Shovelnose Sturgeon Spawning in Relation to Varying Discharge Treatments in a Missouri River Tributary
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS River Res. Applic. (2012) Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2587 SHOVELNOSE STURGEON SPAWNING IN RELATION TO VARYING DISCHARGE TREATMENTS IN A MISSOURI RIVER TRIBUTARY B. J. GOODMANa*,†, C. S. GUYb, S. L. CAMPc, W. M. GARDNERd, K. M. KAPPENMANe and M. A. H. WEBBe a Department of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA b US Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Department of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA c US Bureau of Reclamation, Boise, ID, USA d Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, PO Box 938, Lewistown, MT, USA e Bozeman Fish Technology Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bozeman, MT, USA ABSTRACT Many lotic fish species use natural patterns of variation in discharge and temperature as spawning cues, and these natural patterns are often altered by river regulation. The effects of spring discharge and water temperature variation on the spawning of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus have not been well documented. From 2006 through 2009, we had the opportunity to study the effects of experimental discharge levels on shovelnose sturgeon spawning in the lower Marias River, a regulated tributary to the Missouri River in Montana. In 2006, shovelnose sturgeon spawned in the Marias River in conjunction with the ascending, peak (134 m3/s) and descending portions of the spring hydrograph and water temperatures from 16 Cto19C. In 2008, shovelnose sturgeon spawned in conjunction with thepeak(118m3/s) and descending portions of the spring hydrograph and during a prolonged period of increased discharge (28–39 m3/s), coupled with water temperatures from 11 Cto23C in the lower Marias River.
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