Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River: Annual Report 2009

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri River Recovery–Integrated Science Program U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Yankton, South Dakota

Open-File Report 2010–1215

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover background. Research vessels tracking telemetry tagged pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River during a high water event in 2009.

Cover left. Biologist Sabrina Davenport evaluates the reproductive condition of an adult pallid sturgeon using a portable ultrasound unit.

Cover middle. Multibeam bathymetric map of probable spawning habitat used by pallid sturgeon female PLS09-007 in the Lower Missouri River.

Cover right. Acipensiformes larvae collected in the Lower Missouri River downstream from an observed aggregation of tagged pallid sturgeon. Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River: Annual Report 2009

By Aaron J. DeLonay, Robert B. Jacobson, Diana M. Papoulias, Mark. L. Wildhaber, Kimberly A. Chojnacki, Emily K. Pherigo, Casey L. Bergthold, and Gerald E. Mestl

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri River Recovery–Integrated Science Program U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Yankton, South Dakota

Open-File Report 2010–1215

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

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Suggested citation: DeLonay, A.J., Jacobson, R.B., Papoulias, D.M., Wildhaber M.L., Chojnacki, K.A., Pherigo, E.K., Bergthold, C.L., and Mestl, G.E., 2010, Ecological requirements for pallid sturgeon reproduction and recruitment in the Lower Missouri River: Annual report 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1215, 64 p. iii

Contents

Abstract...... 1 Introduction...... 1 Scope of Work...... 2 Hydroclimatic Conditions During 2009 Field Work...... 2 Accomplishments and Products...... 5 Future Research into Reproductive Ecology of Missouri River Pallid Sturgeon...... 10 Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress...... 10 Task 1. Movement, Habitat Use, and Reproductive Behavior of Shovelnose Sturgeon and Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River...... 10 Background...... 10 Scope and Objectives...... 11 Methods...... 11 Results ...... 12 Discussion...... 19 Summary and Conclusions...... 19 Task 2. Reproductive Physiology to Support Assessment of the Importance of Spring Flows, Temperature, and Photoperiod to Successful Pallid Sturgeon Spawning in the Missouri River...... 20 Background...... 20 Scope and Objectives...... 20 Methods...... 20 Results ...... 21 Discussion...... 25 Summary and Conclusions...... 25 Task 3. Quantify Pallid Sturgeon Migration and Spawning Habitat...... 25 Background...... 25 Scope and Objectives...... 26 Methods...... 26 Results ...... 26 Discussion...... 58 Summary and Conclusions...... 58 Task 4. Provide Database Integration, GIS Support, and Report Coordination...... 58 Background...... 58 Scope and Objectives...... 59 Methods...... 59 Results ...... 60 Discussion...... 60 Conclusions...... 61 Acknowledgements...... 62 References Cited...... 62 iv

Figures

1. Map showing Missouri River Basin and major tributary rivers (upper map) with the Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project study areas and 2009 probable spawning sites (lower map)...... 3 2. Graph showing 2009 Lower Missouri River hydrograph with water temperature...... 4 3. Graph showing length-weight relation of hatchery-released, unknown, and wild pallid sturgeon collected during 2007, 2008, and 2009 spring sampling efforts in both the upper and lower study sections...... 12 4. Map and graph showing movement range of pallid sturgeon PLS09-007. Depth and temperature recorded from data storage tags (DST), discharge from the nearest gage, and telemetry locations for implanted gravid pallid sturgeon PLS09-007...... 15 5. Map and graph showing movement range of pallid sturgeon PLS09-009. Temperature and discharge from the nearest upstream gage and telemetry locations for implanted gravid pallid sturgeon PLS09-009...... 16 6–8 Graphs showing—...... 17 6. Telemetry locations of gravid female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009 and reproductive male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, PLS07-020, and PLS08-036 showing probable spawning aggregations...... 17 7. Telemetry locations for implanted pallid sturgeon PLS08-002, PLS08-006, PLS08-012, PLS08-014, and PLS08-015...... 18 8. Female pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 in the Missouri River...... 22 9. Boxplot showing male pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 in the Missouri River...... 23 10. Graph showing hormone levels on day of capture for reproductive pallid sturgeon captured in 2006–09 in two sections of the Missouri River, and discharge and temperature profiles in these river sections...... 24 11–40 Maps showing—...... 28 11. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-004, acoustic tag 1048...... 28 12. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047...... 29 13. Single-beam depth with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047...... 30 14. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047...... 31 15. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802...... 32 v

16. Single-beam depth with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802...... 33 17. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802...... 34 18. Single-beam depth with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-008, acoustic tag 1046...... 35 19. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-008, acoustic tag 1046...... 36 20. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 37 21. Single-beam depth with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 38 22. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 39 23. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 40 24. Single-beam depth with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 41 25. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 42 26. Multibeam bathymetry with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 43 27. Single-beam depth with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 44 28. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 45 29. Multibeam bathymetry with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 46 30. Single-beam depth with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604 along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 47 31. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604 along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 48 vi

32. Multibeam bathymetry with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 49 33. Single-beam depth with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 50 34. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036...... 51 35. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 52 36. Single-beam depth with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 53 37. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 54 38. Multibeam bathymetry with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 55 39. Single-beam depth with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 56 40. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity with location of migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500...... 57 41. Diagram of the database platform illustrating data outflow and data inflow...... 59 42. An example of the Individual Fish Summary report generated via the user interface...... 61

Tables

1. Missouri River Sturgeon Project Products, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 2009...... 6 2. Numbers of pallid sturgeon implanted with transmitters and recaptured in two Lower Missouri River study sections, 2005-09...... 13 3. Dates and information on detailed habitat assessments, 2009...... 27 vii

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain Length mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Flow rate cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain Length micrometer (µm) 0.0000397 inch (in.) millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.) centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.) meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi) meter (m) 1.094 yard (yd) Area square meter (m2) 10.76 square foot (ft2) hectare (ha) 0.003861 square mile (mi2) square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2) Volume cubic meter (m3) 264.2 gallon (gal) cubic meter (m3) 35.31 cubic foot (ft3) cubic meter (m3) 1.308 cubic yard (yd3) Flow rate meter per second (m/s) 3.281 foot per second (ft/s) cubic meter per second (m3/s) 35.31 cubic foot per second (ft3/s) Mass gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz) kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

To communicate effectively with stakeholders, managers, and other scientists working on the Lower Missouri River, this report uses a mix of U.S. customary units and International System of Units (SI) units of measure. Distances along the Missouri River are given in river miles upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri, as measured by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1960. Discharges are provided in the customary units of cubic feet per second. Reach-scale hydraulic variables—depth and velocity—are in SI units of meters and meters per second. Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84) viii Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River: Annual Report 2009

By Aaron J. DeLonay1, Robert B. Jacobson1, Diana M. Papoulias1, Mark. L. Wildhaber1, Kimberly A. Chojnacki1, Emily K. Pherigo1, Casey L. Berthold2, and Gerald E. Mestl2

Abstract for January 1 through December 31, 2009. CSRP is an interagency collaboration of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), The Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the U.S. Army multiyear, multiagency collaborative research framework Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Recovery – Integrated developed to provide information to support pallid sturgeon Science Program. The goal of CSRP is to improve the recovery and Missouri River management decisions. The fundamental understanding of the reproductive ecology of general Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project strategy the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) to better inform is to integrate field and laboratory studies of sturgeon river and species management decisions. Specific objectives reproductive ecology, habitat requirements, and physiology include: to produce a predictive understanding of sturgeon population dynamics. The project scope of work is developed annually • Determining movement, habitat-use, and reproductive with cooperating research partners and in collaboration behavior of pallid sturgeon; with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri River • Understanding reproductive physiology of pallid Recovery—Integrated Science Program. The research consists sturgeon and relations to environmental conditions; of several interdependent and complementary research tasks engaging multiple disciplines that primarily address spawning • Determining origin, transport, and fate of drifting as a probable limiting factor in reproduction and survival pallid sturgeon larvae and evaluate bottlenecks for of the pallid sturgeon. The research is multifaceted and is recruitment of early life stages; designed to provide information needed for management decisions impacting habitat restoration, flow modification, • Quantifying availability and dynamics of aquatic and pallid sturgeon population augmentation on the Missouri habitats needed by pallid sturgeon for all life stages; River, and throughout the range of the species. Research and activities and progress towards understanding of the species • Managing databases, integrating understanding, and are reported to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annually. publishing relevant information into the public domain. This annual report details the research effort and progress made by Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project during Management actions to increase reproductive success and survival of pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River 2009. have been focused on flow regime, channel morphology, and propagation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003). Since 2005, scientists at the USGS have been engaged in an Introduction interdisciplinary research program initiated at the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). CSRP was This report documents research activities under designed to assess how different life stages and essential the Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) activities of sturgeon respond to a range of ecological factors.

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201 2 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE 68503 2 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

CSRP has evolved into an interagency collaboration of the fish movement in relation to flow, temperature, and USGS, NGPC, USFWS, and the USACE Missouri River turbidity in using upstream and downstream sections Recovery – Integrated Science Program. CSRP research is of the river for comparison. intended to provide managers with improved understanding of linkages among flow regime, reengineered channel 2. Coordinated physiological studies on tracked fish morphology, and pallid sturgeon reproduction and survival. to develop critical links between environment (for CSRP direction has been guided by results of sturgeon example, flow pulses, turbidity, and temperature) and research workshops convened in 2004 (Quist and others, reproductive readiness will be continued. The nature 2004) and 2007 (Bergman and others, 2008), by hypotheses of these linkages will ultimately show the extent to that emerged about the role of a naturalized flow regime in which flow management can affect reproduction of pallid sturgeon reproduction during a series of workshops in pallid sturgeon. The proposed research included 2005 (Jacobson and Galat, 2008), and by feedback from an developing understanding of (a) how environmental independent science review (Sustainable Ecosystems Institute, variability may act as a reproductive cue or as a 2008). Research objectives also have emphasized science source of stress that inhibits reproduction and (b) information gaps related to priority management issues, multi-year processes that may act to set up a fish’s including understanding the role of pulsed flow releases from reproductive physiology and success. Gavins Point Dam and Fort Peck Dam, and understanding the 3. Proposed in coordinated habitat studies to employ functions of constructed shallow-water habitat in the sturgeon a new, high-resolution mapping protocol to assess life cycle. demonstrated spawning patches as well as other The CSRP research approach integrates opportunistic habitats that may be limiting to reproduction and field studies, field-based experiments, and controlled survival of the pallid sturgeon. This research was laboratory studies. The field study plan is designed to intended to provide a uniquely detailed understanding explore the role of flow regime and associated environmental of spawning habitat in the river and to address how cues using two complementary approaches. An upstream- migration pathways may energetically limit pallid downstream approach compares sturgeon reproductive sturgeon reproduction. behavior between an upstream section of the Lower Missouri River (fig. 1) with highly altered flow regime and a 4. Integrated database management aspects for all downstream section that maintains much of its preregulation tasks, outreach efforts, and report production will be flow variability (Galat and Lipkin, 2000). The upstream continued as critical aspects of the CSRP. A major section includes an experimental approach to compare effort in 2009 was directed at analyzing, writing, reproductive behavior in years with pulsed flow releases to and publishing results from previous years so peer- years without. reviewed scientific information would be available in the public domain to inform management decisions (DeLonay and others, 2009). Scope of Work The 2009 scope of work was followed with only minor deviations. The number of reproductive pallid sturgeon The 2009 CSRP approved scope of work included four that were available for telemetry studies was limited to interrelated tasks. Division of CSRP research into tasks eight (two females, six males) because of difficulties in was for convenience in understanding the relations among catching reproductive fish early in the spring. Opportunities scientific efforts and for budgeting internal to the CSRP; to characterize habitats during spawning migrations were the four tasks presented in 2009 were highly interdependent limited because pallid sturgeon in reproductive condition and designed to provide the maximum information for rarely were encountered and implanted late in the spawning understanding reproductive ecology of the pallid sturgeon. season. Reproductive adults migrated only short distances Tasks for 2009 included: after implantation and spawning occurred soon after tagging. 1. Proposed in collaboration with NGPC to track Efforts to capture larval fish downstream from spawning over 80 pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri patches were limited by high water and unsafe River to determine behavior during spawning and boating conditions. nonspawning life stages; to do high-frequency intensive tracking on at least two but no more than five reproductive pallid sturgeon in each of two river Hydroclimatic Conditions During 2009 segments, depending on availability of fish; and to increase emphasis on spawning verification through Field Work dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) acoustic camera deployment and larval sampling. Runoff during water year 2009 upstream from Gavins The experimental design continues to characterize Point Dam (October 2008 – September 2009) was 133 percent Hydroclimatic Conditions During 2009 Field Work 3

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Base data from the National Atlas, 2006 Universal Transverse Mercator projection Zone 15

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EXPLANATION Figure 1. Missouri River Basin and major tributary rivers Lower study section Upper study section (upper map) with the Comprehensive Sturgeon Research 38°0' Probable spawning site Project study areas and 2009 probable spawning sites (lower map). 4 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River of average. Reservoir levels were considered sufficient to by the Corps of Engineers beginning about May 17. The provide for pulsed-flow releases1 from Gavins Point Dam pulsed release consisted of an increase of 6,000 ft3/s over the to support spring rises in March and May for sturgeon (U.S. prevailing discharge of about 17,000 ft3/s. The pulse was held Army Corps of Engineers, 2008). The March 2009 pulsed- at 23,000 ft3/s for 2 days and then decreased over 7 days to flow release was cancelled, however, because of high rainfall 17,000 ft3/s. The May pulsed release from Gavins Point Dam forecast for the Missouri River Basin in the vicinity of was largely attenuated downstream from the Platte River, Kansas City, Mo. Although there was no intentional pulsed- Nebr., resulting in only a relatively small rise. Water releases flow release from Gavins Point Dam to support sturgeon from Gavins Point Dam and discharges in the Missouri River reproduction, the late-March increase in discharge released upstream from the Kansas River were steady and somewhat from the dam to support navigation created a modest spring above average for the remainder of the year. Storage in the rise (fig. 2). Discharges from the dam increased by 3,000 reservoir system was sufficient to support full navigation- cubic feet per day (ft3/s) per day for 2 days and 2,000 ft3/s on season releases from Gavins Point Dam from July 1 to the third day from 11,000 ft3/s on March 18 to 19,000 ft3/s December 1. on March 20, 2009. Beginning on March 24, the release Discharges were relatively high and highly variable on was reduced over the next 4 days to 15,500 ft3/s after which the Missouri River downstream from the Kansas River (fig. it increased over the next 5 days to 18,000 ft3/s (fig. 2). A 2). Eight separate natural flow pulses in excess of 50,000 ft3/s May pulsed release from Gavins Point Dam was provided occurred between January 1 and December 1, 2009. Peak

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River Discharges Water Temperatures Gavins Point Dam releases Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa Boonville, Missouri Nebraska City, Nebraska Boonville, Missouri

Figure 2. 2009 Lower Missouri River hydrograph with water temperature. Data from U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS), available at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis.

