|
Lake
Sturgeon
(Acipenser fulvescens) spawning habitat and biology
in
Rainy Lake
,
Minnesota
and
Ontario
David
Willis
South Dakota
State
University
Department
of Wildlife & Fisheries Science
Larry Kallemeyn
USGS-BRD
Abstract: The
lake sturgeon is a state-listed Species of Special Concern in
Minnesota
. Abundance of this fish in
the border waters of
Minnesota
and
Ontario
, including those now in
Voyageurs
National Park
, was severely reduced by
commercial fishing and dam construction in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries.
Management, including possible rehabilitation of the
remnant populations that exist, is hampered by lack of knowledge
of the number of sturgeon remaining and their habitat
requirements. This
study proposes to obtain estimates of the relative size of the
population, identify spawning habitat, and assess the continuing
effects of the dam operations on that habitat in
Rainy Lake
.
Radio/acoustic telemetry, mark and recapture using
plastic disk tags, and netting surveys will be the primary sampling
methods used in the study. In
addition to SDSU, agencies involved in the study will include
USGS-BRD,
Voyageurs National Park
,
Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources. The
results will provide the resource agencies with baseline
information against which future populations changes can be
assessed and allow them to develop specific water management
models that will be beneficial to the lake sturgeon.
Funding
Agency: National
Park Service
Modification
#: J6820031002
($16,330);
mod/0001 ($17,480)
$33,810
Effective
Dates:
January 1, 2003
through
December 31, 2004
Final Abstract,
Publications:
Adams, W.E., Kallemeyn, L.W., Willis, D.W. 2006.
Lake sturgeon population characteristics in Rainy Lake,
Minnesota and Ontario. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 22 (2006),
97-102. |
