Chutes and ladders and other games we play with rivers. II. Simulated effects of translocation on white sturgeon

Restoring connectivity is viewed as an important recovery option for fish species adversely affected by river fragmentation. This simulation study quantified the genetic and demographic effects of translocation on metapopulations of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) inhabiting a series of long (source) and short (sink) river segments. Genetic effects were predictable; upstream translocations increased introgression and downstream translocations had no effect. Demographic results suggest that indiscriminant efforts to reconnect populations may do more harm than good. Simulated river systems with high interspersion of long and short segments and a long segment far upstream tended to benefit most from translocation, but only when narrow screening or downstream passage was also provided below the river segment receiving fish. When combined with narrow screening, upstream translocation to a long segment subsidizing several downstream short segments produced the best results. Downstream passage outperformed narrow screening only when the translocation recipient was a short segment in a river system with low interspersion and no long, upstream river segment. This model-based evaluation of reconnection options has helped to refine ideas about restoring populations in fragmented rivers by predicting which options benefit riverine metapopulations as a whole.

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Anadromous Sturgeons: Habitats, Threats, and Management

Anadromous Sturgeons: Habitats, Threats, and Management ◽

10.47886/9781888569919.ch18 ◽

2007 ◽

Keyword(s):

Density Dependence ◽

Simulation Study ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Snake River ◽

Spawning Habitat ◽

Density Dependent ◽

Hydrologic Conditions ◽

Genetic Results ◽

New Alleles

<em>Abstract.</em>â€” This paper describes a simulation study of reconnection options for white sturgeon <em>Acipenser transmontanus</em> subpopulations in adjacent river segments above and below CJ Strike Dam on the Snake River, Idaho, USA. In contrast to the downstream river segment, the upstream river segment is long and has areas that are suitable for spawning during normal and wet hydrologic conditions. We evaluated demographic and genetic consequences of upstream and downstream passage using different model assumptions about trashrack spacing and density-dependent effects on the spawning interval. Our genetic results predict that, although reconnection would introduce new alleles to the upstream subpopulation, it would also preserve alleles from the downstream subpopulation by propagating them in the larger subpopulation above the dam. Our demographic results predict that halving the space between trashracks would have large and unequivocal benefits, whereas the predicted effects of reconnection were smaller and more sensitive to model assumptions. Simulated upstream passage tended to benefit both subpopulations only in the absence of density-dependent limitation. In the presence of density dependence, the combination of halved trashrack spacing and upstream and downstream passage produced the best results. Narrower trashracks kept spawning adults in the upstream segment with spawning habitat, while allowing their progeny to migrate downstream. Screening appears to be the best option for such a species in this configuration of a long river segment acting as a demographic source above a short one acting as a demographic sink.

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Chutes and ladders and other games we play with rivers. I. Simulated effects of upstream passage on white sturgeon

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f05-226 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 165-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Henriette I Jager

Keyword(s):

Field Research ◽

Population Viability ◽

Downstream Migration ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Management Options ◽

Biological Criteria ◽

Practical Guidance ◽

River Fragmentation ◽

Theoretical Results

River fragmentation by dams has often preceded declines in sturgeon populations, which suggests that reconnecting populations would contribute to their recovery. This study used a population viability model to quantify the effects of upstream passage at dams on white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) metapopulations inhabiting a series of long (source) and short (sink) river segments. Simulated river systems with high interspersion of long and short segments and a long segment far upstream supported the healthiest metapopulations, suggesting biological criteria for siting dams. Contrary to expectation, the model predicted that upstream passage, without screening or downstream passage, was harmful to the metapopulation as a whole. However, upstream passage was beneficial when downstream migration was either restricted (by screening larger fish) or made safe (by providing downstream passage). The combination of upstream and downstream passage was most beneficial at dams above a long river segment. Screening, alone or combined with upstream passage, was most beneficial at dams below a long segment. These theoretical results highlight the need for field research to evaluate management options and provide practical guidance for restoring sturgeon metapopulations in large rivers.