1 Standardized environmental hydrology vocabulary has been established by The Nature Conservancy and implemented worldwide (Mathews and Richter, 2007; Richter and Thomas, 2007). In this vocabulary, a pulse is any short-term, wave-like increase and fall of river discharge, whether natural or arising from an intentional reservoir release. To differentiate between natural and intentional pulsed releases, pulsed-flow release was used to describe the latter. The term spring rise was used to describe any increase in discharge over prevailing low-water discharge; the concept of spring rise includes natural pulses, pulsed-flow releases, and step-like increases to a sustained discharge like those used to support navigation. Accomplishments and Products 5 discharge at Boonville, Missouri, occurred April 30 and May information indicates that patterns of migratory behavior of 1 and equaled 269,000 ft3/s between a 2- and 5-year return- pallid sturgeon are similar to shovelnose sturgeon. Although interval flood. Floods in mid-May and mid-June were at information collected during 2009 is consistent with the or above a 2-year return-interval discharge. Because of the 2005-08 data, additional information will narrow the time concentration of rainfall in tributaries downstream from the period, spatial extent, and range of environmental conditions Platte River during 2009, the upstream sample of tagged fish associated with successful spawning. experienced much less hydrologic variability—fewer and Spawning habitats documented during 2009 support substantially smaller pulses—than the downstream results from 2005-08 and serve to narrow and quantify sample (fig. 2). spawning conditions. Similar to results in 2008, the 2009 spawning habitat patch documented in the downstream section was on the outside of a revetted bend, with deep Accomplishments and Products (greater than 3 meters (m)), relatively fast (greater than 1 meter per second (m/s)), and turbulent flow. In the upstream A CSRP report published in 2009 synthesized 4 years of section, spawning movements were highly variable. Two field and experimental information on sturgeon reproductive habitat patches were identified from movements of one ecology (DeLonay and others, 2009). The report concluded female, but spawning was not verified and it is not clear at that converging lines of evidence support the hypothesis which site spawning occurred. Coincidently, the locations that maturation and readiness to spawn in female sturgeon on the upper river were not as clearly associated with the is set up many months before spawning, likely cued by day fastest, deepest available water. If revetted outside bends length. Moreover, data collected during 2005-08 indicated are confirmed as habitats conducive to successful spawning, that among suspected short-term cues for ovulation— it would follow that spawning habitat may not be a limiting water temperature, water discharge, and day of year—only factor in pallid sturgeon reproduction in the Lower Missouri water temperature had a consistent relation to reproductive River. Habitat studies in 2009 also characterized a limited indicators and spawning behaviors. This support is based on number of fish during upstream migration. In contrast to tracking records, reproductive physiology data, and habitat-use spawning sturgeon, these data support the hypothesis that information for hundreds of reproductive shovelnose sturgeon migrating sturgeon utilize lower velocity habitats on inside (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus), but only six gravid pallid bends, presumably to minimize energy expenditure (Reuter sturgeon that were tracked in 2007 and 2008. Moreover, field and others, 2009). Channel modifications that impede or studies were conducted during 4 years with extremely variable slow migration may influence the location, timing, and hydrology that precluded well-controlled field experiments synchronization of aggregation and spawning. Increased (DeLonay and others, 2009). Results of reproductive energy expenditure during upstream migration may reduce a pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 tend to support our 2005- fish’s reproductive capacity. Additional coordinated tracking, 08 results, but numbers of fish studied are still relatively habitat assessments, and physiological studies could indicate small, behavioral variability is large, and, therefore, the whether channel reengineering of the Lower Missouri River replication achieved through 2009 is unlikely to be considered could increase low-energy migration pathways and increase scientifically definitive. Increased certainty in understanding reproductive success. the environmental factors that support reproduction of pallid During 2009, project scientists published results in sturgeon will require additional replications of detailed field several venues and presented results at many regional, studies, well-controlled field experiments (for example, pulsed national, and international scientific meetings. Project flow modifications from Gavins Point Dam), and focused scientists also provided input into management discussions laboratory studies. numerous times at the request of the USACE, other Federal Data synthesized and reported from 2005–08 (DeLonay and State agencies, and stakeholders. and others, 2009) and new information from 2009 show The most extensive accomplishment in 2009 was the consistent patterns of upstream spawning migrations in which 2008 annual project report (DeLonay and others, 2009). At sturgeon appear to be spawning at many locations and over the request of the Missouri River Recovery – Integrated a period of 1 to 2 months. Movement patterns vary between Science Program, the 2008 report was expanded into a 4-year sexes. Female sturgeon generally move upstream and appear synthesis. Because of the scope and potential importance, the to spawn at the apex of their migration, whereas, males report was published as a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific migrate upstream to one or several spawning locations or Investigations Report and received broad and detailed remain relatively sedentary. Environmental changes, such as technical and editorial reviews. This additional effort delayed temperature fluctuations or extreme flow events, may slow publication until fall of 2009. Additional products delivered or or disrupt spawning migrations or inhibit spawning. Limited published during 2009 are in the following table. 6 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Table 1. Missouri River Sturgeon Project Products, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 2009.

Publications (alphabetical order by author last name) Author Title Source Braaten, P.J., Fuller, D.B., Lott, R.D., and An estimate of the historic population size of Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 25 Jordan, G.R. adult pallid sturgeon in the upper Missouri (supplement 2), p. 2–7 River Basin, Montana and North Dakota DeLonay, A.J., Jacobson, R.B., Papoulias, Ecological requirements for pallid sturgeon U.S. Geological Survey Scientific D.M., Simpkins, D.G., Wildhaber, M.L., reproduction and recruitment in the Lower Investigations Report 2009-5201, 59 p. Reuter, J.M., Bonnot, T.W., Chojnacki, Missouri River—A research synthesis K.A., Mestl, G.E., and Mac, M.J. 2005–08 Elliott, C.M., Reuter, J.M., and Jacobson, Channel morphodynamics in four reaches of U.S. Geological Survey Scientific R.B. the Lower Missouri River, 2006-07 Investigations Report 2009-5074, 258 p. Elliott, C.M., Huhmann, B.L., and Jacobson, Geomorphic classification of the Lower U.S. Geological Survey Scientific R.B. Platte River, Nebraska Investigations Report 2009-5198, 29 p. Guy, C.S., Braaten, P.J., Herzog, D.P., Pitlo, Warmwater fish in rivers in Bonar, S.A., American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Md., J. and Rogers, R.S. Hubert, W.A., and Willis, D.W., eds., August, 2009, p. 59–84. Standard methods for sampling North American freshwater fishes Holan, S.H., Davis, G.M., Wildhaber, M.L., Hierarchical Bayesian Markov switching Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: DeLonay, A.J., and Papoulias, D.M. models with application to predicting Series C (Applied Statistics). 2009, 58, spawning success of shovelnose sturgeon. Part 1, pp. 1–18. Jacobson, R.B., Blevins, D.W., and Bitner, Sediment regime constraints on river Geological Society of America Special Paper C.J. restoration—An example from the 451 , p. 1-22, Contact R.B. Jacobson at Lower Missouri River, in James, L.A., [email protected] Rathburn, S.L., and Whittecar, G.R. eds., Management and restoration of fluvial systems with broad historical changes and human impacts Jacobson, R.B., Johnson, H.E., III, and Hydrodynamic simulations of physical U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Dietsch, B.J. aquatic habitat availability for pallid Investigations Report 2009-5058, 67 p., sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River, at Yankton, South Dakota, Kenslers Bend, Nebraska, Little Sioux, Iowa, and Miami, Missouri, 2006-07 Reuter, J.M., Jacobson, R.B., Elliott, C.M., Assessment of Lower Missouri River U.S. Geological Survey Scientific and DeLonay, A.J. physical aquatic habitat and its use by Investigations Report 2009-5121, 81 p. adult sturgeon (genus Scaphirhynchus) 2005-07 Agency Reports Bryan, J.L., M.L. Wildhaber, D.Gladish, S. The power to detect trends in Missouri River 2009 Holan, M. Ellersieck fish populations within the Pallid Sturgeon Administrative Report, 419 p. Population Assessment Program. Presentations (ordered by date with oldest first) Kruse, C., M.R.,Drobish, T.L, Welker M.P., Standardized pallid sturgeon and fish February 2-4, 2009 Ruggles, T. Haddix, S. Krentz, R.Wilson, community monitoring in the Missouri Annual Meeting of the Minnesota R. Klumb, D. Shuman, S.Stukel, S.LaBay, River Basin. Chapter of the American Fisheries J. Kral, K. Steffensen, G.E. Mestl, P. Society, Duluth, Minn. Horner, D. Niswonger, W.J. Doyle, A Plauck, T.D. Hill, and M.L. Wildhaber

Chojnacki, K.A., and DeLonay, A.J. Integrating ArcPad, ArcGIS and SQL Server March 18, 2009 for data collection and management to Mid-Missouri GIS Users Group Meeting, support sturgeon research on the Lower Columbia, Mo. Missouri Accomplishments and Products 7

Table 1. Missouri River Sturgeon Project Products, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 2009.—Continued

Author Title Source Presentations (ordered by date with oldest first)—Continued Chojnacki, K.A., and DeLonay, A.J. Mobile mapping and electronic data March 18, 2009 collection to track pallid sturgeon in the Mid-Missouri GIS Users Group Meeting, Lower Missouri River Columbia, Mo. Braaten, P.J., Lott, R.D., Fuller, D.B., and Fort Peck flow modification biological data March 24-27, 2009 Ruggles, M.P. collection plan: Utility of a multi-year Missouri River Natural Resources data set for quantifying annual recruitment Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, variations in pallid and shovelnose Mont. sturgeon Chojnacki, K.A. and DeLonay, A.J. Application of mobile mapping and March 24-27, 2009 electronic data collection in the field Missouri River Natural Resources to track pallid sturgeon in the Lower Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Missouri River Mont. DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, D.M., Wildhaber, Spawning migration, habitat use and March 24-27, 2009 M.L., Jacobson, R.B., Chojnacki, K.A., behavior of pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River Natural Resources Mestl, G.E., and Bergthold, C.L. Missouri River Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Jacobson, R.B., Elliott, C.M., and Reuter, Defining and employing reference conditions March 24-27, 2009 J.M. for ecological restoration of the Lower Missouri River Natural Resources Missouri River Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Papoulias, D.M, Annis, M., DeLonay, A.J., Contaminants in the tissues of sturgeon from March 24-27, 2009 Gale, R., and Tillitt, D.E. the Missouri River and the intersex in Missouri River Natural Resources male sturgeon Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Jacobson, R.B. Water wars on the big Muddy: Re- April 1, 2009 engineering the Lower Missouri River for Missouri Conservation Engineers Meeting ecosystem recovery Columbia, Mo. Papoulias, D.M. Missouri River sturgeon reproductive April 4, 2009 problems Veterinary School, University of Missouri Columbia, Mo. Jacobson, R.B., Elliott, C.M., and Reuter, Habitat dynamics on the Lower Missouri April 9, 2009 J.M. River: The physical template for pallid USGS Missouri River Science Symposium sturgeon recovery Columbia, Mo. Braaten, P.J. and Fuller, D.B. Pallid sturgeon studies in the Missouri River May 5, 2009 below Fort Peck Dam Missouri River Recovery Meeting, Fort Peck, Mont. Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A. J., Papoulias, Spawning migration patterns of sturgeons June 22-26, 2009 D. M., Holan S.H., Davis, G.M., and in a modified and heavily regulated large 46th Annual Animal Behavior Society Sommerhauser, D.K. river. Meeting Pirenopolis, Brazil Mac, M.J. Independent science review: What, how, and July 21, 2009 why Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee Meeting, Pierre, S. Dak. Bergthold, C.L., Chojnacki, K.A., Delonay, Seasonal movements and habitat use of adult August 31–September 3, 2009 A.J., Mestl, G.F. pallid sturgeon in the lower Missouri 139th Annual American Fisheries Society River, USA Conference, Nashville, Tenn. Braaten, P., Fuller, D., Lott, R., Ruggles, M. Drift dynamics of larval pallid sturgeon in August 31–September 3, 2009 the mainstem Missouri River: Inferences 139th Annual American Fisheries Society for the lack of recruitment in fragmented Conference, Nashville, Tenn. river reaches DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, D.M, Wildhaber, Spawning migration, habitat use and August 31–September 3, 2009 M.L., Jacobson, R.B., Chojnacki, K.A., behavior of pallid sturgeon in the Lower 139th Annual American Fisheries Society Mestl, G.E., Bergthold, C.L. Missouri River Conference, Nashville, Tenn. 8 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Table 1. Missouri River Sturgeon Project Products, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 2009.—Continued

Author Title Source Presentations (ordered by date with oldest first)—Continued Heist, E., Braaten, P., Colombo, R., Delonay, Status of pallid sturgeon August 31–September 3, 2009 A., Garvey, J., Hartfield, P., Herzog, D., 139th Annual American Fisheries Society Jordan, G., Kappenman, K., Webb, M. Conference, Nashville, Tenn. Bryan, J.L., Wildhaber, M.L., Gladish, D., Power to detect trends in shovelnose and October 26-29, 2009 Holan, S., Ellersieck, M. pallid sturgeon populations in the Lower 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, Missouri River. Wuhan, Hubei Province, China DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, D.M., Wildhaber, Spawning migration, habitat use and October 26-29, 2009 M.L., Jacobson, R.B., Chojnacki, K.A., behavior of pallid sturgeon in the Lower 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, Mestl, G.E., and Bergthold, C.L. Missouri River. Wuhan, Hubei Province, China Mestl, G.F., Bergthold, C.L., Chojnacki, Resource selection of adult pallid sturgeon October 26-29, 2009 K.A., DeLonay, A.J., Bryan, J.L., Scaphirhynchus albus in the channelized 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, Wildhaber, M.L., Bonnot, T.W., and Missouri River, USA with implications Wuhan, Hubei Province, China Millspaugh, J.J. for current and planned habitat creation projects. Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A. J., Papoulias, Spawning migration of shovelnose sturgeon October 26-29, 2009 D. M., Holan, S.H., Davis, G.M., and in the modified and heavily regulated 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, Sommerhauser, D.K. Lower Missouri River. Wuhan, Hubei Province, China Mac, M.J. An experiment with stakeholder influence October 30, 2009 on natural resource management: Charles Schwarz Seminar Series, University Missouri River Recovery Implementation of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. Committee (MRRIC) Lallaman, J.J., Malin, M.I., Vishy, C.J., Use of three different acoustic gears to assess December 6-9, 2009 DeLonay, A.J., Galat, D.L. paddlefish abundance and distribution in 70th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, the Osage River, Mo. Springfield, Ill. Posters (ordered by date with oldest first) Arab, A., Wikle, C.K., Wildhaber, M.L., and A hierarchical bayesian modeling approach January 13-15, 2009 DeLonay, A.J. for analysis of large river fish movement Eigth Annual Hawaii International data. Conference on Statistics, Mathematics and Related Fields, Honolulu, Hawaii Chojnacki, K.A., and DeLonay, A.J. Integrating ArcPad, ArcGIS and SQL Server February 16-18, 2009 for data collection and management: 2009 Missouri GIS Conference, Osage research of sturgeon on the Lower Beach, Mo. Missouri River Bazzetta, L., and Jacobson, R.B. Vegetation dynamics in a constructed March 24-27, 2009 shallow-water habitat project, Lower Missouri River Natural Resources Missouri River, June 2005-June 2008 Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Candrl, J.S., Papoulias, D.M., and Tillitt, The point of no return in first-feeding pallid March 24-27, 2009 D.E. sturgeon larvae Missouri River Natural Resources Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Kunz, E.K., Haas, J.D., Ruskamp, R.L., Targeted capture of pallid sturgeon in two March 24-27, 2009 Adams, J.D., and DeLonay, A.J. study areas of the Missouri River below Missouri River Natural Resources Gavins Point Dam Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, Mont. Vishy, C.J., Combs, D.K., and DeLonay, A.J. Deployment techniques to overcome March 24-27, 2009 challenges to the application of dual Missouri River Natural Resources frequency identification sonar (DIDON) Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, for monitoring fish in the Lower Missouri Mont. River Accomplishments and Products 9

Table 1. Missouri River Sturgeon Project Products, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, 2009.—Continued

