CERC scientists apply advanced measurement and modeling approaches to quantifying habitats in large rivers. Our research has been applied to improving the understanding of the reproductive ecology of the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River.
The Issue: The hypothesis spawning habitat quality may be limiting to pallid sturgeon populations emerged through 1) observations of fish spawning on revetted, outside bends on the channelized Lower Missouri River, and 2) very low rates of wild recruitment. CERC scientists have evaluated the documented spawning habitats on the Lower Missouri River and on the near-natural Yellowstone River.
Addressing the Issue: Spawning habitat characterization starts with knowing locations of reproductive adult pallid sturgeon, provided through coordinated telemetry of tagged adult fish. Selected patches are thoroughly characterized using hydroacoustic techniques including multibeam echo sounding, acoustic Doppler current profiling, high-resolution sidescan sonar, and acoustic video (adaptive resolution imaging sonar [ARIS] and dual-frequency identification sonar [DIDSON]). Substrate at spawning sites is also characterized with conventional sampling using ponar or dredge samplers and benthic imaging.
If spawning is successful (that is, adult males and females aggregate, eggs are released, fertilized, and incubated, and eggs hatch to allow free embryos to enter into their drifting phase), the next hypothesized population limitations are for survival of the free embryos and later stages during their first year. Free embyros drift for 9-11 days and then transition to first feeding. A dominant working hypothesis is that the free embryos are unable to exit the highly hydraulically efficient navigation channel when it is time to transition to feeding and they therefore starve.
For the drift stage, CERC scientists have focused on calibrating and validating 1-dimensional hydraulic advection/dispersion models in coordination with US Army Corps of Engineers partners. This effort involves using rhodamine-WT dye trace experiments to evaluate the critical parameter values in these models related to dispersion processes.
Next Steps: The selected habitats of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers are very different and the hydraulic characteristics of the Yellowstone habitat is being used to help design spawning habitat improvements on the Lower Missouri River. Understanding gained from functional habitats on the Yellowstone River will inform design of rehabilitated habitats on the Lower Missouri River, and lessons learned from branch habitat assessments will be used in developing habitat assessment protocols for experimental implementations.
Return to Sturgeon Ecology
Return to Threatened and Endangered Species
Return to Large River Ecology, Restoration, and Management
Return to River Studies
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP)
Pallid Sturgeon Early Life
Adult Pallid Sturgeon Reproductive Ecology
Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) and Adaptive Management
- Overview
CERC scientists apply advanced measurement and modeling approaches to quantifying habitats in large rivers. Our research has been applied to improving the understanding of the reproductive ecology of the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River.
The Issue: The hypothesis spawning habitat quality may be limiting to pallid sturgeon populations emerged through 1) observations of fish spawning on revetted, outside bends on the channelized Lower Missouri River, and 2) very low rates of wild recruitment. CERC scientists have evaluated the documented spawning habitats on the Lower Missouri River and on the near-natural Yellowstone River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.R/V Whiskey One is shown equipped with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and precision GPS for surveying the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers in Montana and North Dakota.(Public domain.) Addressing the Issue: Spawning habitat characterization starts with knowing locations of reproductive adult pallid sturgeon, provided through coordinated telemetry of tagged adult fish. Selected patches are thoroughly characterized using hydroacoustic techniques including multibeam echo sounding, acoustic Doppler current profiling, high-resolution sidescan sonar, and acoustic video (adaptive resolution imaging sonar [ARIS] and dual-frequency identification sonar [DIDSON]). Substrate at spawning sites is also characterized with conventional sampling using ponar or dredge samplers and benthic imaging.
If spawning is successful (that is, adult males and females aggregate, eggs are released, fertilized, and incubated, and eggs hatch to allow free embryos to enter into their drifting phase), the next hypothesized population limitations are for survival of the free embryos and later stages during their first year. Free embyros drift for 9-11 days and then transition to first feeding. A dominant working hypothesis is that the free embryos are unable to exit the highly hydraulically efficient navigation channel when it is time to transition to feeding and they therefore starve.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Particle dispersion model for the Lisbon-Jameson chute on the Missouri River at a water discharge of 247,000 cubic feet per second. (Public domain.) For the drift stage, CERC scientists have focused on calibrating and validating 1-dimensional hydraulic advection/dispersion models in coordination with US Army Corps of Engineers partners. This effort involves using rhodamine-WT dye trace experiments to evaluate the critical parameter values in these models related to dispersion processes.
Next Steps: The selected habitats of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers are very different and the hydraulic characteristics of the Yellowstone habitat is being used to help design spawning habitat improvements on the Lower Missouri River. Understanding gained from functional habitats on the Yellowstone River will inform design of rehabilitated habitats on the Lower Missouri River, and lessons learned from branch habitat assessments will be used in developing habitat assessment protocols for experimental implementations.
Return to Sturgeon Ecology
Return to Threatened and Endangered Species
Return to Large River Ecology, Restoration, and Management
Return to River Studies
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP)
The Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) is a multidisciplinary project conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri River Recovery Program–Integrated Science Program. CERC scientists are working with river scientists and managers to develop methods, baseline information, and research approaches that are critical contributions to recovery success of the...Pallid Sturgeon Early Life
CERC biologists focus on improving understanding of biomechanics of eggs, free embryos, and larvae through direct observation and measurement. An improved understanding of biomechanics – how biotic conditions and processes interact with physical processes to result in changes in survival – is necessary to create quantitative links between management actions and population-level results.Adult Pallid Sturgeon Reproductive Ecology
CERC fish biologists study migrations, reproductive cues, and spawning behaviors of reproductive wild and hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon (HOPS) in the Missouri River Basin.Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) and Adaptive Management
This project centers on assimilation of data, interpretation of results, updating quantitative models, and providing policy-neutral, high-quality information to the agencies and stakeholders in the Missouri River Basin.