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Marine Trematode Tubulovesicula lindbergi (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from Resident White Sturgeon in the Columbia River

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f70-152 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 1313-1316 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Dale Becker

Keyword(s):

Columbia River ◽

River System ◽

Host Record ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Hydroelectric Dams ◽

Migratory Fish ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

New Host ◽

New Host Record

An infection with a marine trematode, Tubulovesicula lindbergi (Layman, 1930) (Digenea: Hemiuridae), was discovered in a resident white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, taken in the central Columbia River, Washington, USA. Tubulovesicula lindbergi is normally restricted to marine environs by virtue of essential (but still unknown) invertebrate intermediate hosts, but may occur in migratory fish that enter fresh water. Since hydroelectric dams on the Columbia are now effective barriers to the passage of sturgeon, it is postulated that T. lindbergi was transported into the river system by a maturing, anadromous teleost. After the postspawning death of the "transport" teleost host, the sturgeon presumably acquired the infection when scavenging. Consideration of basic synecological relationships supports the hypothesis. The white sturgeon is a new host record for T. lindbergi.

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Hierarchical patterns of population structure in the endangered Fraser River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and implications for conservation

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f2012-120 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 1968-1980 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Andrea Drauch Schreier ◽

Brian Mahardja ◽

Bernie May

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Clustering Algorithm ◽

River System ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Population Substructure ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Fraser River ◽

Population Genetic Analysis ◽

Management Units ◽

Genetic Clustering

The Fraser River system consists of five white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) management units, two of which are listed as endangered populations under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. The delineation of these management units was based primarily on population genetic analysis with samples parsed by collection location. We used polysomic microsatellite markers to examine population structure in the Fraser River system with samples parsed by collection location and with a genetic clustering algorithm. Strong levels of genetic divergence were revealed above and below Hells Gate, a narrowing of the Fraser canyon further obstructed by a rockslide in 1913. Additional analyses revealed population substructure on the Fraser River above Hells Gate. The Middle Fraser River (SG-3) and Nechako River were found to be distinct populations, while the Upper Fraser River, although currently listed as an endangered population, represented a mixing area for white sturgeon originating from SG-3 and Nechako. Differences between these results and previous genetic investigations may be attributed to the detection of population mixing when genetic clustering is used to infer population structure.

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Co-infection of Acipenserid herpesvirus 2 (AciHV-2) and Streptococcus iniae in cultured white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03108 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 124 (1) ◽

pp. 11-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

E Soto ◽

C Richey ◽

B Stevens ◽

S Yun ◽

K Kenelty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Streptococcus Iniae

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Ancient fish and recent invaders: white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus diet response to invasive-species-mediated changes in a benthic prey assemblage

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps11002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 514 ◽

pp. 163-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

SC Zeug ◽

A Brodsky ◽

N Kogut ◽

AR Stewart ◽

JE Merz

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Benthic Prey

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Acute Toxicity Testing with Juvenile White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.1998.006 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 95-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

W.R. Bennett ◽

A.P. Farrell

Keyword(s):

Acute Toxicity ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

Toxicity Testing ◽

White Sturgeon ◽

Acipenser Transmontanus ◽

Toxicity Tests ◽

Fraser River ◽

Acute Toxicity Tests ◽

Acute Toxicity Testing

Abstract The primary goal of this study was to investigate the possibility of using early life stages of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) (eggs, larvae and fry) as a species relevant to the Fraser River, B.C., for the acute and sublethal toxico-logical testing of forest industry effluents. Here we report the first successful acute toxicity tests for 8-day-old larvae and 42-day-old fry exposed to several chemicals known to be released into the Fraser River (i.e., 6 monochlorovanillin [6 MVAN], 4,5 dichloroguaiacol [4,5 DCG], 4,5 dichlorocatechol [4,5 DCAT], pentachlorophenol [PCP], and didecyldimethylammonium chloride [DDAC]). In most cases, white sturgeon fry were at the lower end of the range for acute toxicity values for chlorinated phenolic compounds, when compared with other juvenile fish species, and they were extremely sensitive to DDAC. The larval stage was usually more sensitive than the fry stage. Acute toxicity tests with fertilized eggs were unsuccessful. A postexposure growth study was inconclusive because neither control nor toxicant-exposed larvae and fry withstood the additional handling used for measuring body mass. At 62-days-old, fry were more tolerant of handling. This allowed measurement of their swimming performance. Although we have concerns about the reliability of using larvae for acute toxicity testing at this time, 60-day-old white sturgeon fry would appear to be both a sensitive and relevant species for assessing environmental impacts relevant to the Fraser River.

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