Author Title Source Posters (ordered by date with oldest first)—Continued Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, Updated conceptual life-history model for March 24-27, 2009 D.M., Galat, D.L., Jacobson, R.B., pallid and shovelnose sturgeon based on Missouri River Natural Resources Simpkins, D.G., Braaten, P.J., Korschgen, 2007 pallid sturgeon research workshop Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, C.E., and Mac, M.J. Mont. Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Gale, R.W., Intersex and other gonadal abnormalities in June 16-19, 2009 Annis, M.L., Wildhaber, M.L., and Tillitt, sturgeons from the Missouri River, USA. 4th Workshop of Gonadal Histology of D.E. Fishes, El Puerto de Santa Maria Cadiz, Spain Kunz, E.K., Haas, J.D., Ryan Ruskamp, R.L., Targeted capture of pallid sturgeon in two August 31–September 3, 2009 Adams, J.D., DeLonay, A.J. study areas of the Missouri River below 139th Annual American Fisheries Society Gavins Point Dam. Conference, Nashville, Tenn. Chojnacki, K.A., and DeLonay, A.J. Application of mobile mapping and August 31–September 3, 2009 electronic data collection in the field to 139th Annual American Fisheries Society track pallid sturgeon in the lower Missouri Conference, Nashville, Tenn. River Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Annis, M.L. Characterization of environmental cues October 26-29, 2009 for initiation of reproductive cycling 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, and spawning in shovelnose sturgeon Wuhan, Hubei Province, China Scaphirhynchus platorynchus of the Missouri River, USA. Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, Pallid and shovelnose sturgeon conceptual October 26-29, 2009 D.M., Galat, D.L., Jacobson, R.B., life-history model 6th International Sturgeon Symposium, Simpkins, D.G., Braaten, P.J., Korschegen, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China C.E., and Mac, M.J. News DeLonay, A.J. Missouri River float trip inspires interest in July 13, 2009 history, conservation Columbia Missourian Newspaper Special Events Kunz, E.K., and Heuser, J.L. Missouri River Jeopardy September 12, 2009 Missouri River EcoFest Columbia, Mo. 10 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Future Research into Reproductive sturgeon to determine whether contaminants in the environment contribute to lack of reproduction or Ecology of Missouri River Pallid recruitment. Understanding the potential role of reproductive impairment in maturation, migration, Sturgeon fecundity, spawning behavior, gamete quality, viability, fertilization, and hatching success will help During 2009, the CSRP was successful in adding management agencies to assess the consequences replication and greater detail to existing understanding of of intersex in the context of a highly altered and pallid sturgeon reproductive ecology, especially related to intensively managed river. spawning behavior and spawning habitat. Information on environmental conditions, migrations, and reproductive 5. Quantifying habitat selection during nonreproductive physiology added additional data points to the understanding seasons and for juvenile fish to determine if other of reproductive cues and the potential role of pulsed flow habitats (for example, migration, over-wintering, or reservoir releases. While 2009 data supported the growing set young-of-the-year feeding habitats) are bottlenecks of information on links between potential management actions on reproduction and recruitment. This can be and prospects for reproduction and survival of the species, approached through a combination of detailed field additional information gaps have become more apparent. studies and controlled laboratory experiments. Continued studies and new research opportunities can provide information to close these gaps. These efforts include: 6. Improving understanding of transport and fate 1. Replicating controlled and opportunistic field of pallid sturgeon larvae to determine if they experiments on spawning cues to achieve credibility successfully drift into supportive habitats. Previously within the scientific community. Credibility will presented calculations have shown that mean probably require several additional years of field velocities in the Lower Missouri River are sufficient studies at the current level of effort (four to eight to transport larvae hatched over much of its length reproductive pallid sturgeon per year) assuming good into the Middle Mississippi River. Improved representation of years with and without flow pulses. understanding of drift dynamics will document Alternatively, fewer years would be necessary with whether channel reengineering that decreases mean greater numbers of tagged fish and the resources to velocity and increases drift retention would be track them. Coordinated physiological and habitat effective in increasing recruitment. studies are needed to understand the causal links between environmental conditions and reproductive success. Detailed Research Task Activities and 2. Increasing effort in addressing spawning success criteria. In addition to demonstrating that eggs have Progress been released, indicators of spawning success are the presence of males, observations of fish interaction, observations or sampling of fertile eggs, sampling Task 1. Movement, Habitat Use, and of larvae downstream from demonstrated spawning patches, and sampling of larvae of a developmental Reproductive Behavior of Shovelnose Sturgeon stage consistent with the observed spawning event or and Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River linked by genetic analysis.

3. Understanding where pallid sturgeon go and habitats used between reproductive seasons. Pallid sturgeon Background females become reproductive once every 2-5 years, Numerous studies have examined habitat use and and environmental conditions between spawning movement by Scaphirhynchus sturgeon (Hurley and others, events may be critical to spawning success. This 1987; Latka and others, 1995; Quist and others, 1999; will require additional year-round tracking and DeLonay and others, 2000; Bramblett and White, 2001; Snook may require expansion of telemetry efforts into and Peters, 2002; Hurley and others, 2004; Garvey and others, the Mississippi River. Such efforts will also help 2009). Few of these studies have reported the reproductive define the extent of habitat used by these fish and status of the fish studied or followed the fish to assess whether may provide insight into genetic structure of the population. those in reproductive condition spawned successfully. None have precisely documented where sturgeon spawn or provided 4. Continuing studies of intersex and reproductive information necessary to link sturgeon migration, spawning, tumors (DeLonay and others, 2009) in pallid or reproductive success to large river management. Until very Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 11 recently none have specifically focused on reproductively system for comparative purposes. One section is located on mature fish prior to and during the spawning season. the Lower Missouri River between the Osage River and Grand During 2004-08, telemetry was employed on the River (river miles 130-250). The other section is located Missouri River to relocate individual sturgeon to collect between the Platte River in Nebraska and the Big Sioux information on movement, habitat use, behavior, and response River (river miles 595-734). The general approach entailed to environmental cues or habitat manipulations (DeLonay capturing pallid sturgeon from the Missouri River, intensively and others, 2007b; DeLonay and others, 2009). Effective evaluating the reproductive status of individual sturgeon (in use of telemetry also afforded the opportunity to recollect, coordination with task 2), instrumenting each with an acoustic reassess, and reimplant individual sturgeon to monitor transmitter and a data storage tag, tracking their movements, changes in growth, condition, and reproductive status over and documenting habitat use (DeLonay and others, 2007b). time. Through intensive tracking of telemetry tagged fish, Pallid sturgeon in reproductive condition were tracked characteristic migration patterns of reproductive sturgeon have intensively through the spawning period and attempts were been defined, and spawning locations have been identified made to recover them immediately after spawning to evaluate (DeLonay and others, 2009). Deployment of environmental their reproductive success and recover the DST. data storage tags (DST) in telemetered fish has provided In 2009, USGS planned to implant and track female unprecedented direct and quantitative understanding of a and male pallid sturgeon to meet established implantation fish’s environment (DeLonay and others 2007a; Holan and criteria (appropriate size and reproductive status) in each others 2009). Activities conducted under Task 1 are part of of two study sections with 2-year acoustic transmitters and a unique multidisciplinary approach in which telemetry is DSTs recording depth and temperature at 15-minute intervals. coordinated with physiological assessments of reproductive At least two, but no more than five, gravid females were behavior (Task 2) and hydroacoustic habitat assessments targeted for implantation within each section. Throughout the (Task 3) (DeLonay and others, 2007b; DeLonay and others, study, concerted efforts were made to recollect, reevaluate, 2009). The physiologic context provides an understanding of and reimplant pallid sturgeon telemetered in previous years. the reproductive state of a tagged fish, and, thereby, provides Following implantation, crews located and tracked individual interpretation of fish behavior (Wildhaber and others, 2007). telemetered fish to record habitat use and seasonal movements Similarly, detailed habitat mapping around tagged fish places (DeLonay and others 2007b). Fish were tracked extensively fish behavior within a larger spatial context that allows (located every few days) during pre- and postspawn periods. researchers to characterize habitat availability and selection, Fish in reproductive condition were tracked intensively and, thereby, understand how channel morphology and flow (located daily or several times daily) from April through July, regime can be managed to maximize reproduction and survival or until recollection indicated that spawning was complete. (Reuter and others, 2008; DeLonay and others, 2009; Jacobson The goal for gravid female pallid sturgeon was to determine and others, 2009; Reuter and others, 2009; Bonnot and others, their location each day in early spring, and more frequently University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., written commun., when water temperatures reached 16°C or when movement 2009). or behavior indicated that spawning was imminent. During high-frequency intensive tracking, females are contacted several times daily to determine direction and rate of Scope and Objectives movement. Upstream migrating females that pause or stop in their migratory movement for more than 6 hours are targeted Task 1 is ongoing and a continuation of work initiated in for continuous monitoring and habitat characterization. 2005 in collaboration with the NGPC. The objectives of this Continuous tracking of rapidly migrating sturgeon is not work are to (1) identify prespawning habitat; (2) determine possible during hours of darkness in the lower study section the direction and magnitude of spawning movements; because of safety concerns, but continuous tracking of (3) characterize patterns of habitat use during spawning stationary sturgeon or sturgeon at spawning locations is migrations; (4) determine where and under what conditions possible. The goal for nongravid female pallid sturgeon was to sturgeon spawn; (5) verify and validate spawning behavior; (6) determine their location one to three times monthly. assess the relative success of spawning related to status and Measurements of water conditions (for example, environmental conditions, including natural and augmented temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) spring flows; and (7) determine and characterize postspawn and habitat characteristics (depth and substrate) were and nonreproductive habitat. recorded at each location to qualitatively and quantitatively describe habitat used by pallid sturgeon during nonspawning, Methods prespawning, and spawning periods. Detailed mapping of spawning locations was coordinated with task 3. Suspected Task 1 focused exclusively on pallid sturgeon in 2009. spawning locations of transmittered pallid sturgeon were The work was conducted again within two geographically assessed by a combination of sampling for eggs and larvae, and hydrologically distinct sections of the Lower Missouri capture of adult pallid sturgeon in reproductive condition, or River to take advantage of the longitudinal variability in the dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) imagery. Not 12 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River all assessment methods were employed at each spawning site. code, and tagged with a passive integrated transponder (PIT) The assessment methods used at each site were determined by tag. Individual sturgeon can be identified by any of these resource availability and river conditions. identification codes. The gravid female in the lower study section (PLS09-007, acoustic code 54500, PIT 472E35150C) Results was a hatchery-origin marked fish with a coded wire tag. It was captured on April 18, 2009, at river mile 180.0. The USGS and NGPC began sampling for pallid sturgeon upper study section gravid female and all reproductive males in reproductive condition the first week of March 2009 and from both study sections were unmarked and presumed to be continued through the third week of April 2009 using trotlines wild pending genetic analysis. The upper study section female and overnight gill net sets (DeLonay 2007b). Trotlines were (PLS09-009, acoustic code 54604, PIT 48685D0E30) was modified from previous years to reduce stress and mortality captured on April 23, 2009, at river mile 666.7. Males and to juvenile pallid sturgeon. The hook size was increased females were surgically implanted with transmitters and DSTs from 3/0 to 5/0 to avoid smaller sturgeon. No mortalities of recording temperature and depth (as pressure). The females sturgeon were recorded, and total numbers of sturgeon less were implanted with new transmitters containing sensors that than 2,000 grams (g) were reduced compared to 2007–08 emitted real-time depth (as pressure) and motion data. These (fig. 3). While capture incidence of adult pallid sturgeon greater than 2,000 g was comparable to past years efforts, tags are 1/3 smaller (60 x 16 millimeters (mm)) and transmit sturgeon in reproductive condition rarely were encountered. at twice the rate of older tags (5 seconds). This reduces the Gravid females were especially rare. Three reproductive impact of surgical procedures close to spawning and facilitates males and one gravid female were captured and implanted in continuous intensive tracking. These smaller tags are shorter- each of the lower and the upper study sections (table 2). All lived with battery ratings of less than 180 days. The smaller sturgeon used in tracking studies are given a unique database transmitters are replaced with larger, longer-lived transmitters identifier, implanted with a transmitter with a unique acoustic upon recapture after spawning.

7,000 7,000

6,000 2007 6,000 2008

5,000 5,000 S S GRA M GRA M 4,000 4,000

I N I N

3,000

, GHT , 3,000 , GHT , WE I WE I 2,000 2,000

1,000 1,000

0 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 LENGTH, IN MILLIMETERS LENGTH, IN MILLIMETERS 7,000 EXPLANATION Unknown 2009 6,000 Hatchery Wild 5,000 S

4,000 GRA M Figure 3. Length-weight relation of hatchery-released,

I N unknown, and wild pallid sturgeon collected during 2007, 2008, 3,000 , GHT , and 2009 spring sampling efforts in both the upper and lower

WE I study sections. Pallid sturgeon of unknown origin did not 2,000 bear hatchery marks and samples have not yet been tested to determine genetic parentage. Pallid sturgeon are presumed 1,000 wild if genetic testing did not assign them to known broodstock 0 parents. Not all parents used in the propagation program are 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 present in the genetic database; therefore, sturgeon presumed LENGTH, IN MILLIMETERS to be wild may be over-represented in the actual totals.

Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 13 Total

2 7 3 5 ------17 Lower

4 1 5 ------Upper Recaptured 2 3 3 4 ------12

2009 Total

2 2 6 4 ------

Lower 1 2 3 2 8 ------

Initial Upper 1 0 3 2 6 implantation ------

Total

9 1 ------12 22 Lower

3 5 8 ------Upper Recaptured 6 7 1 ------14

2008 Total

5 3 3 2 2 -- -- 14 30 55

Lower 4 5 5 1 1 ------

Initial Upper implantation 1 9 3 3 1 1 -- -- 25 41

Total

4 3 7 ------Lower

------Upper Recaptured 4 3 7 ------

2007 Total

2 4 4 0 ------10 20

Lower 2 1 4 7 ------

Initial Upper 2 2 3 6 implantation ------13

Summary totals

Total

------Lower

------Upper Recaptured ------

2006 Total

1 4 1 9 1 0 ------16

Lower 1 1 1 2 5 ------

Initial Upper 3 7 1 implantation ------11

Total

------Lower

------Upper Recaptured ------

2005 Total

7 2 9 0 ------

Lower 3 1 4 ------

Initial Upper 4 1 5 ------implantation -

Numbers of pallid sturgeon implanted with transmitters and recaptured in two Lower Missouri River study sections, 2005-09.

