Age-0 Shovelnose Sturgeon prey consumption in the Lower Missouri River
A lack of nutritious food during the first year of life is a hypothesized factor that may limit survival of endangered pallid sturgeonScaphirhynchus albus in the lower Missouri River (LMOR). Unfortunately, information for age-0 pallid sturgeon diets remains limited, but diet analyses for age-0 Scaphirhynchus spp. (sturgeon hereafter) have occurred. Little information, however, exists on age-0 sturgeon diets in the LMOR; thus, our primary objective was to document age-0 sturgeon diets in this system. We examined guts contents from 30 individuals, which were genetically identified as shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, and three stomachs were empty. The remaining age-0 shovelnose sturgeon consumed chironomid larvae almost exclusively (>98% of prey items consumed). Our results were similar to studies conducted in other systems, and it appears unlikely that a lack of nutritious food was a major factor affecting the individuals captured during this study. This effort provides important information to help guide ongoing adaptive management efforts in the LMOR.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2016 |
---|---|
Title | Age-0 Shovelnose Sturgeon prey consumption in the Lower Missouri River |
DOI | 10.1002/rra.3003 |
Authors | N.J.C. Gosch, M.L. Miller, T. R. Gemeinhardt, Trevor A. Starks, A. P. Civiello, James M. Long, J. L. Bonneau |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | River Research and Applications |
Index ID | 70173618 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |