Movements and Habitats of Shortnose Sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum in the Savannah River

Movement of shortnose sturgeon during the summer sampling period is limited in southern rivers, as fish aggregate in tidally influenced holding areas with little to no saltwater intrusion to alleviate environmental stressors that occur in summer months.

“Movement of shortnose sturgeon during our sampling period is limited in southern rivers, as fish aggregate in tidally influenced holding areas with little to no saltwater intrusion to alleviate environmental stressors that occur in summer months (Hall et al. 1991;Collins et al. 2002;Ingram and Peterson 2018).”

In warmer months, both juvenile and adult shortnose sturgeon move upriver and aggregate in areas with little to no salinity in the freshwater/saltwater interface of the Savannah River.

“In warmer months, both juveniles and adults will move upriver and aggregate in areas with little to no salinity in the freshwater/saltwater interface of the Savannah River (Hall et al. 1991;Ingram and Peterson 2018).”

Huggins models assume population closure, and prior studies have shown that shortnose sturgeon populations meet this assumption during summer months in southern rivers when movement of fish is limited.

“Huggins models assume population closure, and prior studies have shown that populations of shortnose sturgeon meet this assumption during summer months in southern rivers when movement of fish is limited (Hall et al. 1991;Peterson and Bednarski 2013;Bahr and Peterson 2017;Ingram and Peterson 2018).”

The upper Savannah River estuary serves as nursery habitat for juveniles that cannot yet tolerate much salinity.

“The upper Savannah River estuary serves as nursery habitat for juveniles that cannot yet tolerate much salinity (Hall et al. 1991;Jenkins et al. 1993;Collins et al. 2002).”