Life History and Migration of Sturgeons in New England Waters
Sturgeons appear in the fossil record as early as the Triassic, 200 million years ago. Although most populations could once tolerate harvesting pressures, most populations have collapsed and nearly all of the 28 species alive today are listed as threatened or endangered. In New England, dams and water regulation challenge population recoveries of the two resident species, the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons. To address these issues, USGS collaborates with federal, state and academic partners to deepen our understanding of basic life histories and to assess impacts of water-use practices and riverine/coastal waterways management of the two New England species. Investigation objectives are designed to meet specific needs of management agencies charged with protecting and restoring sturgeons while contributing to the global understanding of sturgeon life history and conservation.
Sturgeons appear in the fossil record as early as the Triassic, 200 million years ago. Although most populations could once tolerate harvesting pressures, most populations have collapsed and nearly all of the 28 species alive today are listed as threatened or endangered. In New England, dams and water regulation challenge population recoveries of the two resident species, the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons. To address these issues, USGS collaborates with federal, state and academic partners to deepen our understanding of basic life histories and to assess impacts of water-use practices and riverine/coastal waterways management of the two New England species. Investigation objectives are designed to meet specific needs of management agencies charged with protecting and restoring sturgeons while contributing to the global understanding of sturgeon life history and conservation.
Objectives
- Define and measure basic aspects of sturgeon behavior and swimming performance relevant to the design of fish passage structures
- Develop and test new sturgeon passage structure designs
- Determine critical elements of natural migration patterns and fish passage needs of all migratory life stages (early-life stages, juveniles, adults) for shortnose sturgeon.
- Identify critical habitats and behaviors of juvenile shortnose sturgeon
- Identify coastal migrations of Gulf of Maine shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon
- Determine whether the Merrimack and Kennebec River shortnose sturgeon are interbreeding
Sturgeons appear in the fossil record as early as the Triassic, 200 million years ago. Although most populations could once tolerate harvesting pressures, most populations have collapsed and nearly all of the 28 species alive today are listed as threatened or endangered. In New England, dams and water regulation challenge population recoveries of the two resident species, the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons. To address these issues, USGS collaborates with federal, state and academic partners to deepen our understanding of basic life histories and to assess impacts of water-use practices and riverine/coastal waterways management of the two New England species. Investigation objectives are designed to meet specific needs of management agencies charged with protecting and restoring sturgeons while contributing to the global understanding of sturgeon life history and conservation.
Sturgeons appear in the fossil record as early as the Triassic, 200 million years ago. Although most populations could once tolerate harvesting pressures, most populations have collapsed and nearly all of the 28 species alive today are listed as threatened or endangered. In New England, dams and water regulation challenge population recoveries of the two resident species, the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons. To address these issues, USGS collaborates with federal, state and academic partners to deepen our understanding of basic life histories and to assess impacts of water-use practices and riverine/coastal waterways management of the two New England species. Investigation objectives are designed to meet specific needs of management agencies charged with protecting and restoring sturgeons while contributing to the global understanding of sturgeon life history and conservation.
Objectives
- Define and measure basic aspects of sturgeon behavior and swimming performance relevant to the design of fish passage structures
- Develop and test new sturgeon passage structure designs
- Determine critical elements of natural migration patterns and fish passage needs of all migratory life stages (early-life stages, juveniles, adults) for shortnose sturgeon.
- Identify critical habitats and behaviors of juvenile shortnose sturgeon
- Identify coastal migrations of Gulf of Maine shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon
- Determine whether the Merrimack and Kennebec River shortnose sturgeon are interbreeding