preference for locations with moderate depth (median 11.7 m; lower and upper quartiles 8.1 m and 16.3 m) and moderate current velocity (median 0.9 m/s; lower and upper quartiles 0.7 m/s and 1.2 m/s).

Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi↗
USGS2020

Fort Peck paddlefish population survival and abundance in the Missouri River

Excessive fishing pressure can induce population declines or complete collapse of fisheries. Unless commercial and recreational fisheries for K-selected fishes, or those with slow growth and late maturation, are carefully managed, declines in abundance or fishery collapse is probable. Paddlefish Polyodon spathula, are a K-selected species that experienced historical declines in abundance as a result of habitat degradation and overfishing. Mark-recapture studies are well-suited for long-lived fishes by providing information on population density and vital rates. For sustainable commercial or recreational fisheries targeting species such as the paddlefish, managers require accurate estimates of population vital rates including survival, abundance, and exploitation. We used a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) mark-recapture dataset and modified Jolly-Seber (POPAN) models to estimate survival, recapture, probability of entry, and abundance of 8,518 tagged paddlefish over a 25-year period. With many supporting estimates including stable survival (0.92 for females, mean of 0.82 for males), low exploitation rates (means of 2.6% for females and 2.9% for males), and stable abundance estimates (25-year mean of 12,309 individuals for both sexes), the Fort Peck paddlefish population appears to be stable and well-managed over the past 25 years. Presently, this is the only study focused on paddlefish in North America that has estimated survival and abundance for both male and female paddlefish using contemporary analyses. This research provided a unique opportunity to highlight that the effort exerted by management agencies to collect long-term field data is extremely useful to our understanding of fish populations and management.

Montana↗
USGS2021

Summer Diet of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon Reintroduced into the Genesee and St. Regis Rivers, New York USA

The restoration of threatened species involves understanding multiple aspects of the life history and ecology of the target species. One important consideration in the restoration of threatened species is feeding ecology. We examined the summer diet of reintroduced juvenile lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) in the Genesee ( n = 119, ages 1 and 2) and the St. Regis rivers ( n = 40, ages 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7) of New York State, USA, in the summer of 2005. The most common taxa consumed were Diptera (88% of prey biomass) in the Genesee River and Ephemeroptera (35% of prey biomass) and Diptera (29%) in the St. Regis River. Diptera: (Chironomidae) was the major prey taxon in both benthic communities. Selectivity analysis showed a positive selection of Diptera by Genesee River lake sturgeon and an avoidance of Diptera by St. Regis River lake sturgeon. The St. Regis River lake sturgeon showed avoidance of Coleoptera, but positive selection of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Oligochaeta. Results indicate that the reintroduced juvenile lake sturgeon are growing and successfully finding prey in these two rivers and appear to actively select specific prey types.

New York↗
USGS2021

Burbot (Lota lota) exhibit plasticity in life-history traits in a small drainage at the southwestern-most extent of the species’ native range

Little is known about the life-history traits exhibited by burbot (Lota lota) throughout their circumpolar range. Monitoring PIT-tagged burbot between lentic and lotic habits and collection of demographic data (length, age, sex, and maturity) were used to answer the following questions in the Torrey Creek drainage of west-central Wyoming, USA: 1) is there plasticity in the life-history traits of the burbot population, 2) do Trail Lake origin and Torrey Creek origin burbot interchange during the spawning period, and 3) is there a difference in growth and age at sexual maturity between Trial Lake and Torrey Creek? We found plasticity in life history traits exists within a burbot population in a small drainage at the southwestern-most edge of the species native range. Directional migration of PIT-tagged burbot in Trail Lake and Torrey Creek was monitored nearly continuously by tandem stream-width antennas. Thirty-five percent of lentic-origin burbot migrated upstream into Torrey Creek, and 11% of lotic-origin burbot migrated downstream of the antennas near the Torrey Creek inlet to Trail Lake. Migratory activity of burbot was highest during the late winter and early spring at a time that coincided with spawning. Additionally, Torrey Creek-origin burbot were smaller and younger than Trail Lake-origin burbot. In addition to documenting migration, the sampling of small, sexually mature burbot in Torrey Creek suggests that stream-resident burbot reach maturity earlier than adfluvial and lacustrine burbot in Trail Lake. Furthermore, high catch rates of age-0 burbot indicate that Torrey Creek upstream from Trail Lake provides nursery habitat to the burbot population. Life history trait plasticity and spawning and nursery habitats documented in this study must be considered when selecting conservation actions for this unique burbot population.

