Identifying and characterizing juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) occupancy hot spots within the St. Clair-Detroit River System

Over the past two decades, extensive monitoring has been conducted in the St. Clair – Detroit River System to describe spatial and temporal patterns of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). To characterize spatial patterns in juvenile lake sturgeon (5.1 m and odds of occupancy increased with increased water velocity. Juvenile lake sturgeon in the Detroit and St. Clair River ‘hot spots’ were captured at sites with mean benthic water velocities ranging from 0.20–0.60 m/s and where water depth was >7.3 m. Irrespective of waterbody, 69% of all juveniles were detected over dominant sand and gravel substrates. These results provide valuable insight about juvenile habitat use that can help managers formulate effective conservation and restoration strategies supporting the continued recovery of Great Lakes lake sturgeon.