Status of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescensRafinesque 1817) in North America

Abstract

Lake Sturgeon is a potamodromous, fluvial-dependent species from the family Acipenseridae, and one of the largest freshwater fishes within its North American range extending to the Great lakes, Mississippi River, and Hudson Bay drainages. Like almost all other sturgeon species, Lake Sturgeon populations throughout its range suffered mass declines or extirpation in the late 1800s into the early 1900s, due to extensive overexploitation and habitat loss and alteration. However, Lake Sturgeon are still present in low to high densities throughout their native range due primarily to factors including: the species long life span and resiliency, the remote location of many northern populations, long-term pro-active management programs effectively controlling exploitation, improved habitat and water-quality conditions, and recovery programs that have been in effect since the late 1970s. Recovery programs initiated in the late 1970s are now just beginning to show signs of natural recruitment from populations re-built with stocked fish. Large sustainable recreational Lake Sturgeon fisheries with annual harvests of up to 45 000 kg and a commercial fishery with an annual harvest of up to 80 000 kg still exist and are maintained for Lake Sturgeon due primarily to rigid regulations, harvest controls, enforcement, and user involvement. The prognosis for the species is generally good, although habitat loss and maintaining public interest in the species management and recovery continue to be the greatest threats to local and regional populations. Hydropower development, especially in the northern part of the species' range, is especially challenging due to the potential negative impact this type of development can have on a long migrating fish like Lake Sturgeon. Advances in understanding Lake Sturgeon life history, habitat requirements, and distribution within and among water systems has strongly indicated that dams and Lake Sturgeon can coexist, if the correct planning and necessary mitigative techniques are employed at each site on a case-by-case basis. TaxonomyAcipenser fulvescens Rafinesque 1817 AFS English common name: Lake Sturgeon Quebec French vernacular name: esturgeon jaune Other vernacular names: rock sturgeon, common sturgeon, rubbernose U.S.

Sturgeon and paddlefish life history and management: Experts' knowledge and beliefs

“…Subpopulation differentiation in spawning site selection and repeatability can develop even within smaller systems (Forsythe et al., ). However, while pronounced spawning site fidelity in sturgeons is likely, they also tend to switch between different sites within and among rivers between years, and in some cases even within the same year (Bruch et al., ; Sulak et al., ). As hypothesized by Hilton et al.…”

“…According to Bruch et al. (), spawning site fidelity seems to be relatively weaker in systems with a higher number of spawning sites, and there is even a possibility that an apparent strong site fidelity observed in some species may merely have resulted from a limited number of suitable spawning sites within the river (Bruch et al., ).…”

“…According to Bruch et al. (), long‐term tagging studies have demonstrated that lake sturgeon have a potential for extended lifespans, and that ages of more than 150 years are not unreasonable. It is also worth noting that standard age assessments based on bony structures tend to underestimate true age (Bruch, ).…”

“…There is abundant evidence of spawning site fidelity in various sturgeon species (Bruch, Haxton, Koenigs, Welsh, & Kerr, 2016;DeHaan, Libants, Elliott, & Scribner, 2006;Forsythe et al, 2012;Kynard et al, 2016;Pollock et al, 2015;Sulak et al, 2016;Welsh, Hill, Quinlan, Robinson, & May, 2008). In addition, differentiated genetic structure observed in some populations with no visible fragmentation is considered to be another indication of strong spawning site fidelity (Bruch et al, 2016;Hildebrand et al, 2016;Pollock et al, 2015;Sulak et al, 2016). Subpopulation differentiation in spawning site selection and repeatability can develop even within smaller systems (Forsythe et al, 2012).…”

The Laurentian Great Lakes: A case study in ecological disturbance and climate change

“…Concomitantly, Sea Lamprey control has protected Lake Trout and other top predators, and dam removals (and fishways) have restored access to lotic spawning grounds and made hydrology more like that which existed before dam construction in some Great Lakes tributaries (McKenna, Hanak, DeVilbiss, David & Johnson, , for example). Stocking programmes to re‐establish Atlantic Salmon and two species of coregonid (cisco and bloater ( Coregonus hoyi (Milner)) in Lake Ontario and lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) in several areas of the Great Lakes are underway (USGS: https://www.glsc.usgs.gov/06-06-2017/1579675415, accessed on 16 July 2018; Bruch, Haxton, Koenigs, Welsh & Kerr, ).…”