Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), a species within one of the most globally threatened taxa, are highly susceptible to changes in their environments due to unique life history traits. Specifically, juvenile white sturgeon are impacted by altered watershed dynamics caused by water diversion structures such as dams, weirs, irrigation ditches, or levees. One location of great concern is the Sacramento-San Joaquin (S-SJ) watershed where decades of water diversion has brought on changes to the temperature, flow, and management of the area. This study looks to primarily identify the impact of water temperature on the endurance swimming capacity of juvenile white sturgeon, at different water velocities. Juvenile white sturgeon were exposed to differing water temperatures and speeds, to identify a relationship to endurance swimming capacity. Juveniles swam for longer periods of time at warmer temperatures, as there was a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 35 cm s-1 for fish reared at 18°C and 13°C and for fish at 23°C, a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 42 cm s-1. These results indicate that in the wild, altered water temperatures may greatly impact swimming dynamics. However, regardless of temperature, water velocities greater than 49 cm s-1 are more likely to increase the risk of mortality of juvenile white sturgeon. Future research must work to design and modify these diversion structures in order to decrease juvenile mortality and conserve wild populations.
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Effect of Temperature Variation on Endurance Swimming Capacity of Juvenile White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), a species within one of the most globally threatened taxa, are highly susceptible to changes in their environments due to unique life history traits. Specifically, juvenile white sturgeon are impacted by altered watershed dynamics caused by water diversion structures such as dams, weirs, irrigation ditches, or levees. One location of great concern is the Sacramento-San Joaquin (S-SJ) watershed where decades of water diversion has brought on changes to the temperature, flow, and management of the area. This study looks to primarily identify the impact of water temperature on the endurance swimming capacity of juvenile white sturgeon, at different water velocities. Juvenile white sturgeon were exposed to differing water temperatures and speeds, to identify a relationship to endurance swimming capacity. Juveniles swam for longer periods of time at warmer temperatures, as there was a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 35 cm s-1 for fish reared at 18°C and 13°C and for fish at 23°C, a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 42 cm s-1. These results indicate that in the wild, altered water temperatures may greatly impact swimming dynamics. However, regardless of temperature, water velocities greater than 49 cm s-1 are more likely to increase the risk of mortality of juvenile white sturgeon. Future research must work to design and modify these diversion structures in order to decrease juvenile mortality and conserve wild populations.
Comments
Kelly Hannan - University of California, Davis
Avery Davis - Elon University
Anna Steel - University of California, Davis
Nann Fangue - University of California, Davis