Wyoming↗
USGS2021

Accuracy of histology, endoscopy, ultrasonography, and plasma sex steroids in describing the population reproductive structure of hatchery-origin and wild white sturgeon

Hatchery-origin white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus in the lower Columbia River, Canada are approaching puberty, and describing the reproductive structure of the population is critical to determine if they are capable of contributing to spawning events in the wild, a key management uncertainty. Few studies have compared the accuracy of available tools (histology, ultrasound, endoscopy, and plasma sex steroids) used to assign sex and stage of maturity within the same population of prepubertal and post-pubertal sturgeon. Population reproductive structure was described using these tools in 332 hatchery-origin and 75 wild individuals over 2 years (2017 and 2018). True sex was determined using histological analysis of gonadal tissue, which is 100% accurate at assigning sex and stage of maturity in fish when germ cells are present in the biopsy. All hatchery-origin fish assessed had not reached puberty and were pre-meiotic males ( n = 158) or pre-vitellogenic females ( n = 174). Assignment of true sex using histology was 97% in hatchery-origin and 94% in wild fish as several biopsies did not contain germ cells. Fish with gonadal biopsies that did not contain germ cells and intersex fish ( n = 3) were not included in further analyses of other tools. Accuracy in assigning sex to both the hatchery-origin (98%) and wild (100%) fish was highest using endoscopy (an otoscope). The other tools evaluated were less accurate, with 69% accuracy in hatchery-origin and 74% accuracy in wild fish for plasma sex steroids and 57% accuracy in hatchery-origin and 70% accuracy in wild fish for ultrasonography. Based on these results, endoscopy was the most reliable tool for assigning sex in both prepubertal and post-pubertal fish and can be easily complimented with histology when determining stage of maturity or describing population reproductive structure.

British Columbia, Washington↗
USGS2022

Identifying and characterizing juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) occupancy hot spots within the St. Clair-Detroit River System

Over the past two decades, extensive monitoring has been conducted in the St. Clair – Detroit River System to describe spatial and temporal patterns of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ). To characterize spatial patterns in juvenile lake sturgeon (<1000 mm TL) based on survey collections, ‘hot spots’ were identified through optimized hot spot analysis (HSA). This HSA was then interpolated by inverse distance weighted analysis to determine extent of identified ‘hot spots’ and ‘cold spots’. Additionally, habitat variables (i.e., water depth, water velocity, and dominant substrate type) were investigated using a single season occupancy model to determine their influence on juvenile lake sturgeon occupancy probability. In total, 1203 juvenile lake sturgeon were captured across 4197 surveys. Three unique ‘hot spots’ were identified; western Lake Erie, Fighting Island in the Detroit River, and the North Channel in the St. Clair River. Interpolated ‘hot spots’ encompassed 73.1 km² in western Lake Erie, 4.7 km² near Fighting Island, and 6.6 km² in the North Channel. Detection probabilities within ‘hot spots’ ranged from 8.8%–43.4%. No habitat variables significantly predicted juvenile lake sturgeon occupancy. Juvenile lake sturgeon were captured in western Lake Erie where the water depth was >5.1 m and odds of occupancy increased with increased water velocity. Juvenile lake sturgeon in the Detroit and St. Clair River ‘hot spots’ were captured at sites with mean benthic water velocities ranging from 0.20–0.60 m/s and where water depth was >7.3 m. Irrespective of waterbody, 69% of all juveniles were detected over dominant sand and gravel substrates. These results provide valuable insight about juvenile habitat use that can help managers formulate effective conservation and restoration strategies supporting the continued recovery of Great Lakes lake sturgeon.

