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Cited by 20Fish Ecology and Management StudiesIchthyology and Marine BiologyFish biology, ecology, and behavior

Use of navigation channels by Lake Sturgeon: Does channelization increase vulnerability of fish to ship strikes?

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Hondorp, Darryl W., Bennion, David H., Roseman, Edward F., Holbrook, Christopher M., Boase, James C., Chiotti, Justin A., Thomas, Michael V., Wills, Todd C. +3 more·2017·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0179791PMC PMC5497965
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Abstract

Channelization for navigation and flood control has altered the hydrology and bathymetry of many large rivers with unknown consequences for fish species that undergo riverine migrations. In this study, we investigated whether altered flow distributions and bathymetry associated with channelization attracted migrating Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) into commercial navigation channels, potentially increasing their exposure to ship strikes. To address this question, we quantified and compared Lake Sturgeon selection for navigation channels vs. alternative pathways in two multi-channel rivers differentially affected by channelization, but free of barriers to sturgeon movement. Acoustic telemetry was used to quantify Lake Sturgeon movements. Under the assumption that Lake Sturgeon navigate by following primary flow paths, acoustic-tagged Lake Sturgeon in the more-channelized lower Detroit River were expected to choose navigation channels over alternative pathways and to exhibit greater selection for navigation channels than conspecifics in the less-channelized lower St. Clair River. Consistent with these predictions, acoustic-tagged Lake Sturgeon in the more-channelized lower Detroit River selected the higher-flow and deeper navigation channels over alternative migration pathways, whereas in the less-channelized lower St. Clair River, individuals primarily used pathways alternative to navigation channels. Lake Sturgeon selection for navigation channels as migratory pathways also was significantly higher in the more-channelized lower Detroit River than in the less-channelized lower St. Clair River. We speculated that use of navigation channels over alternative pathways would increase the spatial overlap of commercial vessels and migrating Lake Sturgeon, potentially enhancing their vulnerability to ship strikes. Results of our study thus demonstrated an association between channelization and the path use of migrating Lake Sturgeon that could prove important for predicting sturgeon-vessel interactions in navigable rivers as well as for understanding how fish interact with their habitat in landscapes altered by human activity.

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  • Fish using the navigational channel in the Savannah River estuary are vulnerable to vessel strikes.

    “Fish using the navigational channel in the Savannah River estuary will be vulnerable to vessel strikes”

    From Assessing shortnose sturgeon response to estuarine dredging in the Savannah River using a before-after control-impact (BACI) approach (2026) · cites this paper as Hondorp et al. 2017

    The Discussion (page unavailable) links navigation-channel use by Lake Sturgeon in the lower Detroit River to increased vulnerability to ship strikes. The Introduction also says fish in shipping routes may be injured or killed by vessels. Neither passage addresses fish in the Savannah River estuary, so the location-specific claim extends beyond the source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Hondorp, D. W., Bennion, D. H., Roseman, E. F., Holbrook, C. M., Boase, J. C., Chiotti, J. A., Thomas, M. V., Wills, T. C., Drouin, R. G., Kessel, S. T., & Krueger, C. C.
Affiliations
  • Great Lakes Science Center (US)
  • United States Geological Survey (US)
  • United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US)
  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources (US)
  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (CA)
  • Michigan State University (US)
Corresponding author
Hondorp, Darryl W.
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2017-07-05
Volume
12
Issue
7
Pages
e0179791
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0179791
PMC
PMC5497965
OpenAlex
W2732328757
Cited by
20
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1
FWCI
0.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Great Lakes Fishery Trust (2011.1200)
  • Great Lakes Fishery Commission by way of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations (GL-00E23010)
  • U.S. Geological Survey by way of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations (#70—Fish Habitat Enhancement Strategies for the Huron-Erie Corridor)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ichthyology and Marine Biology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
Keywords
lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, channelization, navigation channels, ship strikes, habitat selection, Detroit River, St. Clair River, riverine migration, acoustic telemetry
MeSH terms
Accidents, Animals, Fishes, Humans, Michigan, Ships, Wounds and Injuries, Ecosystem, Animal Migration, Rivers, Lakes

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