der, and der, condition reproductive nonreproductive reproductive reproductive nonreproductive reproductive nonreproductive reproductive Species, gen PS female PS female PS male PS male non- PS unknown PS intersex Hybrid female Hybrid female Pallid sturgeon Hybrid Table 2. Table --, no data] lower study section; PS, pallid sturgeon; upper study section; Lower, [Upper, 14 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Reproductive males and females were tracked with condition of the testes was verified using ultrasound and increasing frequency using a pulsed-intensive tracking surgical examination of the gonads. strategy. Gravid females in each of the study sections were Field crews sampled the upper section aggregation very close to spawning at the time of implantation as indicated and the probable spawning sites for larval sturgeon using by polarization index (PI) measurements. PLS09-007, which paired 0.5 meter (m) icthyoplantkon nets on the bottom and had a PI of 0.06 moved upstream steadily after implantation mid-water column (Simpkins and LaBay, 2007). Probable and likely spawned at river mile 206.1-206.5 along outside spawning times and water temperatures at spawning were used bend revetment on April 25-26 at water temperatures near to calculate likely hatch times. Larval sturgeon were sampled 17°C (fig. 4). Patterns of movement and behavior during after the estimated hatch date downstream from each potential spawning were consistent with observations of females spawning site at three equidistant locations along a transect implanted in the lower section in 2008—an upstream from outside bend to mid-channel. The aggregation site near movement with a single apex, movement along the spawning river mile 660 was sampled for larvae on May 14 and the site habitat for 12-24 hours (h), followed by variable downstream near river mile 650 was sampled on May 15 and 16. A total of movement. Spawning appears to have occurred over or 163 early Acipensiformes larvae were collected. Of these, 162 adjacent to coarse substrate at the base of a revetted outside were positively identified as paddlefish and one was identified bend. PLS09-007 was recollected within hours of moving as a Day-0 posthatch Scaphirhynchus sturgeon larvae. Of the downstream on April 26. Examination using minimally- 82 samples collected, 58 (70.7 percent) contained paddlefish. invasive methods (ultrasound and endoscopy) indicated The sturgeon larva was submitted for genetic analyses and PLS09-007 had spawned completely. The last few eggs were was determined to be a shovelnose sturgeon (Edward Heist, removed from the oviducts during endoscopic procedures and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, written preserved in formalin. Later examination of the eggs indicated commun., 2009). that they had undergone germinal vesicle breakdown and were In addition to intensive tracking of reproductive adults, ready to be fertilized. The probable spawning habitat was monthly river sweeps were conducted outside of the spawning intensively mapped (see task 3) and DIDSON and sidescan season to relocate adult sturgeon. During river sweeps, sonar imagery were collected at the spawning location. tracking crews attempt to search the length of the Missouri Aggregations of fish, including sturgeon and paddlefish River from Gavins Point Dam, Nebr., to the mouth at St. (Polyodon spathula) were recorded. Extreme high water Louis, Mo., within a 10- to 14-day period. These extensive (discharge greater than 250,000 ft3/s) in the days following relocation efforts have been effective at documenting seasonal spawning prevented field crews from attempting to collect patterns of movement and may be valuable for identifying eggs, larvae, or other adult sturgeon at the spawning site. critical habitats. More frequent tracking efforts were made in Patterns of movement and behavior of sturgeon implanted areas where densities of transmittered sturgeon were highest in the upstream section were variable as in 2008. PLS09-009, (for example, between Rulo, Nebr., and Decatur, Nebr.). which had a PI of 0.09 showed very little upstream movement In July, tracking crews searched the Mississippi River for before initiating a downstream movement of approximately transmittered fish from the mouth of the Missouri River to the 6 miles (fig. 5). Field crews recaptured PLS09-009 on May confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Ill. Two adult pallid 7, 2009, determined it had not yet spawned, extracted an egg sturgeon telemetered and released in the Missouri River were sample, and released the fish at the recapture site. A mean relocated. One was a female that spawned in the Missouri PI value of 0.05 indicated that the eggs were mature and River in 2008, and the other was a female that was captured in ready to spawn. More than 20 large paddlefish in spawning the Missouri River for hatchery broodstock in 2008. Long- condition also were captured in drifted trammel nets during term tracking efforts have highlighted the connection of the recapture attempts. Within hours of release, PLS09-009 Missouri River with the Mississippi River and also have was joined in close proximity by three pallid sturgeon males revealed some level of site fidelity among individual pallid with transmitters (PLS07-020, PLS08-036, PLS09-003) near sturgeon between seasons and years. Movement and habitat river mile 660 (fig. 6). On May 9, PLS09-009 and two males use may be highly variable with pallid sturgeon capable of subsequently moved downstream to river mile 650. PLS09- moving hundreds of river miles in a season (DeLonay and 009 remained at the second downstream location until May others, 2007b). However, long-term tracking of individuals 11. Telemetered males were found near the second potential has demonstrated a propensity for at least some pallid spawning site until May 18. Contact was lost with PLS09- sturgeon to utilize single bends or small habitat patches for 009 on May 11 during intensive tracking. It was assumed many months at a time (fig. 7). Few telemetry studies have that PLS09-009’s implanted transmitter failed. Therefore, attempted to recapture tagged individuals and, therefore, may spawning could not be confirmed through recapture. Each of assume, perhaps incorrectly, that many of these locations were the tagged males present during the aggregation events were expelled transmitters or dead fish. Interestingly, a number implanted in different years; one each in 2007, 2008, and of adult pallid sturgeon have demonstrated a fair degree of 2009. All transmittered males located in aggregations with the fidelity to localized sections of the river—returning after tagged female were recaptured within days of the aggregation absences of several months and movements greater than 50 events. All were expressing milt and the reproductive river miles (fig. 7). While a few anecdotal observations may Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 15

92°45' 92°30'

39°4' Range of movement of pallid sturgeon PLS09-007

200 Boonville Missouri River

190 MISSOURI

EXPLANATION

38°56' Movement range

Initial release 180

Recapture

Telemetry location 0 1.4 MILES 700 River mile marker - Number is river mile 0 1.4 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, digital data, 1999, 1:2,000,000 River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1960) Universal Transverse Mercator projection Zone 15

210 30 0 300,000

PLS09-007 28 205 26 2 250,000

24 D N S 22 U 200 4 SECO E

L CELSI I

20 200,000 S M PER

E S

18 E ET

195 6 E GR E TER F E

RIVER M 16

N N I 150,000

I , IN , 14 CUBIC E,

190 R 8 N I

12 T U DEPTH CATION A O

L 10 100,000 ER 185 P 10 8 M E T

6 DISCHARGE, 50,000 180 4 12 2 175 0 14 0 April 19 April 20 April 21 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27

2009 EXPLANATION

Fish depth from DST Telemetry location

Water temperature from DST Initial capture, tag implantation, and release Discharge from Boonville gage, river mile 199 Recapture, evaluation, and release

Figure 4. Movement range of pallid sturgeon PLS09-007. Depth and temperature recorded from data storage tags (DST), discharge from the nearest gage, and telemetry locations for implanted gravid pallid sturgeon PLS09-007. Fish were implanted in reproductive condition, later recaptured, and determined to have spawned. 16 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°15' 96°

Range of movement of pallid sturgeon PLS09-009

41°44'

660 IOWA NEBRASKA

EXPLANATION

Movement range

41°36' Initial release

Recapture

Telemetry location 650 0 2 MILES 700 River mile marker - Number is river mile Missouri River 0 2 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, digital data, 1999, 1:2,000,000 River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1960) Universal Transverse Mercator projection Zone 15

670 30 300,000

PLS09-009 28 26 665 250,000 24 D

22 S LSIU SECON E E 660 20 200,000 L C I

PER E S 18 E EET GR F E

RIVER

16 D

IN 655 150,000 N

, I 14 CUBIC E,

R N I

, 12 T U CATION A O L 650 10 ER 100,000 P E M

8 T DISCHARGE 6 645 50,000 4

640 0 0 April 23 April 25 April 27 April 29 May 01 May 03 May 05 May 07 May 09 May 11

2009

EXPLANATION Water temperature from Telemetry location Decatur gage, river mile 691 Initial capture, tag implantation, and release Discharge from Recapture, evaluation, and release Decatur gage, river mile 691

Figure 5. Movement range of pallid sturgeon PLS09-009. Temperature and discharge from the nearest upstream gage and telemetry locations for implanted gravid pallid sturgeon PLS09-009. Fish were implanted in reproductive condition and had not yet spawned upon recapture. It is unknown if this fish spawned in 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 17

675 PLS09-009 PLS09-003 PLS07-020 670 PLS08-036

665 ES L I M

RIVER 660 N , I N CATIO

O 655 L

650

645 May 1 May 3 May 5 May 7 May 9 May 11 May 13

31,000 19

18 30,000

17 S U D I N

29,000 CELS

SECO

16 E S E R PER

G E ET D

E F N

28,000 15 I

E, R CUBIC T U

A N I R 14 E

27,000 P M E T

Discharge from Decatur gage, 13 E R

river mile 691 T DISCHARGE, A

26,000 W Water temperature from data logger, 12 river mile 691

25,000 11 May 1 May 3 May 5 May 7 May 9 May 11 May 13

2009

Figure 6. Telemetry locations of gravid female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009 and reproductive male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, PLS07-020, and PLS08-036 showing probable spawning aggregations. Discharge from the nearest upstream gage at Decatur, Nebr. Temperature recorded from instream datalogger located near the gage at Decatur, Nebr. 18 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

750

700 ES L I M

RIVER 650 N , I N CATIO O L

600

550 March '08 July '08 November '08 March '09 July '09 November '09

DATE

EXPLANATION

PLS08-002 (male) PLS08-006 (female) PLS08-012 (female) PLS08-014 (female) PLS08-015 (male)

Figure 7. Telemetry locations for implanted pallid sturgeon PLS08-002, PLS08-006, PLS08-012, PLS08-014, and PLS08-015.

document the ability of pallid sturgeon to recognize and return documentation that pallid sturgeon females in the Lower to habitat patches over large spatial scales, repeated patterns Missouri River may cycle into reproductive condition of use of specific habitat locations by sturgeon over seasons in as few as 2 years, a finding that could have important and years would be highly significant. Further observations implications for understanding population dynamics. This are needed to determine the degree to which pallid sturgeon type of information on reproductive periodicity and spawning express preference or fidelity for discrete patches of habitat site fidelity can only be obtained through repeated recapture over time. and reproductive assessments of telemetered individuals. Field crews began to target telemetered pallid sturgeon Data from 2009 spring sampling were entered into for recapture and reimplantion as water temperatures electronic data bases (task 4), and tissue samples and meristic cooled in early September. A total of 15 pallid sturgeon implanted in previous years were recaptured, reassessed, and data were transmitted to the USFWS. Data collected on reimplanted with 2-year transmitters and 2-year programmable previously tagged shovelnose, pallid, and lake sturgeon DST tags. One reimplanted sturgeon is a female that was (Acipsesnser fulvescens) were provided to the Missouri intensively tracked and determined to have spawned in 2008. Department of Conservation (MDC) for inclusion in basin- Examination during reimplantion indicates that reproductive wide data bases and for dissemination to collaborating condition will occur again in spring 2010. This is the first agencies. A compendium of methods, and all capture, tagging, Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 19 and tracking information collected between 2005 and 2009 The aggregation of reproductive male and female pallid will be released in the future. sturgeon observed during intensive tracking in the upstream Presentations of results from this task were presented at study section is the first documented aggregation of telemetry a sturgeon symposium on Acipensiformes in North America tagged pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River. Tracking at the National American Fisheries Society Conference in data from this study indicate that even though the species is Nashville, Tenn., and at the International Sturgeon Symposium extremely rare, reproductive adults can find one another at the in Wuhan, China. appropriate time. Data also indicate that males using multiple migratory strategies (for example, single and multiple apices, upstream and downstream movement patterns) are effective Discussion at finding mates (DeLonay and others, 2009). The presence Intensive tracking of reproductive adults yielded similar of reproductive males implanted in three different years, results to those observed in 2008 (DeLonay and others, at disparate locations, indicates that the aggregation event 2009). The gravid female pallid sturgeon (PLS09-007) was not an artifact of clustered sampling and implantation implanted in the lower study section showed a characteristic strategies, random movement, or predetermined habitat upstream movement, spawning quickly at the apex of its affinities. migratory path. Spawning occurred in deep (greater than Capture and tracking data clearly show that wild and 3 m), swift water (greater than 1 m/s) over or adjacent to hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon are surviving, growing, coarse substrate along the base of a revetted outside bend. reaching reproductive maturity and spawning in the Lower The upstream gravid female pallid sturgeon (PLS09-009) Missouri River. Spring capture data collected from 2007- did not migrate or show any significant upstream movement. 09 indicate that hatchery individuals will soon comprise Unfortunately, recapture of PLS09-009 was not successful the predominant portion of the pallid sturgeon spawning to confirm spawning success or failure. However, based population in the Lower Missouri River. While spawning does upon aggregations of adults in the upstream study section, occur, it remains unclear whether it is successful or whether probable spawning locations were mid-channel to outside it is occurring at the most appropriate time, place, or under revetted bend. While numbers of probable documented conditions that would result in significant survival of progeny. spawning sites are still low and are based on movement of Managers need to know whether spawning by pallid sturgeon intensively tracked female pallid sturgeon and aggregations of is sufficient, and how it can be enhanced through specific reproductive adults, the characteristic patterns of movement modification or manipulation of factors under management and general habitat features selected for spawning by gravid control. While the early benefits of artificial propagation female pallid sturgeon are consistent from year to year. A are readily apparent, the long-term effects of propagation, pattern of disrupted or impaired migration in the upper study habitat manipulation and flow modification on population section also was repeated in 2008. DIDSON observations of sustainability and ultimate recovery will take years to assess. adult paddlefish at the downstream spawning locations and the presence of large numbers of spawning adults and early Summary and Conclusions paddlefish protolarva at the upper spawning locations suggest that both species may be selecting and using similar spawning Results of studies conducted under task 1 during habitat in the mainstem Missouri River. Depending on the 2009 added substantial new information on pallid sturgeon sequence of species that use the same spawning location and movement, habitat use, and behavior. This information preferred spawning temperatures, the presence of spawning has resulted in compelling hypotheses that have direct paddlefish or other rheophilic species may act as a social management and recovery application (DeLonay and others, indicator of likely sturgeon spawning locations and, in some 2009; Reuter and others, 2009). The study has been limited instances, may be a cue to migrating sturgeon, indicating the by the availability of adult pallid sturgeon, especially presence of suitable spawning habitat. reproductive adults. Verification and validation of spawning Successful tracking of reproductive adult sturgeon and spawning success will provide information to assess continues to be complicated by rarity of gravid female whether spawning, fertilization, egg survival, and hatch are sturgeon. Capture efforts in 2009 did not yield reproductive limiting in reproduction. Gaps in habitat use information exist females until late April after the individual females were ready for juvenile lifestages, seasons outside of the spawning areas, to spawn. Despite imminent physiological readiness to spawn, and in parts of the river not included within the study sections. females tolerated implantation and showed they can spawn Connectivity to the Mississippi River and the relative and release their eggs effectively. It is somewhat significant importance of major tributaries to the mainstem Missouri that the female in the lower study section (PLS09-007) moved River are for the most part unexplored. These gaps limit the upstream for 7 days after implantation and released viable ability to discern the long-term patterns in distribution and eggs. This suggests that there may be some flexibility or habitat use and give little insight into critical genetic and latitude of females to wait for or move to more favorable metapopulation dynamics. Closing these gaps is critical to spawning conditions during a window of physiological understanding habitat quality and the sufficiency of habitat to readiness. provide necessary ecological benefits to the species. 20 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Task 2. Reproductive Physiology to Support reproductive condition coincident with local environmental Assessment of the Importance of Spring Flows, conditions; (3) develop tools and assays to measure and analyze specific shovelnose and pallid sturgeon reproductive Temperature, and Photoperiod to Successful hormones important in cueing migration, gamete maturation, Pallid Sturgeon Spawning in the Missouri River and release; and (4) use laboratory mesocosm studies and semi-controlled field studies to develop novel and advanced approaches to identify when, where, and under what Background conditions pallid sturgeon spawn. Task 2 provides the supporting data and analyses Methods essential to evaluate the biological response of pallid sturgeon to environmental conditions including natural spring pulses Field crews and other agencies involved in Missouri and pulsed-flow releases in the Missouri River. This task also River sturgeon research were supplied with tissue collection continues to develop tools and acquire multiyear geographic materials in support of task 1. Blood plasma was analyzed and condition-specific data to answer questions about when, for sex hormones at implantation of transmitters and upon where, and what environmental cues are necessary for pallid recapture for readiness to spawn and stress. In an effort sturgeon to spawn. to reduce costs, plasma was not tested for cortisol and the A fundamental aspect of the life-history strategy progesterone assay was not performed as in previous years. of an individual is the temporal pattern of reproduction. Spawning success was evaluated based on visual inspection of An important contributor to fish reproductive success is gonads and blood reproductive hormones. synchronization of seasonal environmental conditions with Research was conducted to better define the the reproductive cycle. Photoperiod, temperature, and environmental factors (including natural spring pulses characteristics of the flow regime are the primary factors that and pulsed-flow releases) necessary for completion of the cue the reproductive physiology of most fishes. Physiological reproductive cycle and successful spawning in the Lower and morphological measurements allow the scientist to Missouri River. The approach was to assess the reproductive evaluate the response of the sturgeon to environmental condition of the sturgeon prior to spawning migration, conditions. Responses may be general, such as stress, or during the migration, as soon after spawning as possible, specifically indicate how close a sturgeon is to ovulation. and to relate the readiness to spawn and success in spawning Reproductive assessment prior to a telemetry study and to discharge characteristics, temperature, and day length. again at recapture provides information on the reproductive Data were collected from fish used in telemetry task 1 and readiness of the fish and, subsequently, whether spawning was opportunistically by others who collected sturgeon in the successful or resulted in resorbtion of oocytes. Moreover, Missouri River or its tributaries. Unlike in past years, fish assessment of the physiological status of captured wild were not collected specifically for this task. Temperature and flow data were obtained from river gages, deployed data sturgeon allows for an understanding of the environmental loggers, and data collected by field crews. factors necessary for successful completion of the reproductive The third objective extends ongoing work conducted at cycle. Determining physiological readiness to spawn allows USGS to develop tools and assays to measure gonadotropin II the prediction of approximately ‘when’ an individual sturgeon (GtH II) and maturation-inducing hormone (MIH). Over the should spawn. This information can be combined with last few years, biochemical and molecular approaches were tracking and capture information (location, speed, pattern, used to develop a GtH II antibody or probe. Chromatographic and direction of movement) to predict ‘where’ the sturgeon methods are being used to identify the composition of the spawn. Physiological measurements on fish captured over MIH. Once identified, antibodies to GtH II will be used to time in a specific location can reveal whether a group of fish develop an enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are synchronized and, therefore, likely responding to the same to measure GtH II and a radio immune assay (RIA) will be environmental cues, or if they are aggregating at a particular developed to measure MIH. site to spawn. Reproductive shovelnose sturgeon were collected from the Missouri River within the lower study section near Scope and Objectives Boonville, Missouri (river mile 190.7), and transported to CERC. The large size of sturgeon makes it difficult The objectives of task 2 are to (1) use physiological to maintain and study natural behavioral patterns under measurements to provide sex identification, assess simulated riverine conditions in the laboratory. The wild- reproductive readiness, assess stress of capture, and evaluate caught shovelnose sturgeon were induced to spawn using success of spawning for tracked sturgeon; (2) evaluate hormonal injections and released to the outdoor continuous- shovelnose and pallid sturgeon prespawning and postspawning looped earthen raceway constructed at CERC. This flowing Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 21

