Female pallid sturgeon PLS09-011 was originally implanted with telemetry devices in the fall of 2009 as a non-reproductive female. She was targeted for recapture and determined to be in reproductive condition in March, 2012 (see the previous post Meet the Ladies of 2012). Since the time of her last reproductive assessment, the Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) biologists have been closely monitoring the movements of PLS09-011 in the Missouri River. She weighs approximately ten pounds, giving her the ability to travel long distances in a short period of time. In the beginning of April, PLS09-11 was located at river mile (RM) 591.6 (roughly four miles downstream of the Platte River confluence with the Missouri River). On April 18, 2012, tracking crews located PLS09-011 at RM 633.9, 42.3 miles upstream from her location at the beginning of the month. To date, her most rapid movement occurred between the dates of April 13-17, when she moved approximately 30 miles in just four days! Biologists will continue to watch PLS09-0011 throughout the spring in an attempt to document spawning.
Telemetry locations of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-011 from March 1 to April 16, 2012.
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