Understanding sturgeon life history: Enigmas, myths, and insights from scientific studies

Sulak, Kenneth J.; Randall, Michael T.

doi:10.1046/j.1439-0426.2002.00413.x

Cited by 58 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…A large proportion (17-97%) of the sturgeon we sampled, particularly those taken in the late fall (November 2000), had empty stomachs. A life history pattern which involves fasting during the majority of the year with brief but intensive feeding periods has been reported for other sturgeon species (Sulak and Randall 2002). We suspect however, that our results may also be an artifact of sampling and handling.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Do sturgeon limit burrowing shrimp populations in Pacific Northwest Estuaries?

2008

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Green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, and white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, are frequent inhabitants of coastal estuaries from northern California, USA to British Columbia, Canada. An analysis of stomach contents from 95 green sturgeon and six white sturgeon commercially landed in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia River estuary during 2000-2005 revealed that 17-97% had empty stomachs, but those fish with items in their guts fed predominantly on benthic prey items and fish. Burrowing thalassinid shrimp (mostly Neotrypaea californiensis) were important food items for both white and especially for green sturgeon taken in Willapa Bay, Washington during summer 2003, where they represented 51% of the biomass ingested (84.9% IRI). Small pits observed in intertidal areas dominated by these shrimp, are likely made by these sturgeon and we present evidence from exclusion studies and field observation that the predator making the pits can have a significant cumulative negative effect on burrowing shrimp density. These burrowing shrimp present a threat to the aquaculture industry in Washington State due to their ability to de-stabilize the substrate on which shellfish are grown. Despite an active burrowing shrimp control program in these estuaries, it seems unlikely that current burrowing shrimp abundance and availability as food is a limiting factor for threatened green sturgeon stocks. However, these large predators may have performed an important top down control function on shrimp populations in the past when they were more abundant.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Do sturgeon limit burrowing shrimp populations in Pacific Northwest Estuaries?

2008

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“…During each trial, an individual naïve white sturgeon (mean length ¼ 49.6 6 4 cm FL; mean weight ¼ 18.1 6 0.47 kg) was stocked and confined to the downstream half of the raceway equipped with the electrical sea lion barrier system and four PIT tag antennas; the fish was allowed to acclimate for 24 h. Fish were confined to ensure that initial fish movement would mimic important upstream migration patterns commonly observed for spawning (Bemis and Kynard 1997;Pavlov et al 2001;Brunch and Binkowski 2002;Hatin et al 2002) and feeding (Bajkov 1951;Sulak and Randall 2002;Harris et al 2005;Ruban 2005). After the 24-h acclimation period, the fish was released from confinement within the raceway with the electric system turned off.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and Physiological Response of White Sturgeon to an Electrical Sea Lion Barrier System

et al. 2009

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Action agencies have encouraged the development of a modified electrical fish barrier system to deter upstream movements of California sea lions Zalophus californianus as a means to reduce their predation on returning adult Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. within rivers along the West Coast of North America. Given that the barrier system does not discriminate which species will experience electrical shock, we studied the potential effects of the sea lion barrier on the survival, behavior, physiology, and injury of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus. Fish subjected to acute electroshock had high survival (100%). Conversely, fish that became entrained within the electric field and therefore experienced chronic electroshock had lower survival (93%). White sturgeon altered their behavior by spending significantly more time avoiding the area over the barrier when electrical power was applied as compared with controls. Fish that experienced acute electroshock spent more time remaining motionless, presumably recovering from physiological disturbance. Our results indicate that white sturgeon had significantly higher plasma lactate than controls and that lactate remained at elevated levels for at least 4 h after electroshock. Plasma glucose, ion concentrations (chloride, sodium, and potassium), and indicators of cell damage (plasma hemoglobin and enzyme activity of aspartate transaminase) did not differ between electroshocked fish and controls. We did not observe any notable hemorrhages or notochord injuries in white sturgeon that experienced electrical shock. Our results suggest that the location for the electrical barrier system should be rigorously examined before barrier deployment and that the dates, frequency, and duration of use should be further refined to ensure that negative effects on nontarget species such as white sturgeon are minimized.

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“…Model results allowed us to assess how changes in thermal experience, spawning, and time spent feeding in Willapa Bay influence the consumption rate required for green sturgeon to achieve their observed growth. Because seasonal feeding in estuaries may explain how sturgeon meet growth requirements (Sulak and Randall 2002), and in order to estimate upper bounds of burrowing shrimp consumption, we assumed feeding on burrowing shrimp during estuarine residence supports 100% of the annual growth for different ageclasses of green sturgeon. During other parts of the year in the colder coastal ocean, we assumed feeding on alternative prey is sufficient to support metabolic demand and maintain body weight.…”

Section: Bioenergetics Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous species of sturgeon display patterns of seasonal growth and fasting, where feeding during the growing season must compensate for metabolic costs during the rest of the year (Sulak and Randall 2002). The consistent recurrence of green sturgeon in estuaries suggests that estuarine habitats provide an important opportunity for growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energetic requirements of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) feeding on burrowing shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) in estuaries: importance of temperature, reproductive investment, and residence time

et al. 2017

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Habitat use can be complex, as tradeoffs among physiology, resource abundance, and predator avoidance affect the suitability of different environments for different species. Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), an imperiled species along the west coast of North America, undertake extensive coastal migrations and occupy estuaries during the summer and early fall. Warm water and abundant prey in estuaries may afford a growth opportunity. We applied a bioenergetics model to investigate how variation in estuarine temperature, spawning frequency, and duration of estuarine residence affect consumption and growth potential for individual green sturgeon. We assumed that green sturgeon achieve observed annual growth by feeding solely in conditions represented by Willapa Bay, Washington, an estuary annually frequented by green sturgeon and containing extensive tidal flats that harbor a major prey source (burrowing shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis). Modeled consumption rates increased little with reproductive investment (<0.4%), but responded strongly (10-50%) to water temperature and duration of residence, as higher temperatures and longer residence Environ Biol Fish (2017) required greater consumption to achieve equivalent growth. Accordingly, although green sturgeon occupy Willapa Bay from May through September, acoustically-tagged individuals are observed over much shorter durations (34 d + 41 d SD, N = 89). Simulations of <34 d estuarine residence required unrealistically high consumption rates to achieve observed growth, whereas longer durations required sustained feeding, and therefore higher total intake, to compensate for prolonged exposure to warm temperatures. Model results provide a range of per capita consumption rates by green sturgeon feeding in estuaries to inform management decisions regarding resource and habitat protection for this protected species.

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Understanding sturgeon life history: Enigmas, myths, and insights from scientific studies

Cited by 58 publications

References 28 publications

Do sturgeon limit burrowing shrimp populations in Pacific Northwest Estuaries?

Do sturgeon limit burrowing shrimp populations in Pacific Northwest Estuaries?

Behavioral and Physiological Response of White Sturgeon to an Electrical Sea Lion Barrier System

Energetic requirements of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) feeding on burrowing shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) in estuaries: importance of temperature, reproductive investment, and residence time

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