Observations on the natural history of the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi Vladykov 1955) in the Suwannee River, southeastern United States

Abstract

From 1986 to 1994, we collected 3,098 Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi) during their spring migration from the Gulf of Mexico to the Suwannee River, Florida. We estimated population size and described migratory and seasonal growth patterns of sturgeon in the Suwannee River, using data from tag returns, movement of ultrasonic‐lagged fish and weight records. Population size estimates for 3.0‐ to 81.0‐kg Gulf of Mexico sturgeon in the Suwannee River ranged from 1,504 to 3,066 fish. Sturgeon migrated from the Gulf of Mexico into the Suwannee River from mid‐February to early May. Fish moved upstream and remained within a 2‐km upstreamdownstream “home” area. These sites were closely associated with undenvater springs that discharge into the river. Sturgeon migrated downstream and into the Gulf of Mexico in October and November. In the Gulf of Mexico, ultrasonic‐tagged fish were located in the Suwannee Sound area just north of Cedar Key, Florida. On an annual basis, fish gained an average of 20% of their body weight while in the Gulf of Mexico and lost about 12% of their weight during their stay in the Suwannee River. We observed movement of tagged sturgeon between the Suwannee and Apalachicola Rivers.

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Saga and Setback: Novel Analyses of Cumulative Hatchlings Released and Time-Lagged Annual Nests in Tamaulipas, Mexico

“…There is no information documenting the presence of spawning adults in non-natal rivers. However, there is some evidence of movements by both male and female Gulf sturgeon (n=22) from natal rivers into non-natal rivers (Carr et al 1996;Craft et al 2001;Ross et al 2001;Wooley and Crateau 1985).…”

“…Their guts generally contain benthic marine invertebrates including amphiopods, lancelets, polychaetes, gastropods, shrimp, isopods, molluscs, and crustaceans (Carr et al 1996;Huff 1975;Mason and Clugston 1993). Generally, Gulf sturgeon prey are burrowing species that feed on detritus and/or suspended particles, and inhabit sandy substrate.…”

Evaluation of Potential Impacts of the Lake Maurepas Diversion Project to Gulf and Pallid Sturgeon

“…Movements of Gulf sturgeon out of the Suwannee River in Florida were reported for October to November by Carr et al (1996) and midSeptember through November by Foster and Clugston (1997). Movements out of the Pascagoula River system were reported to be during midOctober through late November (Heise et al 2004).…”

“…Movements into the Bogue Chitto and Pearl rivers began in April (Rogillio et al 2007). In the Suwannee River, Gulf sturgeon return ranged from late February through May (Carr et al 1996;Foster and Clugston 1997) at temperatures of approximately 22 °C. Similar chronologies were found in the Apalachicola River.…”

“…Exploitation, blockage of migration routes, and declining water quality are thought to be responsible for species decline (Wooley and Crateau 1985;Barkuloo 1988;USFWS and GSMFC 1995). Gulf sturgeon generally spend November through March in saltwater and the rest of the year in freshwater rivers (Wooley and Crateau 1985;Odenkirk 1989;Carr et al 1996;Foster and Clugston 1997;Fox et al 2000;Rogillio et al 2001Rogillio et al , 2007Heise et al 2004). Gulf sturgeon have been collected in tributary rivers (e.g., the Amite River) flowing into Lake Maurepas.…”