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Shovelnose Sturgeon Brochure

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Shovelnose Sturgeon Brochure relatively small size and age at maturity in compari- toward standardized regulations. The federal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service son to the other two larger sturgeon species found government through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife historically throughout its range (i.e. lake sturgeon Service and the states are also closely monitoring Shovelnose Sturgeon and pallid sturgeon). The shovelnose matures at a sturgeon harvest and trade as it relates to the caviar Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus younger age than the other two species and so is industry and international trade under authority of subject to fewer years of fishing pressure before the Convention on the International Trade of reaching maturity and being able to reproduce itself. Endangered Species (CITES). The collapse of the And unlike the paddlefish and white sturgeon, there Soviet Union lead to overharvest of the eastern is presently little interest by private aquaculturists in European sturgeon stocks which formerly supported working with shovelnose as a commercial source of the international caviar industry. Since that time flesh or caviar. However, in some localities (Upper increasing pressure has been placed on harvest of Mississippi, Ohio and White rivers) of some states ( North American sturgeon species, including the Illinois/Iowa, Ohio and Arkansas, respectively) shovelnose sturgeon. where the large river sturgeon habitat is still fairly intact, the species continues to support modest What can you do? Purchase appropriate state commercial fisheries. There is also some interest in fishing licenses before fishing for any species. the potential trade of shovelnose sturgeon as an Carefully inspect any sturgeon caught for identifica- aquarium fish. As a gamefish the species is taken tion to species, and immediately and carefully occasionally on hook and line in deep waters around release any individual suspected of being the snags, using worms or other live baits. The endangered pallid sturgeon to the waters where shovelnose is also important as the host to glochidia taken. If in doubt about the identity of a sturgeon Description: The shovelnose sturgeon, smallest of (larvae) of the mollusks Quadrula pustulosa species, error in favor of the fish and return it to the the ancient sturgeon species in North America, is (Pimpleback), Obovaria olivaria (Hickorynut) and water unharmed. Purchase habitat management and similar in appearance to the pallid sturgeon. The Lampsilis teres (Yellow sandshell). It is the only special program stamps for riverine management shovelnose has a flattened and shovel-shaped snout known host for the Hickorynut mussel which and protection when offered by local, state and and is distinguished by pale, bony plates instead of inhabits water 4-6 ft deep over sand or gravel in federal natural resource management agencies. scales, a reptile-like body, a sucker-type mouth and good current. Become informed about pollution and river manage- large barbels or whisker-like sensors next to its ment issues in your area by consulting with state mouth. The shovelnose uses its strongly fringed What is being done to protect the shovelnose and federal agencies, conservation groups and the barbels to sense the river bottom and to identify sturgeon? The shovelnose sturgeon is managed by media. Inform appropriate decision makers (local, prey, and then capture it with its protrusible, vacuum the state conservation agencies where it occurs. state and national) of your support for issues related cleaner-like mouth. Prey consists of aquatic insects Since the species remains relatively abundant there to the protection and management of rivers for the and invertebrates. The base of the tail of the is no need for federal regulations, however, there is maintenance of healthy ecosystems and fish popula- shovelnose is flattened in cross section and com- some federal concern regarding harvest of the tions. If we all work together we can help to ensure species since it is similar in appearance to and, at that our ancient sturgeon species can live along side smaller sizes, can be easily mistaken for the endan- of thriving economies and human populations! gered pallid sturgeon. Each state evaluates the shovelnose sturgeon populations in its waters and For more information contact: sets fishing (recreational and commercial) regula- pletely covered with armor-like plates. The upper tions annually. States also regularly communicate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lobe of the tail fin is elongate and shark-like, except with one another and with federal authorities, La Crosse Fishery Resource Office that it has a long filamentous thread attached in through various cooperative interstate organizations 555 Lester Avenue younger individuals. This thread is often missing (especially on the Upper and Lower Mississippi, Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650 (apparently broken off) in older individuals. The Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee rivers), to work (608) 783-8434 shovelnose is darker in color (tan to gray or yellow- Revised 16 May 2001 ish green dorsally, light ventrally) than the pallid through early July with mature shovelnose migrat- sippi and sturgeon (greyish-white) and is much smaller in ing upriver to spawn over rocky substrates in Missouri river maximum size. The shovelnose sturgeon rarely flowing water between 66 and 70 °F. Well adapted basins, from exceeds 5 lbs in weight, while the pallid can exceed as a bottom dwelling fish, the shovelnose sturgeon Montana south 6 ft in length and weigh over 100 lbs. Also, the changes this habit by swimming near the surface to Louisiana, belly of the adult shovelnose sturgeon is completely during spawning. Males mature at Age V, females and from at Age VII at lengths of approximately 20 in and 25 Pennsylvania in, respectively. Weights at maturity range between west to New 2 and 3 lbs, but some individuals have been re- Mexico (see corded to weigh nearly 15 lbs. Females do not map). While spawn every year, and spawning chronology is not the shovelnose readily evident. However, shovelnose are known to has not hybridize with pallid sturgeon in the Missouri and experienced lower Mississippi rivers, presumably because their the range former unique habitats have been altered or lost reduction of some of the larger Missis- sippi River Valley stur- Dams occurring throughout the “Larval Sturgeon” geons (i.e., Mississippi River Basin hinder covered with bony plates and the barbels are largely due to damming, altered hydrology, and lake and pallid upstream shovelnose sturgeon positioned differently (see figure above). In the channelization. This has forced the two species to sturgeons), it movements. shovelnose all four barbels are in line and evenly share the same spawning sites, and since fertiliza- is no longer spaced in front of the mouth. In the pallid, the outer tion occurs externally hybridization occurs when found in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and large barbels are placed slightly farther back than the the eggs and sperm of the two species mix in the parts of Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and other inner barbels. water flowing over their spawning beds. states where it was once abundant. Alteration of large rivers by channelization, construction of high Biology: Shovelnose sturgeon can tolerate high Historic and Present Range: The shovelnose dams, and construction of navigation locks and turbidities and are usually found in the strong sturgeon is strictly a freshwater species that was dams have contributed significantly to the decline currents and deep channels of large rivers over sand historically found throughout most of the Missis- of this species by blocking access to ancestral and gravel substrates. They are apparently intoler- spawning grounds and by eliminating its requisite ant of the quiet waters of lakes and reservoirs, and lotic habitat. dams restrict their movements. Shovelnose sturgeon frequent waters that are 6.5-23 ft deep and are Artificial Propagation: Federal and State hatcher- relatively sedentary most of the time, but occasion- ies have developed spawning techniques for the ally move long distances (as much as 7.5 mi in one shovelnose sturgeon, and these are similar to those day) exhibiting some homing behavior. During high used to produce paddlefish in Missouri and white water stages in the spring they frequent areas sturgeon in California. downstream of wing dams or other obstructions and remain near shore, while during summer low water Human Uses: The roe or eggs of shovelnose levels they remain near mid-channel. Shovelnose sturgeon is used as an acceptable caviar and it’s sturgeon are opportunistic feeders; taking any flesh is considered a delicacy especially when aquatic insects, mussels, worms, or crustaceans that Historic Range and Distribution of the Shovelnose smoked, but overharvest has not been a major are available. Spawning normally occurs from April Sturgeon. detriment to this species. This may be due to its.
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