‘living-stream’ mesocosm provides an opportunity to observe PLS09-010 (acoustic code 1109, PIT 4716133136) captured Scaphirhynchus in the spawning act using remote sensing September 8, had elevated T and KT levels normal for Stages equipment. The intention is to use this approach to ‘calibrate’ III-V, but given reported associated fat was probably Stage IV the remote sensing images (DIDSON and side-scan sonar) (fig. 9D). collected in the field in order to provide better interpretation of The fish that were not tracked were caught between remotely sensed field data. March 6 and May 12 and ranged in length from 354 to 1,084 mm. Hormones and vitellogenin were measured in these fish Results to gather background data on circulating levels of hormones in nonreproductive and juvenile pallid sturgeon and to determine Data were collected for 3 female and 10 male pallid at what size (age) Missouri River pallid sturgeon enter the sturgeon tracked in 2009. Additionally, data were collected on reproductive cycle. Analyses on these fish are in progress. 59 pallid sturgeon mostly of undetermined sex that were not Insufficient numbers of reproductive pallid sturgeon were tracked. Two of the tracked females were gravid with black collected to evaluate 2009 physiological responses relative eggs and the third was nonreproductive. Gravid female pallid to environmental cues of flow, photoperiod, and temperature. sturgeon PLS09-007 (acoustic code 54500, PIT 472E35150C) However, 2009 data plotted with results from previous years was instrumented April 18 with a PI of 0.06 and was show a general trend of decreasing T and KT for pallid recaptured April 26 after upstream movement and apparent sturgeon females around the middle of April to the beginning spawning behavior. Upon collection, it was noted that she had of May when spawning is believed to occur (fig. 10A,B). spawned completely. The few eggs collected from the oviduct The trend for males is similar (fig. 10C,D). Gravid female were fresh and partially through germinal vesicle breakdown PLS09-007 (acoustic code 54500, PIT 472E35150C) in the indicating that spawning had taken place only hours before lower study section spawned during a period when discharge recapture. Testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) increased from 68,200 ft3/s to 83,900 ft3/s then decreased to levels measured at recapture were still elevated also indicating 57,800 ft3/s, and temperature increased from 12.6 to 17.6oC that spawning had occurred very recently (within hours) (fig. (fig. 10E). 8A). Gravid female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009 (acoustic code Despite successful genetic sequencing of pallid sturgeon 54604, PIT 48685D0E30) was instrumented April 22 with a GtH II hormone and inclusion in a plasmid vector, production PI of 0.9 and recaptured May 7. Reproductive assessment on of the GtH II protein was very slow because of low protein May 7 indicated that PLS09-009 had not yet spawned and it yield under conditions in CERC laboratories. Therefore, the was released. Contact with this female was lost on May 11 decision was made to provide the sequence information to a and, subsequently, it was not recaptured to evaluate spawning commercial producer to obtain the requested 20 milligrams success. All hormone levels at recapture were lower than (mg) of protein necessary for antibody production. After expected for a gravid female at this time of year and at this several months, and at no cost, the commercial laboratory was reproductive stage (fig. 8B). Although the PI value declined unable to obtain sufficient material for antibody production between the time of initial implantation and recapture 2 weeks and abandoned the project. Therefore, it was decided to use later, PLS09-009 did not initiate an upstream movement another approach to obtain the needed antibody. A colleague typical of spawning female sturgeon. The PI was 0.05, in Russia donated sufficient sturgeon GtH II protein to indicating spawning was closer than when initially captured approximately 2 weeks earlier. The nonreproductive female submit to the commercial producer of the GtH II antibody. PLS09-008 (acoustic code 1046, PIT 471E191E44) was The Abraxis laboratory has successfully made the sturgeon believed to have spawned in 2008 based on visual inspection antibody and, although, it is not specific to pallid sturgeon, the of ovary and when captured April 22 had a hormone profile GtH II protein is similar across fish species and is expected consistent with a Stage II female (fig. 8C). to recognize and bind pallid sturgeon GtH II antigen. Final Five reproductive males had similar hormone profiles phases of development of the ELISA for measuring GtH II are consistent with Stage V males (fig. 9A). A sixth male, currently underway. PLS09-005 (acoustic 1050, PIT 4704237D39), characterized Previously, the putative Scaphirhynchus MIH was at capture on April 1 as having ‘some large lobes’, had very identified. However, before measurement of MIH in sturgeon low T and KT levels more typical of a spent or Stage II male can begin confidently, the MIH in several individuals must be (fig. 9B). The instrumented nonreproductive males fell into confirmed. Therefore, again this year, MIH was purified from two groups. Males PLS08-017 (acoustic code 576 and 1107, shovelnose sturgeon. Because of equipment malfunctions, PIT 4349020B20), and PLS09-011(acoustic code 1108, PIT the purification required several months longer than expected. 434A00324C) had low T and KT levels characteristic of As such, the necessary experiments could not be completed Stage II males and were described as such upon capture on within the narrow window within which sturgeon are at September 11 (fig. 9C). Males PLS07-019 (acoustic code the required reproductive stage. These experiments will be 557 and 1110, PIT 412C6A535B) captured September 9 and attempted during 2010. 22 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

7,000 A PLS09-007 6,000 4/18/2009 4/26/2009 5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0 Estradiol Testosterone 11 Ketotestosterone

1,000 B PLS09-009 800 4/22/2009 5/7/2009

600

400

200

0 Estradiol Testosterone 11 Ketotestosterone CONCENTRATION, IN PICOGRAMS PER MILLILITER CONCENTRATION,

100 PLS09-008 C 4/22/2009 80

0 Estradiol Testosterone 11 Ketotestosterone

Figure 8. Female pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 in the Missouri River. A) PLS09-007 is a confirmed spawner. B ) It is unknown if PLS09-009 spawned. C) PLS09-008 was a nonreproductive female. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 23 B D ) Probable Stage IV D 11 Ketotestosterone 11 Ketotestosterone Testosterone Testosterone

) Nonreproductive males. ( C 019, 9/9/2009 019, 010, 9/8/2009 010, Estradiol Estradiol - - 07 5, 4/1/2009 09 S S L L P P 09-00 S L Probable Stage IV males Probable Stage II male P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 50 00 , , , , , , , , 5 1 1 2

) Probable Stage II male. ( 10 15 20 25

B R TE I L I LL I M PER S M PICOGRA IN , N CENTRATIO N CO R TE I L I LL I M PER S M PICOGRA IN , N CENTRATIO N CO A C o n i ) Reproductive males. ( t a A i v 4 e d d 718.8 a r = nd a t 11 Ketotestosterone S 11 Ketotestosterone n o i t a i 3 e v d s e d l 716.5 a a r = s m Testosterone n d e l Testosterone a t a S m n o i t a i r oductive 9 e v d r ep r oductive d 10.8 n - = Estradiol a r n o r ep Estradiol

n d o f of a

t e S a ge r ag e e r v v A PLS08-017, 9/11/2009 PLS09-011, 9/11/2009 A PLS07-020, 5/13/2009 PLS08-015, 5/11/2009 PLS09-001, 3/18/2009 PLS09-002, 3/20/2009 PLS09-004, 3/24/2009 Male pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 in the Missouri River. ( Male pallid sturgeon tracked in 2009 the Missouri River. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

00 00 00 00 00 00 500 00 00 , , , , , , , ,

6 4 2 2,50 2 1,50 1 8

12 10

R TE I L I LL I M PER S M PICOGRA IN , N CENTRATIO N CO R TE I L I LL I M PER S M PICOGRA IN , N CENTRATIO N CO Figure 9. males caught in September. 24 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

A B R R 100,000 100,000

TE Upper Section Females TE Lower Section Females Estradiol Estradiol I I L L I I Testosterone Testosterone LL LL I I 11 Ketotestosterone 11 Ketotestosterone M M

10,000 10,000 PER PER

S S M M 1,000 1,000 PICOGRA PICOGRA

N N I I 100 100

, ,

10 10 CONCENTRATION CONCENTRATION 1 1 4/12/2006 4/18/2009 4/26/2009 3/26/2007 3/29/2007 4/22/2009 5/7/2009

C D R R 100,000 100,000 Upper TE

TE Lower Section Males Estradiol I Estradiol I

L Section L I I Testosterone Testosterone LL

LL Males I I 11 Ketotestosterone

11 Ketotestosterone M M

10,000 10,000 PER

S PER S M M 1,000 1,000 PICOGRA

N IN PICOGRA I 100 100 , , N

10 10 CENTRATIO N CO CONCENTRATION 1 1

3/18/2009 3/20/2009 3/24/2009 3/25/2009 4/14/2006 6/12/2007 3/19/2008 3/27/2007 3/27/2007 3/29/2007 4/1/2009 5/11/2009 5/12/2009 5/13/2009

E F 35 350,000 35 350,000

Boonville D D S Sioux City S N U N 30 Water temperature 300,000 U 30 Water temperature 300,000

Discharge SECO Discharge

SECO CELSI

CELSI

S 25 25 250,000

250,000 S E PER E

PER E

E R R ET ET E 20 E G 20 200,000 E 200,000 F E G

F D

IN ,

E 15 15 150,000 E

150,000 CUBIC

CUBIC

UR UR IN T

IN T

A A

R 10 10 100,000

100,000 R E E P P M M E

E 5 T 5 50,000 50,000 T DISCHARGE, DISCHARGE, 0 0 0 0 2/16 3/2 3/16 3/30 4/13 4/27 5/11 5/25 6/8 2/16 3/2 3/16 3/30 4/13 4/27 5/11 5/25 6/8 2009 2009

Figure 10. Hormone levels on day of capture for reproductive pallid sturgeon captured in 2006–09 in two sections of the Missouri River, and discharge and temperature profiles in these river sections. A ,B) Female pallid sturgeon. C,D) Male pallid sturgeon. E) Boonville, Missouri, water temperature and discharge during 2009. F) Sioux City, Iowa, water temperature and discharge during 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 25

Reproductive shovelnose sturgeon were hormonally Summary and Conclusions induced using methods similar to those described in the hatchery literature (Conte and others, 1988). Induced Most sturgeon, pallid sturgeon included, have multiyear sturgeon were stocked into the CERC pond and followed reproductive cycles. Environmental conditions, months prior with a DIDSON acoustic camera in order to capture images to spawning, likely influence spawning outcome. Thus far, of spawning sturgeon. This experiment did not have the data have not been collected from sufficient numbers of pallid anticipated results. Sturgeon did not spawn, possibly because sturgeon to fully characterize seasonal and cyclical hormonal it was after the peak spawning period when the experiment patterns. This lack of information hinders interpretation was conducted. Nevertheless, this initial experiment provided valuable information on how to mount, deploy, optimize of effects of environmental conditions on reproduction and angles, and gain settings of the DIDSON to improve detection spawning. Because pallid sturgeon are rare and needed for of the benthically-oriented sturgeon. The experiment will be propagation and research, it will take several years to have attempted again during spawning season 2010. sufficient numbers of pallid sturgeon to acquire the necessary data. Recognizing that only two gravid females were observed Discussion in 2009, the results are consistent with previous years. Not all gravid pallid sturgeon females are moving or migrating Two reproductively ready pallid sturgeon females were to spawn. The reason for lowered reproductive hormone implanted with transmitters and tracked during the spring levels, the lack of upstream migration, and the interrelation 2009 spawning season. PLS09-007 (acoustic code 54500, PIT between physiological development and spawning success 472E35150C) moved upstream, exhibited spawning behavior, are not understood. Many more physiological biomarkers was recaptured, and confirmed to have spawned. PLS09- of general health, stress, and reproduction are available and 009 (acoustic code 54604, PIT 48685D0E30) did not move upstream and when recaptured after downstream movement could be employed to provide a better understanding of the was determined to have not yet spawned. PLS09-007 was fish’s response to its environment. Pallid sturgeon held under captured at river mile 180, whereas PLS09-009 was captured controlled laboratory conditions could also be studied to at river mile 666.7. The stress from surgery alone was likely better understand their response to environmental variables not the reason for the apparent failure of PLS09-009 to (photoperiod, temperature, and flow-regime characteristics). migrate upstream and spawn but may have been a contributing factor. Both females had PIs indicative of spawning ready sturgeon (0.06 and 0.05) and normally low estradiol (E2) Task 3. Quantify Pallid Sturgeon Migration and levels. However, PLS09-009, which had not spawned at Spawning Habitat recapture on May 7, had T and KT levels that were abnormally low; 2 to 10 times lower than PLS09-007 that moved upstream and spawned near river mile 206 on April 25-26. Cortisol, a stress hormone, was not measured, therefore, stress levels Background could not be compared between the two females. Undue Habitat assessments quantify habitat used by pallid stress from handling, temperature, disease, and other factors can cause hormone levels to decline rapidly. sturgeon as well as habitat that is available but not used in Additional comparative examination of reproductive and order to understand habitat selection. By coordinating with stress hormones may provide insight into why some gravid studies of reproductive movements and physiology, patterns female sturgeon migrate upstream and appear to spawn, of habitat selection can indicate whether specific habitats are and others do not. Sample sizes at this time are limited and limiting in the reproduction and survival of pallid sturgeon. why the upper section female did not move upstream to Because of the fundamental role of spawning in population spawn cannot be explained. Similarly, nonreproductive male dynamics (Quist and others, 2004; Bajer and Wildhaber, 2007; PLS09-005 (acoustic code 1050, PIT 4704237D39) caught in Wildhaber and others, 2007), definition and quantification of the upper study section also had low T and KT levels and at spawning habitat was emphasized in 2009 and previous years. capture there was uncertainty about its reproductive readiness. Recognizing that previous information supports the idea that It, too, may have experienced extreme stress causing the T and KT levels to decrease. All plasma samples have been archived spawning habitat itself may not be limiting for pallid sturgeon and analysis for GtH II and MIH in coming years will provide on the Lower Missouri River, assessments were conducted of more accurate information about readiness to spawn relative to habitats used by upstream migrating reproductive sturgeon and environmental conditions. larval drift. 26 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

