Over-wintering physiology of age-0 lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and its implications for conservation stocking programs

Deslauriers, David; Yoon, Gwangseok R.; Earhart, Madison L.; Long, Catherine; Klassen, Cheryl; Anderson, W. Gary

doi:10.1007/s10641-018-0724-4

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…We saw a general decreasing trend of ED following the wintering event, which agrees with previous studies (Hurst, 2007; Deslauriers et al ., 2018). It is thought that fish maximize their somatic growth as well as energy storage prior to winter such that they can survive when resources are likely to be scarce.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Specifically, energy allocation towards somatic growth and energy reserve during the first year of life is critical prior to winter, particularly in northern fishes where food resources become scarce and endogenous stores must be mobilized to sustain life (Post and Parkinson, 2001). Previous studies have shown that individuals with higher energy stores are more likely to survive prolonged winter conditions (Biro et al ., 2004; Houston et al ., 2014; Deslauriers et al ., 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of a dynamic rearing environment on development of metabolic phenotypes in age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

Yoon

Deslauriers

Anderson

2019

Conservation Physiology

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Environment–phenotype interactions are the most pronounced during early life stages and can strongly influence metabolism and ultimately ecological fitness. In the present study, we examined the effect of temperature [ambient river temperature (ART) vs ART+2°C], dissolved oxygen (DO; 100% vs 80%) and substrate (presence vs absence) on standard metabolic rate, forced maximum metabolic rate and metabolic scope with Fulton’s condition factor (K), energy density (ED) and critical thermal maximum (CTmax) in age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, before and after a simulated overwintering event. We found that all the environmental variables strongly influenced survival, K, ED and CTmax. Fish reared in elevated temperature showed higher mortality and reduced K pre-winter at 127 days post-hatch (dph). Interestingly, we did not find any significant difference in terms of metabolic rate between treatments at both sampling points of pre- and post-winter. Long-term exposure to 80% DO reduced ED in Lake Sturgeon post-winter at 272 dph. Our data suggest that substrate should be removed at the onset of exogenous feeding to enhance the survival rate of age-0 Lake Sturgeon in the first year of life. Effects of early rearing environment during larval development on survival over winter are discussed with respect to successful recruitment of stock enhanced Lake Sturgeon, a species that is at risk throughout its natural range.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of a dynamic rearing environment on development of metabolic phenotypes in age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

Yoon

Deslauriers

Anderson

2019

Conservation Physiology

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“…Understanding the variability in Shovelnose Sturgeon year‐class strength in the lower Missouri River as well as continued diet and lipid analyses (or other metrics of condition, such as energy density; Deslauriers et al. ) may help clarify the potential effects of annual differences in prey consumption and condition. However, the low prevalence of empty stomachs during this study coupled with a stable population (Steffensen et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet and Condition of Age‐0 Scaphirhynchus Sturgeon: Implications for Shallow‐Water Habitat Restoration

Civiello

Gosch

Gemeinhardt

et al. 2018

N American J Fish Manag

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Insufficient food during early life could limit the population growth of endangered Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus in the lower Missouri River. Shallow-water habitat restoration is intended to provide nursery benefits, including food, for young sturgeon, but the effect of shallow-water habitat on their diet is unknown. Age-0 Pallid Sturgeon are rare, providing little opportunity for direct evaluation; however, studying the closely related and abundant Shovelnose Sturgeon S. platorynchus may provide valuable information to guide habitat restoration efforts. We compared diet, body condition (lipid content), and change in body weight (24-h bioenergetics simulation) for postdrift, age-0 sturgeon among five reaches ranging widely in shallow-water habitat availability. Lipid content of satiated and emaciated laboratory-reared individuals were compared with that of wild-caught fish. In general, shallow-water habitat availability appeared to have little effect on the variables examined. Regardless of reach, wild-caught fish primarily consumed chironomids, and empty stomachs were rare. Additionally, differences in prey weight, lipid content, or the modeled change in body weight did not usually correspond to differences in shallow-water habitat availability. Instead, we found annual differences, as prey weight consumed and the percentage of fish with modeled weight gain was often higher in 2015 than 2014, while the opposite was true for the percentage of fish with lipid content values that were comparable with the emaciated laboratory standard. Overall, our findings complement recent suggestions that shallow-water habitat restoration efforts, as previously implemented, may not benefit sturgeon populations. Our results coupled with previous research suggest that the lower Missouri River prey base can support a stable Shovelnose Sturgeon population; however, additional research is needed to determine whether this applies to Pallid Sturgeon.

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“…This may suggest that over a gradient of predation pressures, a threshold may be reached where the predation pressures exceed that of the upcoming winter-period pressures, and a shift in risk assessment behaviour during risk-sensitive foraging may occur. However, if high predation pressures continue, then it is likely that overwinter survival may be compromised (Bjornson and Anderson 2018;Deslauriers et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After spring spawning, juvenile lake sturgeon have a single season to grow before they endure their first overwinter challenge, which may last for at least 3 months with limited foraging opportunities and temperatures near 0°C (McDougall et al 2014). Such overwintering events have large consequences for survival and subsequent year-class strength as that cohort moves into the following year (Post and Evans 1989;Hurst and Conover 2003;Deslauriers et al 2018;Yoon et al 2019). Recent laboratory studies have demonstrated complex behavioural responses in juvenile lake sturgeon (Wishingrad et al 2014b(Wishingrad et al , 2014cFerrari et al 2015;Sloychuk et al 2016;Bjornson and Anderson 2018), but none have attempted to determine the trade-off between foraging and responding to predation threats in juvenile lake sturgeon.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

To feed or flee: early life-history behavioural strategies of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) during risk-sensitive foraging

2020

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Balancing foraging opportunities with predation risk can promote complex behavioural strategies in juvenile fishes, particularly in northern temperate environments with short growing seasons. To test how predation experience may influence foraging effort and risk assessment of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817), flight response and substrate preference behavioural measurements were taken during critical life periods of early exogenous feeding (∼60 days post fertilization (dpf)) and pre-winter (∼160 dpf). Lake sturgeon were placed in arenas with partial cover and exposed white plastic bottom. Chemical alarm cue (AC) was introduced to predator naïve individuals in the presence or absence of food over the exposed portion of the arena to simulate risk sensitive foraging over diurnal and seasonal periods. The same protocol was run on predator-experienced individuals, which were classically conditioned to predator cue (PC) prior to the trials. Whole-body cortisol measures were also taken to determine the physiological response to predation experience. Results suggest a propensity to forage in spite of predation risk during the naïve ∼60 dpf trials and highlight context-specific anti-predator responses of naïve and experienced lake sturgeon. Elevated basal whole-body cortisol levels and reduced body condition (p < 0.05) were observed with increased predator experience.

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Over-wintering physiology of age-0 lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and its implications for conservation stocking programs

Cited by 24 publications

References 59 publications

Influence of a dynamic rearing environment on development of metabolic phenotypes in age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

Influence of a dynamic rearing environment on development of metabolic phenotypes in age-0 Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

Diet and Condition of Age‐0 Scaphirhynchus Sturgeon: Implications for Shallow‐Water Habitat Restoration

To feed or flee: early life-history behavioural strategies of juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) during risk-sensitive foraging

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