Michigan↗
USGS2022

Reproductive indices and observations of mass ovarian follicular atresia in hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon

The Pallid Sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ) Conservation Propagation and Stocking Program began stocking in the Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir in 1998 with 1997-year-class pallid sturgeon. Within the 1997-year class, all hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon females that reached reproductive maturation by 2016 underwent mass ovarian follicular atresia. Using combined historical and contemporary data, we described the spawning periodicity for female and male pallid sturgeon, characterized age- and size-at-first spawning, and evaluated what proportion of females experience mass ovarian follicular atresia during the first and subsequent reproductive cycles. Pallid sturgeon reached their first reproductive cycle at older ages and larger sizes than described for other populations. Females were functionally and physiologically capable of spawning at 21 years and males at 15 years. Immature pallid sturgeon as old as 20 years were documented. We found that more female pallid sturgeon underwent mass ovarian follicular atresia during the presumed-first reproductive cycle or known-first reproductive cycle than females during subsequent reproductive cycles (62.5% compared to 33.3%) indicating that effects related to reproductive maturation may be occurring. Nonetheless, mass ovarian follicular atresia appears to also occur for reasons not related to reproductive maturation. Females had biennial reproductive cycles, and males had annual and biennial reproductive cycles. Population models should account for females undergoing mass ovarian follicular atresia in their first reproductive cycle and subsequent cycles thereby increasing the age at first-successful spawning and reducing the estimated size of the spawning stock.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗
USGS2024

Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) mouth gape and size preference of a bivalve prey

Black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Richardson, 1846) have been widely used as biological control of snails in aquaculture and were imported to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s for this purpose. Prior research emphasizes the species’ propensity to control gastropods, but since subsequent escape and establishment of black carp in portions of the Mississippi River Basin, concerns now focus on the numerous endangered and endemic bivalve species upon which black carp may predate. Black carp mouth gape may limit predation on larger bivalves, but bite force is also a factor. We used regression of fish length to mouth gape of wild-caught black carp and compared these results to tank forage size preference trials with bivalve prey Corbicula fluminea clams. Wild-caught black carp ranged from 429 to 1580 mm total length, a size range larger than measured in previous studies. Regression of fish length and mouth gape indicated greater variability among sizes, as expected from wild versus cultured populations. Clam consumption was size-dependent. Black carp commonly engulfed but did not consume the largest clams in tank feeding trials. Shell width was a better predictor of successful consumption than length or height. Predation was restricted at sizes less than the mouth gape of test black carp as observed by individuals engulfing but failing to consume prey. This result indicates that either bite force or the pharyngeal apparatus gape (i.e., the distance between the pharyngeal teeth and keratinous pad) limited successful crushing of engulfed shells. Bivalve predation by black carp is limited by both a fish’s ability to engulf prey and the ability to fracture the shell of larger prey items that cannot be broken or swallowed whole. The results of this research may be used to assess potential prey sizes of wild black carp and anticipated effects of predation on bivalve communities.

Journal of Applied Ichthyology↗
USGS2024

Length-weight relationships of native and non-native fishes in the lower Red River catchment, USA

Length-weight relationships are useful for stock assessments and modeling alternative conservation and management strategies for both native and non-native fishes. We developed length-weight relationships for 18 native and non-native riverine fishes in the lower Red River catchment. Fishes were sampled in the summer and autumn seasons between May 2021 and March 2024 via electrofishing and gill nets. Measurements for each specimen consisted of total length (mm) and weight (g). We provide L-W relationships for 14 native fishes consisting of 5 families (Lepisosteidae, Catostomidae, Ictaluridae, Sciaenidae, and Polyodontidae) and 4 non-native species belonging to the family Cyprinidae. We collected 6,845 individuals ranging from 67 alligator gar to 1,848 smallmouth buffalo. All the L-W relationships were significant ( p < 0.05), and the majority (72% of species) of relationships between length and weight had r 2 values > 0.70. Our findings provide insight into the L-W relationships of riverine fishes and can be useful for modeling alternatives targeted at native fishes of recreational value and the removal efforts of non-native fishes.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