Scope and Objectives and multibeam data. Hypack and RESON provide real-time quality-control displays that are monitored to ensure quality The main project objective for task 3 was to map data are collected. migration and spawning habitats in order to replicate Longitudinal survey lines were laid out in Hypack at a assessments conducted in 2008 and to complement previously distance to assure at least 50 percent overlap in multibeam published habitat information (Reuter and others, 2008; coverage. The lines were parallel to the flow of the river and Elliott and others, 2009; Jacobson and others, 2009; Reuter centered over the chosen fish location. A helm display showed and others, 2009). For these assessments, an enhanced, high- the boat pilot the boat position and the quality and extent of resolution habitat mapping protocol was deployed as described incoming data. below around fish locations identified by telemetry crews. Multibeam files were edited in the office to remove Three of the habitat reaches were identified as probable erroneous data. These data were subsequently exported from spawning locations and include high-frequency fish locations. the Hypack environment and imported into ArcMap (ESRI, Also, habitats were mapped that are associated with upstream- Redlands, Calif.) where the data were gridded for analysis and migrating reproductive pallid sturgeon. display. Current velocity fields were mapped using a 1200 kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (Teledyne RD Instruments, Methods Poway, Calif.). ADCP data were logged simultaneously Methods replicated those used in 2008; detailed with GPS data on a laptop computer running WinRiver® documentation of methods are on file at USGS. Fish locations (version 10.06, Teledyne RD Instruments, Poway, California). were selected based on their representation of migratory or Magnetic variation was set for each reach mapped by using spawning behavior. The R/V Brush hydroacoustic survey GeoMagix® software (Interpex, Ltd., Golden, Colorado). boat was deployed to a fish location within 24 hours and Mapping crews performed the “Method 3” compass within 10 percent of the discharge that existed when the fish calibration procedure at each site by rotating the boat in a tight were located. A temporary benchmark was set up on shore to circle (RD Instruments, 2003). This procedure corrects for provide base-station corrections for real-time kinematic (RTK) one-cycle errors. The procedure was repeated until the total positioning. The R/V Brush is equipped with a dual-receiver error reading was less than 1 degree. Configuration settings global positioning system (GPS) and motion-sensing system, a for ADCP data collection included a bin (vertical cell) size of multibeam echosounder for detailed mapping of the riverbed, 25 centimeters (cm) and a blanking distance of 50 cm below and an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) for mapping the transducer. ADCP data were collected using water mode 1 current-velocity fields. with six water pings and bottom mode 5 with one bottom ping. The multibeam system is a RESON SeaBat® 7125 Velocity data were edited in the office and exported (RESON, Inc., Slangerup, Denmark) operating at 455 from WinRiver into generic text files. These data were kilohertz (kHz). The transducer and receiver arrays are subsequently imported into ArcMap for further processing and mounted on the front of the survey vessel on a tilt-up mount. gridding. The multibeam system collects data from 512 beams at 0.25 degree spacing and is capable of mapping depths of Results approximately 1-200 m. The geometry allows a 128o swath covering approximately four times the water depth. Eleven reaches were mapped as part of this year’s Positioning and motion sensing data were acquired using (2009) effort (table 3). Five mapped reaches included fish an Applanix POS-MV Wavemaster® system with dual GPS located during upstream migration; three migration maps receivers and an inertial momentum unit. Using a base station were of males (figs. 11-19), two were of females (figs. 20-25). to broadcast RTK corrections from a known benchmark, Three reaches were probable spawning reaches (figs. 26-34). positioning of the POS-MV was approximately +/- 0.02 m PLS09-007 was mapped at the downstream spawning site in the horizontal. The unit provides corrections of vessel at river mile 206.4, was captured 24 hours after mapping, heading, pitch, roll, and heave that are acquired and processed and was shown to have spawned completely (figs. 4, 26-28). by acquisition software. Multiple fish were mapped at each of the upstream spawning The multibeam system and boat mount were calibrated sites and behavior was complex (figs. 5, 6, 29-34). PLS09- with a “patch” test that corrects for internal geometry of 009 was recaptured on May 7 after a significant downstream the boat, transducer/receiver, and GPS receiver. Patch test movement and was found to have not yet spawned; it was results were used to update geometry files used by the data not confirmed if spawning occurred at either of the mapped acquisition software. In addition, a sound-velocity profile was locations (river mile 659.7 and 650.6). Two map sites were collected to assess stratification of sound-velocity with depth. selected to replicate at high discharge for comparison with HYPACK/HYSWEEP® software (Hypack, Inc., Middletown, earlier maps at lower discharges in order to assess varying Conn.) was used to acquire, compile, correct, and edit GPS bedform conditions (figs. 20-25 and 35-40). Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 27

Table 3. Dates and information on detailed habitat assessments, 2009.

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; ADCP, Acoustic Doppler current profiler]

Sturgeon River mile Nearest Sturgeon Discharge Date acoustic tag in center streamflow Map types Map characterization identification (ft3/s) number of reach gaging station

Boonville, 4/15/2009 1048 PLS09-004 174.9 82,800 multibeam Male migration Mo.

Boonville, multibeam, single 4/17/2009 1047 PLS09-002 209.6 74,300 Male migration Mo. beam, ADCP

Boonville, multibeam, single 4/21/2009 54500 PLS09-007 183.7 83,900 Female migration Mo. beam, ADCP

Boonville, multibeam, single 4/23/2009 54500 PLS09-007 193.7 64,400 Female migration Mo. beam, ADCP

Boonville, multibeam, single 4/26/2009 54500 PLS09-007 206.4 57,800 Probable spawning site Mo. beam, ADCP

Boonville, single beam, Nonreproductive 5/7/2009 1046 PLS09-008 197.8 90,800 Mo. ADCP female

558, PLS07-020, 1010, PLS08-036, Decatur, multibeam, single 5/11/2009 659.8 29,900 Probable spawning site 1036, PLS09-003, Nebr. beam, ADCP 54604 PLS09-009

558, PLS07-020, Decatur, multibeam, single 5/12/2009 1036, PLS09-003, 650.6 29,300 Probable spawning site Nebr. beam, ADCP 54604 PLS09-009

Decatur, multibeam, single 5/13/2009 1036 PLS09-003 668.0 29,400 Male migration Nebr. beam, ADCP

Boonville, multibeam, single Remap of 4/21/2009, 5/20/2009 54500 PLS09-007 183.7 168,000 Mo. beam, ADCP higher discharge

Boonville, multibeam, single Remap of 4/23/2009, 5/21/2009 54500 PLS09-007 193.7 150,000 Mo. beam, ADCP higher discharge 28 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

92°27' 92°26'45" 175.2 EXPLANATION Depth, in meters Deep (maximum 11.28)

175.1 Shallow (minimum 3.19)

Sturgeon location— Location of '

51 pallid sturgeon ° 8

3 175 PLS09-004 (acoustic tag 1048) on April 14, 2009

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance 174.9 upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

Discharge on the date of mapping (April 15, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. 174.8 streamflow-gaging station: 82,800 cubic feet per second " 45 ' 174.7 50 ° 8 3

174.6

174.5 0 75 150 METERS

0 300 600 FEET

Base from U.S. Department River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1960; of Agriculture National Agriculture Imagery Sturgeon locations from Program, digital data, 2006 U.S. Geological Survey, Universal Transverse Mercator projection DeLonay and others, 2009; Zone 15 Aaron J. DeLonay, unpub. data, 2009

Figure 11. Multibeam bathymetric map of location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-004, acoustic tag 1048. Mapped April 15, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 29 g n i p FEET p a

e )

e 600 c , m

r ) h n e f METERS 8 t e 1 — .

a N h o t v 8 t 1

m s er 1 — O i e 2

R i h I

k 150

n t t d i r i

m fr o o T a m

p s u w i t i d u p A

i m ma a r m

o s m i e c l e N i p e on l ss x e h i o b n ti r ea il il a t s i l A t

r ee c h m ss s 300 L m n i n

n u D ( ma S ( m - m t e p o P o n u Location of pallid sturgeon PLS09-002 (acoustic tag 1047) on April 15, 2009 e i M u j N

75 e er X e g v m i r

E n R r g t u i

a , S h t h c 0 p s 3 e i 2 D 0 0 D (April 17, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. streamflow-gaging station: 74,300 cubic feet per second

; , ; 9 9 y 0 m 0 0 e 6 0 o 0 v r " 2 r f 2 19

, , , u , , s 30 a s ' s S t n r

r l a o e 55 a d ti h

° ee c . t 2 i n o b i 9 ca g

u g o d o l l p n

n o n E n a

u f o

y , G o e

y a . g s a n r S p . n o u r t o L U o L e C e

S D y D

. m J r

A n

. o r S . a U

A m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R " 45 ' 55 ° 209.3 2 9 209.4 209.5 209.6 ' 209.7 56 ° 2 9 209.8 y r n e o g ti a m ec 209.9 j I

o e r r p

u r lt o u t c i t r ca 6 n r g 0 e e 0 A

m l 2 M t

, , a r e a n a t s o p r a ti e e d

a v D l

s . N a

n S it e . Multibeam bathymetric map of location migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047. Mapped April 17, 2009. a r g r i U u

T d t

l l

, , m u a o m 5 c s i r fr 1 a r

r e g e e g v s i n A o

n a r f o

B Z o U P

" 15 ' 3 ° 9 3 ' 3 ° 9 3 Figure 12. 30 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River g FEET n

e i

e c , p

r h n e p t 600 e

a a h N v t METERS t

m s m i O —

R i h

I f t — d i i

fr o o er 150 n T

s w i k o p e

A r i t r t i n s a e a N o ss e d i b ma c

2 4 ti r eam il

A t o 0 1 1 e c m e

s ss l s m L i 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1

r h

n u

il o o p t 300 n t t

n u P o o o o o o o o 1

i N u j M t e Location of pallid sturgeon PLS09-002 (acoustic tag 1047) on April 15, 2009

o t t t t t t t t n

4 - m 75 X e o e o r 1 t

E g m e e

r 0 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 10 > 12 > v n i i t u r g

R , a S h t h c p s 0 e i 0 0 3 D D (April 17, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. streamflow-gaging station: 74,300 cubic feet per second 2

, ; ; 9 y 0 9 m 0 e 6 0 o 0 v 0 r r 2 f 19 2

, , u , , , s a s s S n t

" r r l o a e a ti 30 d ee h '

c . t i n i o b ca g 55

g u o ° o d l l n p

2 n o 9 E n n

a e

f u o

G y o , e

y . a g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

. m r J

n . o S r . a U

A m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R " 45 ' 55 ° 209.3 2 9 209.4 209.5 209.6 209.7 ' 56 ° 2 9 209.8 y r n e o g ti 209.9 a m ec j I

o e r r p

u r lt o u t c i t r ca 6 n r g 0 e e 0 A

m l 2 M t

, , a r e n a a t s o p r a ti e e d

a v D l

s . N a

n S it e . a r g Single-beam depth map of location migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047. Mapped April 17, 2009. r i U u

T d t

l l , , m

u a o m 5 c s i r fr 1 a r

r e " g e e g v s i n A o 15

n a ' r f o

Z U P o B

56 " 15 ' 3 ° 9 3 ' 3 ° 9 ° 3 2 9 Figure 13. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 31 FEET g 600 n

i e

e p c ,

METERS r h p n e t e

a a h v t t

m 150 N s m

i , R i h f

— — t d i O i

t y o fr o n I i

p s er w i o c e p T

k i t d r o t i r n l s A a e n a o ss e e d i b o c

ti r eam N v il ma

t c 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 o e

c m ...... l ss s 300 d m e A

h i e

n 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 u t p e

s n

L il

n u 75 Location of pallid sturgeon PLS09-002 (acoustic tag 1047) on April 15, 2009 i N u j M 2 o o o o o o o o o r o n . t t t t t t t t t P ag

e e o 0 - m r

2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 p r X g ......

e e o r e 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 t s E v

v r g t u i 0 > > > > > > > > > > - a a S R t er h e t h c p m s

i e 0 n 0 0 3 D (April 17, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. streamflow-gaging station: 74,300 cubic feet per second D i 2

, ; ; 9 y 0 9 m 0 e 6 0 o 0 v 9 0 r r 2 f 1 2

, , u , , s a s s S n t

r r l o a e a ti d ee h

c . t i n i o b ca g

g u o o d l l n p

n o E n n

a e

f u o

G y o , e

y . a g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

. m r J

n . o S r . a U

A m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R " 45 ' 55 ° 2 9 209.4 209.5 209.6 209.7 ' 56 ° 2 9 209.8 y r n e o g ti a m ec j I

o e r r p

209.9 u r lt o u t c i t r ca 6 n r g 0 e e 0 A

m l 2 M t

, , a r e n a a t s o p r a ti e e d

a v D l

s . N a

n S it e . a Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-002, acoustic tag 1047. M apped April 17, 2009. r g r i U u

T d t

l l , m

u a o m 5 c s i r fr 1 a r

r e g e e g v s i n A o

n a r f o

Z U P o B

" 15 ' 3 ° 9 3 ' 3 ° 9 3 Figure 14. 32 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°4' 96°3'45"

EXPLANATION

Depth, in meters Deep 668.2 (maximum 10.70)

Shallow (minimum 2.71)

Sturgeon location— " 15 ' PLS07-006 47

° male 1 4 acoustic tag 802

668.1 PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558 PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

Location of pallid sturgeon from May 5 to May 6, 2009

668 230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

Discharge on the date of mapping 667.9 (May 13, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,400 cubic feet per second ' 47 ° 1 4

667.8

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 15. Multibeam bathymetric map of location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802. Mapped May 13, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 33

96°4' 96°3'45"

EXPLANATION

668.2 Depth, in meters

0 to 1

> 1 to 2

> 2 to 3

> 3 to 4

" > 4 to 5 15 '

47 > 5 to 6 ° 1 4 > 6 to 7

668.1 > 7 to 8

> 8 to 10

> 10 to 12

> 12 to 14

> 14

Sturgeon location—

PLS07-006 668 male acoustic tag 802

PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558

PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

Locations of pallid sturgeon from 667.9 May 5 to May 6, 2009

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, ' in miles 47 ° 1 4

Discharge on the date of mapping 667.8 (May 13, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,400 cubic feet per second

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET Base from U.S. Department of River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1960; Agriculture National Agriculture Imagery Sturgeon locations from Program, digital data, 2006 U.S. Geological Survey, Universal Transverse Mercator projection DeLonay and others, 2009; Zone 14 Aaron J. DeLonay, unpub. data, 2009

Figure 16. Single-beam depth map of location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802. Mapped May 13, 2009. 34 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°4' 96°3'45"

EXPLANATION

Depth-averaged velocity, 668.2 in meters per second

0 to 0.2

> 0.2 to 0.4

> 0.4 to 0.6

> 0.6 to 0.8

" > 0.8 to 1.0 15 ' 47

° > 1.0 to 1.2 1 4 > 1.2 to 1.4

668.1 > 1.4 to 1.6

> 1.6 to 1.8

> 1.8 to 2.0

> 2.0

Sturgeon location—

PLS07-006 male 668 acoustic tag 802 PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558 PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

Locations of pallid sturgeon from May 5 to May 6, 2009 667.9

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River,

' in miles 47 ° 1 4 Discharge on the date of mapping (May 13, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. 667.8 streamflow-gaging station: 29,400 cubic feet per second

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 17. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location of migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036, along with reproductive male PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and male PLS07-006, acoustic tag 802. Mapped May 13, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 35 T S

0 EE g R F n E i 80 , p 0

e ) p ET

90 0 e c ,

N a

r 6 h n : e 46 M t — e

m O — a 0 n h

v n I t t f 9 1 o 0 n

s i o er 0 o T i t R i o 5 h

k t i 0 t d i a 1 e i A r e

a d fr o 2

t a f t t

p g s

n 8 s , w i c r o a N

6 c 0 i o ma r u i

d g n

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i a i L b

9 0 ti r eam il 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 il u r t h s g d

t o

o o t 0 c i P m o

t t M a ss r s 1 m e o o o o o o o o

3 t e i

n u t t t t t t t t c ca n - m e 5 p X 4 g 0 2 n e r o - g n u o r p 1 7 i N u j M t

( a o E

PLS0 pall

Lo m t w e

v t u 0 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 1 > 1 > > i e o n l S i r g e f R

f ,

a m h c t h a c p s 0 e i 3 0 0 D (May 7, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. D cubi str e 2

, ; ; 9 y 0 9 m 0 e 6 0 o 0 v 0 r r 2 f 19 2

, , u " , , , s a s s S n t

r r 30 l ' o a e a ti d ee h

c 45 . t i n ° i o b ca g

2 g u o o 9 d l l n p

n o E n n 197.4

a e

f u o

G y o , e

y . a g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

. m r J

n . o S r . a U

A 197.5 m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R 197.6 " 45 ' 45 ° 2 9 197.7 197.8 ' 197.9 46 ° 2 9 198

n y o r ti e g ec j a o m r I

e r r

f o u t o lt

t u ca 6 n r c i 0 e e r 0 m g 2 M t

, , r A

e l a a t s a p r a 198.1 e e d on

v D l

ti s . a a n S it . a N g

Single-beam depth map of location migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-008, acoustic tag 1046. Mapped May 7, 2009. r " i U

e T d

l 15 , m ' u

a t o m 5 l s 46 r fr 1 a u

° r e c e 2 e i g v 9 s r i n o

g n a r o

B A U Z P

" 45 ' 58 ° 8 3 " 30 ' 58 ° 8 3 Figure 18. 36 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River T

S 0 g EE R F n 80 E i , p

0 e ) p 90 ET

e 0 c ,

a r N : 6 h n e 46 — — M t e n

m a 0 , h O

n v t t o f n 9 1 I er i

0 m

o s t y t o 0 o i k i R i

h 5 T

g t i

0 r a t e d i c d 1 i e

t a f a fr o 2 A g t t

p o n 8 s s

o r , c l w i

a p n

0 ma 6 N c i o u 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0

g e r i

d n ...... t o l n co

s t

v e n - 0 y e o 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 s

c A o i e ss s

e i e

n 9 i il a b 0 t d e s g ti r eam L il 2 u h o o o o o o o o o d o

t . t i 0 t t t t t t t t t s e c a r m o

M ss e P s 0 m - m

3 ca i r

n 0 e u 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 c n r g 5 p ...... - g n e X ag o n u r p o e 7 2 i N u j M

PLS0 t r pall Lo

( a o

t w E v

e t u e i 0 0 > 0 > 0 > 0 > 1 > 1 > 1 > 1 > 1 > > e o s v l S R e f r g f

- a a t er m c h e a t h c p m s

0 e i n 3 cubi str e 0 0 (May 7, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. D D i 2

; , ; 9 y 9 0 m 0 0 e 6 0 o 0 v r 2 r f 2 19 , ,

u , " , , s a s s S t n

r r 30 l a ' o e a d ti

h ee c . 45 t i n ° b o i g ca

2 u g o o d 9 l l p n n o e n E 197.4 r

a e u

, y n G o

y a . o s a n e S p . n o g r r o U L o L u e t C e

D S y D

. m J r

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. o r S . a U

A 197.5 m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R 197.6 " 45 ' 45 ° 2 9 197.7 197.8 ' 197.9 46 ° 2 9 198

n y o r ti e g ec j a o m r I

e r r

f o u t o lt

t u ca 6 n r c i 0 e e r 0 m g 2 M t

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e l a a t s a p r a n 198.1 e e d o

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r Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location migrating male pallid sturgeon PLS09-008, acoustic tag 1046. M apped May 7, 2009. i U "

e T d

r l , , 15 m u '

a t o m 5 l s r fr 46 1 a u

r ° e c e e i 2 v s r i n 9 og

g n a r o

B A P U Z

" 45 ' 58 ° 8 3 " 30 ' 58 ° 8 3 Figure 19. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 37 T E E F S R 0 E 0

6 g ) 0

e 0 ET n

i e c , 90

, r p M 50 h n e t 9 e p 4

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m i t u

t w e R S o n e l i

r g f e , f

a m h t h c a c p 0 s e r e i 3 t 0 0 D D (April 21, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. s 2 cubi

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a e

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y . a g s a r n S p . u n o r t 183.4 U o L o L e C

e S D y D

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A 30 ' m o 31 r f °

2 s 9 e il m

r e v 183.5 i R 183.6 " 183.7 45 ' 31 ° 2 9 183.8

n y o r ti e g ec j a o m r I

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t u ca 6 n r c i 0 e e 183.9 r 0 m g 2 M t

, , r A

e l a a t s a p r a n e e d o

v D l

ti s . a a n S it . a N g

r Multibeam bathymetric map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. Mapped April 21, 2009 . i U

e T d

r l , , m u

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184 B A P U Z

" 45 ' 56 ° 8 3 ' 57 ° 8 3 Figure 20. 38 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River T EE F S R 0

E 0 g 0 6 n ET i 90 , p

M e ) p

e 0 c , 83

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m n a h

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n e u o ll n

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n u p X - m e a o

n i t t t t t t t t N u j M

r 4 0 2 t PLS0 g o m ( a o p Loca w E 1 e

e r t e

o v n l 0 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 1 > 1 > > e i i r g f t u f

, R a S m c h t h a c p s r e e i t 0 cubi 0 0 D (April 21, 2009) at the Boonville, Mo. s D 3 2

, ; ; 9 y 0 9 m 0 e 6 0 o 0 v 0 r r 2 f 19 2

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r r l o a e a ti d ee h

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a e

f u o

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y . a 183.4 g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

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n . " o S r . a 30 U '

A m 31 ° o r 2 f 9

s e il m

r 183.5 e v i R 183.6 " 183.7 45 ' 31 ° 2 9 183.8

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e r r

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r i Single-beam depth map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. Mapped April 21, 2009. U

e T d

r l , , m u a

t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u

' r e c e e i v s r i 32 n og ° g n a r o

B A P U Z

184 9

" 45 ' 56 ° 8 3 ' 57 ° 8 3 Figure 21. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 39 600 FEET

0 ) n

i e 0 90 150 METERS

, e c ,

N r pp 50 h n e 9 t 83 e 4 a

a , h — O 0 : v t 5 n t — I

0 m n

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e e l 9 t ...... n i p b d e

u e i L ti r eam e d il il 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 75 t i s e s n A

g o h c

ss P t ll s ca m r o r i

a 2 o o o o o o o o o c

n u n . t t t t t t t t t a p - m e e ag e X n g

n u o r 0 Lo r ( a p i - N u j M PSL0 p

o p 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0 g

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o t u g l e 0 > > > > > > > > > > r f R f - a S

t er a m c e t h h a c p m e

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g u o o d l l n p

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y . a g 183.4 s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

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n . o S " r . 0 a U 3

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9 s e il m

r 183.5 e v i R 183.6 183.7 " 5 4 ' 31 ° 2 9 183.8

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e l a a t s a p r a n e e d o

v D l

ti s . a a n S it . a N g Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. M apped April 21, 2009.

r i U

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" 45 ' 6 5 ° 8 3 ' 57 ° 8 3 Figure 22. 40 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

g 0 ) n

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r 50 h 600 FEET n p e ) t 9 e 4 64

a a h

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e l a a t s a p r a e e d on

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ti s . a a n S it . a N g Multibeam bathymetric map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. Mapped April 23, 2009 .

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u a t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u

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g n a r o

B A Z P U

" 45 ' 58 ° 8 3 " 30 ' 58 ° 8 3 Figure 23. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 41 T EE F 0 T . 0 o 6

EE g F 0 M

n , i 0 40

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e 0 15 i p N

64 e c v , a

r : O 50 h n n — e — t m 9 e n 4

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ll s t e ca m 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 - m i c n

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a m h c t h a i c p b s r e e i u t 0 April 23, 2009 D D 0 0 ( s c 3 2

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g u o o d l l n p

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r Single-beam depth map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. Mapped April 23, 2009. i U

e T d

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a t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u '

r e c e e i v 42 s i r n og ° n g a

r o 2

Z P U A B 9

" 45 ' 58 ° 8 3 " 30 ' 58 ° 8 3 Figure 24. 42 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River T E E F 0 0 . 6 o

g 0 METERS M

, i ) 40 0

e e , p 0 l

l e c ,

p i 15 r h 64 n v 50 e a

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i ca s

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a - a m t er h c a i e t h c b p m s r e 0 i

u e t April 23, 2009 3 n D ( s c 0 0 D i 2

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r r l o a e a ti d ee h

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g u o o d l l n p

n o E n n

a e

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r e v i R 193.6 193.7 " 45 ' 41 ° 2 9 193.8

n y o r 193.9 ti e g ec j a o m r I

e r r

f o u t o lt

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Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location migrating female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. M apped April 23, 2009. r i U

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T R .

d E E o )

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a 0 l )

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e h ti r eam

il i m t t w o 0 o m S i d g r i

il c n m ll t l ca i

ss N s co t p m 0 c l x i n L p

n o u a e n e i 3 e p e a a s a i n u Lo e A - m p ( a P A b

r h g s i N u j M e 5 h

r ) t g L

a 7 r r D ( m S ( m e t e n e P v e - g i t u o p

X R m S t w e

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f ,

a m h c t h a i c 0 p b s r e 3 e i u t 0 0 April 26, 2009 2 c s ( D D

, ; ; 9 y 9 m 0 0 e 0 6 o 0 v 0 r r 2 f 2

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r r l 54 o a e a ° ti d h

c ee 2 . t i 9 n o b ca g i

u o g o d l l p

n n o n n E a e

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G y , e o

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S D y D

. m J r

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A m o r f

s e il m

r e v i R 206.2 " 15 ' 54 ° 2 9 206.3 206.4 206.5 " 30 ' 54 ° 2 9

n y o r ti e g ec j a o m r I

e r r

f o u t o 206.6 lt

t u ca 6 n r c i 0 e e r m g 20 M t

, , A r

e l a a t s a p r a e e d on

v D l

ti s . a a n S it . a N g

r Multibeam bathymetric map of location probable spawning site female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. M apped April 26, 2009. i U

e T d

r l , , m u

a 206.7 t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u

r e c e e i g v s i r n o

n g a r o

Z U P A B

" 45 ' 0 ° 9 3 Figure 26. 44 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River . o

0 g M

600 FEET n

, i 80 ,

d e p ) l

e l n 0 p i

57 e c a ,

v a

r h : n e 50 n 5 t 150 METERS e

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t n c

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r r l o a 54 e a ti ° d ee h

c . 2 t i n 9 i o b ca g

g u o o d l l n p

n o E n n

a e

f u o

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y . a g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

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n . o S r . 206.1 a U

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r e v i R 206.2 " 15 ' 54 ° 2 9 206.3 206.4 206.5

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p 2

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Single-beam depth map of location probable spawning site female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoustic tag 54500. Mapped A pril 26, 2009. r i U

e T d

l , m u

a t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u

r e c e e i g v s r i n o

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206.7

B A U Z P

" 45 ' 0 ° 9 3 Figure 27. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 45 . o

0 g M

, d i 80 600 FEET ) , e n

p e 0 l l

a e N p i c ,

57 r v 50 h a n

5 e t : O e 4 n —

— 2 a h I

m n v t 5 n t , n o

150 METERS

m f s o T er o o o i i r il 9 R i g t y h f o t

k e i t

d 0 A t i p

i B a i o r

a fr o t

g c 0 e a

d p

t A s r 0 t e s

N d 2 w i o s n c p

c l u i a

h i n , n n ma r t - 0 o t n t 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 0

A e s d g 6

o l ...... o 9 s e

s co i t o e ss v

2 e n L 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 ee t

0 c i

b e i n

u e ti r eam l d il il a d t e i

P 2 h 300 g s o o o o o o o o o o w o c m

r i . ) t S ss t t t t t t t t t ll t s s ca e m

a i e

c r

n 0 u X L p - m a e p 75 r

0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 n g e r n u ...... Lo p P ( a b A i N j u M E - g r e o ag o p e 2 t r

v t w

t u e e i 0 0 > 0 > 0 > 0 > 1 > 1 > 1 > 1 > 1 > > s o e v S l R r g f e f - a

a t er m h c e t h a i c p b m s r e

i e u t 0 April 26, 2009 n 0 0 D ( s c i D 3 2

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r r l o a e a ti d ee h

c . t i n 206 i o b ca g

g u o o d l l ' n p

n o E n n

54 a e

f u o °

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y . a 9 g s a r n S p . u n o r t U o L o L e C

e S D y D

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n . o S r . a U

A m o r f 206.1

s e il m

r e v i R 206.2 " 15 ' 54 ° 2 9 206.3 206.4 206.5 "

n y 30 o r ' ti e 54 g ec ° j a 2 o 9 m r I

e r r

f o u t o lt

t u ca 6 n r c i 0 e e r 0 m g 2 M t

, , r A 206.6

e l a a t s a p r a e e d on

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ti s . a a n S it . a N g

Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location probable spawning site female pallid sturgeon PLS09-007, acoust ic tag 54500. Mapped April 26, 2009. r i U

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l , m u

a t o m 5 l s r fr 1 a u

r e c e e i g v s r i n o

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206.7

B A P U Z

" 45 ' 0 ° 9 3 Figure 28. 46 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°7'15"

660.1 EXPLANATION Depth, in meters

" Deep 30 '

41 (maximum 8.97) ° 1 4 Shallow (minimum, 2.78)

660 Sturgeon location— PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558

PLS08-036 reproductive male acoustic tag 1010

659.9 PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

PLS09-009 reproductive female acoustic tag 54604 Locations of pallid sturgeon on May 8, 2009

230 River-mile marker—

" Number is distance 15 ' upstream from the 41

° junction with the 1 4 Mississippi River, in miles

659.7 Discharge on the date of mapping (May 11, 2009) at the Decatur, N ebr . streamflow-gaging station: 29,900 cubic feet per second

659.6

0 40 80 METERS 659.5

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 29. Multibeam bathymetric map of location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped May 11, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 47

96°7'15"

EXPLANATION

660 Depth, in meters

0 to 1

> 1 to 2

> 2 to 3

> 3 to 4

> 4 to 5

> 5 to 6

> 6 to 7 659.9 > 7 to 8

> 8 to 10

> 10 to 12

> 12 to 14

> 14

Sturgeon location— PLS07-020 reproductive male 659.8 acoustic tag 558

PLS08-036

" reproductive male 15

' acoustic tag 1010 41 ° 1

4 PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

PLS09-009 reproductive female acoustic tag 54604

659.7 Locations of pallid sturgeon on May 8, 2009

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

Discharge on the date of mapping 659.6 (May 11, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,900 cubic feet per second

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Base from U.S. Department of River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1960; Agriculture National Agriculture Imagery Sturgeon locations from Program, digital data, 2006 U.S. Geological Survey, Universal Transverse Mercator projection DeLonay and others, 2009; Zone 14 Aaron J. DeLonay, unpub. data, 2009 Figure 30. Single-beam depth map of location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604 along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped May 11, 2009. 48 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°7'15"

EXPLANATION 660 Depth-averaged velocity, in meters per second

0 to 0.2

> 0.2 to 0.4

> 0.4 to 0.6

> 0.6 to 0.8

> 0.8 to 1.0

659.9 > 1.0 to 1.2 > 1.2 to 1.4

> 1.4 to 1.6

> 1.6 to 1.8

> 1.8 to 2.0

> 2.0

Sturgeon location— PLS07-020 659.8 reproductive male acoustic tag 558

PLS08-036 reproductive male

" acoustic tag 1010 15 ' 41

° PLS09-003 1

4 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

PLS09-009 reproductive female acoustic tag 54604

659.7 Locations of pallid sturgeon on May 10, 2008

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

659.6 Discharge on the date of mapping (May 11, 2009)at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,900 cubic feet per second

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 31. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604 along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, PLS08-036, acoustic tag 1010, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped May 11, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 49

96°5' 96°4'45"

EXPLANATION '

35 Depth, in meters ° 1 4 Deep (maximum 9.42)

650.7 Shallow (minimum, 2.81)

Sturgeon location—

PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558

PLS09-003 650.6 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

PLS09-009 reproductive female acoustic tag 54604

Locations of pallid sturgeon 650.5 on May 10, 2008

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the " 45

' junction with the 34

° Mississippi River, 1 4 in miles

650.4 Discharge on the date of mapping (May 12, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,300 cubic feet per second

650.3

650.2

0 40 80 METERS " 30 ' 34

° 0 150 300 FEET 1 4 Base from U.S. Department of River miles from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1960; Agriculture National Agriculture Imagery Sturgeon locations from Program, digital data, 2006 U.S. Geological Survey, Universal Transverse Mercator projection DeLonay and others, 2009; Zone 14 Aaron J. DeLonay, unpub. data, 2009

Figure 32. Multibeam bathymetric map of location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped May 12, 2009. 50 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

96°5' 96°4'45"

EXPLANATION

Depth, in meters

0 to 1 650.7 > 1 to 2

> 2 to 3

> 3 to 4

> 4 to 5

> 5 to 6

> 6 to 7

> 7 to 8 650.6 > 8 to 10

> 10 to 12

> 12 to 14

> 14

Sturgeon location—

PLS07-020 650.5 reproductive male acoustic tag 558 PLS09-003 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

" PLS09-009 45

' reproductive female

34 acoustic tag 54604 ° 1 4 Locations of pallid sturgeon on May 10, 2008 650.4

230 River-mile marker— Number is distance upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

Discharge on the date of mapping (May 12, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. 650.3 streamflow-gaging station: 29,300 cubic feet per second

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 33. Single-beam depth map of location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped May 12, 2009. Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 51

96°5' 96°4'45"

EXPLANATION Depth-averaged velocity, in meters per second

650.7 0 to 0.2 > 0.2 to 0.4 > 0.4 to 0.6 > 0.6 to 0.8 > 0.8 to 1.0 > 1.0 to 1.2 > 1.2 to 1.4 > 1.4 to 1.6 > 1.6 to 1.8 650.6 > 1.8 to 2.0 > 2.0

Sturgeon location— PLS07-020 reproductive male acoustic tag 558 PLS09-003 650.5 reproductive male acoustic tag 1036

PLS09-009 reproductive female acoustic tag 54604

" Locations of 45 ' pallid sturgeon 34 °

1 on May 10, 2008 4 230 River-mile marker— Number is distance 650.4 upstream from the junction with the Mississippi River, in miles

Discharge on the date of mapping (May 12, 2009) at the Decatur, Nebr. streamflow-gaging station: 29,300 cubic feet per second

650.3

0 40 80 METERS

0 150 300 FEET

Figure 34. Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity map of location of probable spawning site of female pallid sturgeon PLS09-009, acoustic tag 54604, along with reproductive males PLS07-020, acoustic tag 558, and PLS09-003, acoustic tag 1036. Mapped on May 12, 2009. 52 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River .

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Discussion patches, however, indicated that fish aggregations may also occur at diverging flow over mid-channel bars. Similar to previous, extensive mapping of sturgeon Progress in understanding potential habitat limitations migration locations, the 2009 maps document that migrating on pallid sturgeon reproduction will improve with additional sturgeon are using relatively slow, shallow water on the replicates of the mapping efforts pursued in 2008 and 2009. inside of bends (Reuter and others, 2008; DeLonay and Now that spawning habitats have been identified with some others, 2009; Reuter and others, 2009). This supports the confidence at the scale of 10’s of meters, a second set of idea that sturgeon may be selecting low-energy areas on questions can be addressed about quality of those habitats. insides of bends in their upstream migrations before crossing Particular questions that have yet to be addressed relate to over to outside bends to search for specific spawning sites as the fate of eggs once they are released: Are they transported spawning becomes imminent. The migration maps did not downstream? Do they get lodged in the interstices of rocks capture a sturgeon migrating upstream through a cross-over, and gravel, or adhere to the surface? Do they get covered with but it is hypothesized that hydraulic conditions in cross-overs sediment? These factors will have a bearing on successful may present substantive obstacles to migration because of fertilization, incubation, and hatch. If sturgeon are spawning the lack of low-velocity pathways. Detailed mapping of in two different types of habitats, how do these factors and locations through cross-overs may indicate strategies fish use probability of successful hatch vary among habitat types? to minimize stress in high-velocity areas. Although spawning patches have been identified on The downstream spawning site at river mile 206.4 the Lower Missouri River, it is not known if these sites are conforms to spawning sites documented at three sites in optimal for spawning, or simply the best available. To put 2008 (figs. 26-28). All three sites were in deep (greater Lower Missouri River spawning sites into perspective, it than 3 m), fast (greater than 1 m/s), turbulent flow on the would be very useful to map spawning habitat in other parts of outsides of revetted bends. In contrast, at the two probable the river system where spawning is suspected or known; sites sites in the upstream section (river mile 659.7 and 650.6), like the Lower Yellowstone River or the Mississippi River at male and female fish were spread over a broader area. In Chain of Rocks may provide more natural reference conditions the downstream reaches in 2008 and 2009, the reproductive for comparison. females stayed mostly in the deepest, fastest water in the The hypothesis that migration pathways may be limiting thalweg. In 2009, DIDSON imagery confirmed that multiple to pallid sturgeon remains to be explored more completely. fish were congregating in the same location as the gravid Additional replicates of existing maps and coordinated female pallid sturgeon. In the upstream reaches, the thalweg mapping with high-frequency movements of sturgeon through is not as well defined. The fish positions tend to coincide a complete bend-crossover-bend sequence would provide an with the highest velocities but not the greatest depths. The improved understanding of migration strategies and whether two areas of fish concentration in the upstream reaches can channel morphology could be reengineered to optimize be characterized as shoaling areas over mid-channel bars. passage. Formation and movement of similar bars were observed Recent publications on larval drift rates of pallid sturgeon during 2 years of channel-morphology monitoring just indicate that adequate drift distance may be a limiting factor upstream at river mile 670 (Elliott and others, 2009); possibly, if the fish drift downstream into lake environments as on the divergent flow over mid-channel bars is another preferred upper Missouri River (Braaten and others, 2008). On the spawning habitat type for Missouri River sturgeon. Lower Missouri River, a related question is where channel Remapping of two reaches at higher discharges confirmed reengineering should be pursued to maximize retention and substantial increases in the size and changes in the shapes habitat for larval growth? In previous habitat studies under of bedforms during small floods of less than bankfull stage CSRP, hundreds of acoustic Doppler current profiler transects (figs. 20-25, 24-40). These observations indicate that habitats have been collected that provide fundamental information on experienced by benthic fishes like the pallid sturgeon are the retention potential for different parts of the river. These highly variable in time and space; the size and arrangement data could be used to parameterize advection/dispersion of dune-size bedforms, and the energy refugia associated with models of drifting particles to evaluate drift distances and the them, may exert an important control on the ability of sturgeon probability of retention. to forage effectively and migrate upstream efficiently. Task 4. Provide Database Integration, GIS Summary and Conclusions Support, and Report Coordination Habitat mapping during 2009 confirmed some aspects of previously developed understanding of migration and spawning habitat: that migration tends to take place along Background inside bends and spawning is most likely occurring in deep (greater than 3 m), fast (greater than 1 m/s) water on outside, The research activities of CSRP generate large revetted bends. Mapping of upstream probable spawning volumes of data about the physiology, ecology, and habitat Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 59 requirements of pallid and shovelnose sturgeons. These The SIMS framework relies on ArcPad® (ESRI, Redlands, data are useful in addressing management needs if properly Calif.) for mobile mapping and electronic data collection of organized, effectively displayed, carefully interpreted, and telemetry locations and search efforts of telemetry crews. expeditiously published. Information management is critical ArcGIS® has been utilized to manage the telemetry data to effective use of science by managers and the public, and it collected using ArcPad® (location events for all individual is, therefore, essential to develop a robust platform for data sturgeon and search effort data). SQL Server 2000® collection, integration, maintenance, analysis, visualization, (Microsoft Inc., Seattle, Wash.) has been used to manage and distribution. tabular data (information about each fish, for example, sex, length, and weight). A custom SIMS user interface was developed using Microsoft Access® 2007 (Microsoft Inc., Scope and Objectives Seattle, Wash.) to allow quick access to near real-time reports that incorporate information from spatial data (telemetry The general objectives of ongoing task 4 are to (1) location data) and tabular data. develop and maintain a standardized mobile mapping and The customized SIMS ArcPad® application was electronic data-collection framework to support simultaneous developed and deployed on ruggedized laptop computers data collection from several field crews, (2) compile and for mobile field mapping and electronic data collection of maintain data collected for CSRP, and (3) develop and all location events for implanted sturgeon. This ArcPad® maintain near real-time data reporting. application allows field personnel to view, capture, edit, and display geospatial data easily and efficiently. A series of four Methods custom edit forms walk a user through a typical telemetry observation session. The edit forms prompt the observer to CSRP involves simultaneous data collection from record information identifying a particular fish (based on multiple field crews over 800 miles of river requiring the acoustic tag number and frequency) and enable the observer need for a robust and scalable relational database as well to describe the water quality, hydrologic conditions, habitat, as standardized data-collection parameters. The Sturgeon and substrate. Field data are input from drop-down menus Information Management System (SIMS) framework was or by using the keyboard for text fields. Additionally, the completed within USGS for data collection and maintenance application automatically records date, time, and spatial using a range of software and hardware products to manage coordinates from the GPS unit. The SIMS ArcPad® the volume and diversity of data collected by CSRP (fig. 41). application also is used to document the search efforts of all

User Interface ArcPad® (Access®) Field Data Data Update Collection View Data and Telemetry Reports Data

Relational Database ArcGIS® (SQL Server®) Telemetry Tabular Data Storage Data Movement Create Reports Summarize Data Maps

Figure 41. Diagram of the database platform illustrating data outflow (red lines) and data inflow (black lines). 60 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River telemetry crews. Data collected for each search effort include sturgeon in 2009. SIMS was leveraged to create over 500 the date, time, spatial coordinates, crew members, search dynamic movement maps, charts, and graphs for individual type (drift, intensive monitor, or search for a specific fish), fish in preparation of a USGS Open-File Report documenting types of transmitter receivers used, and the radio and acoustic capture, tagging and tracking methods, and data-collection frequencies scanned during the search effort. efforts. All data for sturgeon relocations and search efforts are In total, SIMS houses 25 tables essential to reporting uploaded on a daily basis to a secure server located at CERC. the results of task 1 of the CSRP. In 2009, nine additional The data from each crew are then archived. The new sturgeon data tables were created to maintain data for genetic samples, location events and search efforts and all associated data are physiology samples, larval fish samples, hatchery origin incorporated into the larger spatial database using a custom information, and transmitter tag inventory. ArcMap® application created to aid in managing the daily The SIMS user interface was upgraded to include 12 new sturgeon relocation and search effort data. reports addressing frequent data requests. Additionally, a new Sturgeon telemetry location data are linked (by linked charting functionality was developed to show the movements server technology in SQL Server 2000®) to the other essential of any number of individual sturgeon selected by a user. data in the SIMS database framework. Linkages have been The individual sturgeon reports were upgraded to contain established between spatial data and data tables in the database hyperlinks to all capture/recapture photographs for each using mutually exclusive identifiers, allowing summary sturgeon, allowing quick and easy access. reports to be generated using information from several data sources. These linkages allow the spatial data to be maintained in its native format, while still being accessed by Discussion the database, thereby, making it possible to maintain data in a near real-time environment. Traditionally, collection and compilation of field The database and spatial data linkages also are used to telemetry data have been paper-based processes requiring create map products. Maps are created for movements of each multiple points of data entry, first recording the data in the individual fish, showing the release location, all relocation field, and later transferring the data from paper records into events, the last known relocation and lines connecting the a database. Recently, mobile mapping applications and relocations to show the upstream and downstream movements. digital data-collection platforms allow users to create and These maps provide information on the movements of each edit data in the field. This process provides access to real- individual fish through space and time. Because of the time information in the field and the ability to communicate linkages between the database and the spatial data collected field observations quickly back to the office using secure file by the field crews, the data driving these maps are created and transfer protocols. These digital data-collection technologies maintained in the database in near real time. coupled with a robust database allow data and reports to be The SIMS user interface allows users to update data updated on a near real-time basis, providing the most current easily, view data, and access readily available summary information possible. SIMS (1) reduces or eliminates the reports. The data and reports accessed through the SIMS user need for paper field sheets; (2) eliminates the need to enter interface are near real time. The complex linkages between information from field sheets into database, thereby, reducing the database and spatial data are essential to the creation of errors and time lag; (3) is customizable to streamline specific useful textual reports on fish movements and search efforts. tasks; and (4) performs real-time data validation and reporting. Data quality and integrity are a constant priority for SIMS is also key to analyzing and understanding the SIMS near real-time database, and validation efforts are sturgeon movement patterns within the Missouri River constantly being reviewed and improved. All forms used for and allowing researchers to visualize sturgeon migration electronic data entry and to update data have built-in data through space and time. The SIMS platform puts powerful validation controls that warn users when an entered value is near real-time information in the hands of researchers and outside the expected range. Numerous internal reports also managers quickly and easily by way of the user interface. The have been developed to manage quality-assurance and quality- on-demand reports formatted in the Microsoft Access user control measures. interface output up-to-date information frequently requested by researchers and managers. These reports detail a wide Results variety of information, from project level summary statistics to individual fish summaries. For example, one report details Between 2004 and 2009 more than 10,550 pallid and the number of pallid sturgeon with active transmitters and shovelnose sturgeon locations have been recorded and highlights those that are at risk of transmitter expiration, archived using SIMS. During 2009, USGS and NGPC field and, therefore, need to be targeted for immediate recapture. crews uploaded data from 407 search efforts, including Another report displays the history of the individual fish information on 1,118 pallid sturgeon telemetry locations. during the multiple years of the CSRP, including gender, Additionally, SIMS has been used to record 13 initial origin (wild or hatchery), reproductive history, and migration implantation locations and 15 recapture events of pallid pathway (fig. 42). SIMS puts up-to-date information in the Detailed Research Task Activities and Progress 61

Figure 42. An example of the Individual Fish Summary report generated via the user interface.

hands of researchers to prioritize and schedule field crew sturgeon giving precise locations for telemetered fish removed efforts to track, map, and recapture sturgeon. or returned to the river before and after use for propagation SIMS allows for quick compilation and dissemination efforts. SIMS also allows for coordination with the Population of information, internally and externally, as information is Assessment Project database manager to obtain and integrate frequently requested by other programs and agencies to aid initial capture data for any telemetered pallid sturgeon in decision making. Data often are requested by the Missouri obtained from propagation efforts. Department of Transportation, Environmental Design Section prior to any bridge construction, demolition, or alteration. During 2009, pallid sturgeon telemetry location data also Conclusions were provided to the USACE, Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program. Information frequently is shared with USFWS and Work in 2010 is expected to include expanding digital several State agencies regarding the history for many fish data collection to field sampling aimed at initial capture and captured during the broodstock collection effort. Data also targeted recapture of pallid sturgeon. The additional ArcPad® are exchanged with other agencies/programs in order to form application will be customized to streamline data collection a complete picture for individual fish. SIMS ensures that for sampling and recapture of pallid sturgeon, including gear information sharing between groups is a seamless transaction. deployment, retrieval information, and physical habitat data. Collaboration with Middle Basin Pallid Sturgeon Work This application will eliminate data entry from field data Group ensures data exchange/retrieval on telemetered pallid sheets and support near real-time reporting. 62 Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment in the Lower Missouri River

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DeLonay and others—Ecological Requirements for Pallid Sturgeon Reproduction and Recruitment: Annual Report 2009—Open-File Report 2010–1215